Blending Culture, Story, and Scent at Cultured Scents Co.
Welcome to Cultured Scents Co. — we're so glad you're here.
My name is Jessica - a third generation Puerto Rican. I was born and raised in the U.S. mainland, while my grandparents were from Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, respectively. I was fortunate to have a family who surrounded me with Latino culture, as if there was no generational divide. Our home was filled with novelas, salsa, merengue, and bachata music, and hearing family members speak Spanish. It was a Nuyorican household fusing both American and Puerto Rican elements. Every year we made coquito, ate pasteles and pernil, and always had arroz con gandules, no matter the season. My mom tells me that as a baby, I would stop crying when she started playing salsa music.
Though I've often heard I'm "not Latina enough" — not from the island, not fluent enough, not Puerto Rican in the ways people expect — I never denied my Latinidad. Because to do so would be to abandon the richest parts of my identity and a culture I deeply adore.
When I met my now-husband, Ganesh, he had moved from Mumbai, India, a few years before. I never hesitated to learn about his rich culture - Temple visits, learning about Hindu gods and spiritual practices, Bollywood movies, music, and flavorful dishes like my now-favorites — pav bhaji and butter paneer.
The more I learned, the more I recognized the beautiful similarities between Latino and South Asian cultures: our love for music, dance, food, community, and strong family ties.
This bi-racial and mixed cultural living — among other things — creates an open-minded and open-hearted way of living. This is the energy that inspired Cultured Scents Co.
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Candles Rooted in Culture
Each of our candles is designed to honor and reflect the cultures we come from.
Scents such as Chai are reminiscent of the busy streets of India, where chaiwalas are found plenty. Cardamom & Rose is an ode to gulab jamun, the sweet and rich dessert featuring fried dough, rose infused syrup, and cardamom. And Gajra, with jasmine and sandalwood notes, is a nod to the traditional flower garlands worn in hair during festivals and ceremonies.
For our Latino collection, Bomba y Plena — named after the percussion-driven dance from the African diaspora — celebrates the rhythm and soul of Puerto Rico through milky coconut, juicy mango, and cedar notes. Coquito is our dedication to a classic holiday drink — a creamy blend of toasted coconut, cinnamon, vanilla, and rum that smells just like yearly family gatherings. And notes of palo santo, sandalwood, and sage create Sacred Space to be a grounding and spiritual scent reminiscent of NYC botánicas.
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Not Just Tourists
In Bad Bunny's song Turista he tells of a lover having come into his life but only for a short while; one who came to see the good and did not care to learn the bad. It's a double entendre: about romance, yes, but also Puerto Rico and its complicated and often exploitative relationship with the mainland U.S.
Countless people visit the island every year but come to pasarla bien — have a good time — without acknowledging the island's pain, resilience, or history.
As children of the diaspora, perhaps the greatest thing we can do, is never forget our roots — to remember who we are and where we come from. When we return to our ancestors' land — no matter where it is — may we not go only as turistas (tourists), but as people who reclaim, respect, and continue the stories our ancestors began.
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From Our Cultures to Yours
Born from a love of Puerto Rican and Indian cultures, our candles celebrate the beauty of diasporic living. Whether you're reconnecting with your own roots or embracing cultures not your own, we hope you feel something familiar here — a story, a scent, or a spark.
Thank you so much for supporting our small business. We hope to gift a piece of heritage to your home and to your heart — one flame at a time.