11 Years of YOU ME & EMILIO — A Celebration of Fragrance, Family & Purpose

I don’t even know where to start. 

Eleven years. Eleven. When I say that out loud, I still can’t fully believe it. There were moments — real moments — where I wasn’t sure we’d make it here. Moments of doubt, of exhaustion, of wondering if anyone would ever truly care about what I was building.

But then someone would light one of our candles and tell me it changed the energy in their home. Or a guest would finish their first hand-poured candle in one of our classes and look up with this huge smile on their face. And I’d remember exactly why I started.

Creating YOU ME & EMILIO has been an amazing journey — a lot of learning, sweat, and tears. But it was all worth it. Every. Single. Moment.

Where It All Began

I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, watching my grandfather Ramon Julio Horton build two businesses — Repuesto San Ramon and Garage San Ramon — with his bare hands and an unshakeable belief in hard work. My father, Ramon Emilio Horton, did the same with Moto-Bici San Ramon. Entrepreneurship wasn’t something we talked about in my family — it was something we lived.

I was nine years old when I sold my first product — photocopied coloring pages to classmates who didn’t have any. At twelve, my grandmother Meca (America Fernandez) and I made handcrafted ice cream from scratch and sold it to our neighbors. Those memories are some of the most precious of my life.

That fire never went out. In 2015, it reignited — and YOU ME & EMILIO was born.

From Bracelets to Candles to Roll-Ons — The Evolution of a Brand

We started by selling handcrafted bracelets at work. I’d bring them in, nervous every single time, wondering if anyone would want them. They did. And that encouragement — from coworkers, from strangers, from people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself — is what kept me going.

Then came the hand-poured soy candles. And honestly? Everything changed. I fell in love with the craft in a way I hadn’t expected. The process of melting wax, blending fragrance, pouring with intention — it felt like meditation. Like purpose made physical.

From there, the collection grew into something I’m incredibly proud of:

• Soy Candles — hand-poured with premium fragrance oils and clean-burning soy wax
• Room Mists — luxury fragrance for every space in your home
• Wax Melts — long-lasting scent without an open flame
• Fragrance Oils for Diffusers — fill your space with intention
• Hand & Body Lotions and Body Washes — toxin-free skincare that feels as good as it smells
• Roll-Ons — okay, I have to be honest. These are my new personal favorite. It’s like I’m breathing, smelling, and wearing my brand every single day. I absolutely love that. I love that I created something I can carry with me everywhere I go.

And in 2023, we launched our subscription plan — because our customers who love our handmade candles, lotions, room mists, and oils deserved a way to never run out. That felt like a milestone. Like we had grown from a passion project into something that truly takes care of people.

Now We’re Bringing the Experience to You

And now — the thing I’m most excited about — we’re delivering a whole new kind of experience: The Art of Candle Making Class by Emilio Horton.

I’ve always believed that the best way to share something you love is to let people experience it themselves. So we come to you — your home, your office, your backyard, your venue — anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We bring everything: premium soy wax, over 70 luxury fragrance oils, cotton wicks, candle vessels, tools, and my full heart and attention for 2 to 3 hours.

Watching someone pour their first candle — seeing their face when they smell the fragrance they blended themselves — that never gets old. That’s the moment I live for.

The Art of Candle Making is perfect for:

• Birthday parties — a hands-on celebration everyone will remember
• Girls’ night out — pour candles, mix scents, make memories
• Date nights — something far more memorable than dinner and a movie
• Corporate team building — creative, collaborative, and completely managed by our team
• Bachelorette & bridal showers — a luxurious pre-wedding experience
• Baby showers — a meaningful take-home keepsake for every guest

Classes are available in English and Spanish. Groups of 6+ at $65/person, or private groups of 4 for $350. All supplies included. We handle everything — you just show up and create.

Book The Art of Candle Making →

Celebrating with the 2026 World Cup

Our 11th anniversary coincides with one of the most exciting moments in Dallas history — the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches being played right here in our city. I couldn’t let that pass without doing something special.

So we created the 2026 World Cup Limited Edition Soy Candle Collection — four candles, four match nights, four moments in Dallas history captured in fragrance and art. Each one hand-poured with love and featuring a one-of-a-kind label that celebrates the energy, passion, and global spirit of the beautiful game.

This collection is limited. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

Shop the World Cup Collection →

Our Biggest Anniversary Sale Ever — Two Ways to Save

Eleven years of your support deserves more than a thank you. So here’s our gift to you:

One-Time Purchase — 40% Off
Use code 11YEARS at checkout for 40% off any order. No minimum purchase required. Valid through July 31, 2026.

Subscribe & Save — Up to 40% Off
Subscribe to any product for 25% off automatically, then stack code 11YEARS-S for an additional 15% off — that’s up to 40% off for up to 3 recurring orders. Valid through July 31, 2026.

Codes cannot be combined with each other. No minimum purchase required.

Shop the Anniversary Sale →

What You Mean to Me

I want to be real with you for a second.

There were hard days. Days when I questioned everything. Days when the doubt was louder than the dream. But you — this community, these customers, these guests who’ve welcomed me into your homes and your celebrations — you kept me going. Every review, every rebooking, every “Emilio, I need more candles” text message meant more than you know.

“Emilio came to the house, created a wonderful set up, explained the details very patiently and allowed people to interact! Best part was there were over 70 fragrances to choose from and mix and match!!”
— Lali, Dallas ★★★★★

“Tuve una experiencia maravillosa tomando clases con Emilio para aprender hacer velas aromáticas. Fue una clase personalizada que realmente superó mis expectativas. Emilio es una persona muy especial, llena de luz, paciencia y una energía muy positiva que hace que todo el proceso se sienta relajado y disfrutable.”
— Katherine S., Dallas ★★★★★

You can also find YOU ME & EMILIO candles, oils, diffusers, and more in person at Zsa Zsa Unique Boutique in the Bishop Arts District — one of Dallas’s most beloved local shops.

I’m So Grateful. Thank You.

I am sooooo grateful. That word doesn’t even feel big enough. Grateful for every order, every class, every share, every kind word. Grateful for the hard days that made me stronger. Grateful for the community that showed up when I needed it most.

This brand is not just mine. It’s ours.

Now go shopping. 😊

With so much love and gratitude,
Emilio Horton
Founder, YOU ME & EMILIO

Shop the Anniversary Sale →  |  Book The Art of Candle Making →