Hilda Rodriguez

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Hilda Rodriguez, and I’m the founder of Dahil Bar, a handmade candle brand where art meets fragrance. I’m originally from Venezuela, and now I call Miami my home. It’s where I’ve built my career, my business, and my family.

My background is in film, photography, and digital marketing, so storytelling has always been part of how I see the world. In 2021, I brought that creative perspective into Dahil Bar, creating sculptural candles that bring beauty, warmth, and personality into everyday spaces. Today, that also includes wedding and event favors, as well as thoughtful luxury gifting.

I’m also a mother and a digital marketing professional. Each part of my life shapes the others, especially motherhood, which has deepened my appreciation for the small moments. That feeling is at the heart of Dahil Bar: creating something beautiful that helps make an ordinary day or a special celebration feel more personal.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

What I love most about Miami is how its cultural mix makes me feel connected to both my roots and the world around me. I get to meet people from so many different backgrounds, each with their own stories and traditions, while still feeling close to Venezuela and Latin America through the food, music, language, and community.

Being able to share that connection with my family makes it even more meaningful. Miami is where I’m building my life and raising my daughter, and I love that she can grow up surrounded by different cultures while knowing and celebrating her own.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

Dahil Bar is a handmade candle brand that brings together art, fragrance, and thoughtful gifting. I create sculptural candles that are decorative pieces even before they’re lit, with scents that add warmth and personality to a space. I also specialize in wedding and event candle favors and luxury gifts that feel personal.

I started Dahil Bar in 2021, bringing my background in film, photography, and digital marketing into a different creative medium. I taught myself candle-making and applied what I already knew about visual storytelling to build the brand, from product photography to how each collection is presented. That combination became the foundation of our philosophy: “Where art meets fragrance.”

For my customers, it’s about finding something beautiful that fits into their lives, whether that’s a candle to enjoy after a long day, a thoughtful gift, or a favor that reflects their celebration. I especially love helping people choose the shapes, colors, and fragrances for their events. Those details make the finished piece feel like part of their story, and being trusted with that is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My advice is to stay willing to learn, especially from your mistakes. You won’t have all the answers when you start, and even with experience, there will be things you need to rethink. What matters is being honest about what isn’t working and using that knowledge to improve.

Building Dahil Bar has taught me to keep learning, listen to my customers, and stay open to new ideas. Be willing to innovate and adapt while staying true to your business’s vision. You can be committed to your goal and still change the way you get there.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

One piece of feedback I’ll always remember came from a mother who ordered personalized candle favors for her two daughters’ First Communion. She shared how much she loved their beauty, quality, and fragrance, but what touched me most was that she noticed the extra detail I had added: a small cross on each box with its ribbon, something she hadn’t requested.

Knowing that this thoughtful touch meant so much to her made me incredibly happy. These candles were keepsakes for an important moment in her family’s life, and being able to help make that moment even more special is exactly why I love what I do.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see Dahil Bar continuing to grow, with new services, candle shapes, and fragrances that give my customers more ways to bring a personal touch to their homes and celebrations.

One of my long-term dreams is to open a storefront where people can experience the candles firsthand: smell the fragrances, see the details, and find something they connect with. So much of what I create is about the senses, and I would love to share that in person.

I also hope that growth allows me to create job opportunities. Building a business that supports my family while providing opportunities for others would be a meaningful measure of success for me.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that making a candle is simply melting wax and pouring it into a mold. There’s so much more behind the finished piece: choosing materials, testing fragrances, temperatures, and wicks, refining colors, and learning how to work with different shapes. A candle can look beautiful, but it also needs to perform well.

With sculptural candles, even small details can take several attempts to get right. Customers see the finished product, but they don’t always see the testing, patience, and work that went into it. That’s part of what makes handmade pieces special; the care starts long before they’re packaged.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to build a business while working full time, becoming a mother, and caring for my family and home. Each part of my life matters deeply to me, but finding the time and energy for everything hasn’t always been easy.

Motherhood made me rethink what progress looks like. I’ve been learning to set more realistic expectations, prioritize what needs my attention, and accept that I can’t do everything at once. Some days I can give more to the business, and other days my family needs more of me.

It’s still something I’m navigating, but I’ve learned to give myself more grace. I’m proud of continuing to build Dahil Bar, even when growth is slower than I imagined. Becoming a mother has also made my vision more meaningful: I want to create something my daughter can look back on and feel proud of one day.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

It’s hard to choose just one music artist! Growing up, I loved listening to Ricardo Arjona, Alejandro Sanz, and Franco De Vita.

For an athlete, I would say Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama from Colombia’s national soccer team. My dad has always loved soccer, and since we only had one television at home, we all watched the games with him! Watching soccer became part of our family memories, so my choice has a lot to do with that connection to my dad.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I’d love to give a special thank-you to my husband, Miguel; my daughter, Valentina; my stepson, Alvaro; my mother, Dignora; my dad, Julio; my brother, Cristian; and my twin sister, Johana. Their love and support mean so much to me as I build Dahil Bar while balancing work and family. I’m grateful to have them by my side, encouraging me and giving me so many reasons to keep growing.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can explore Dahil Bar at www.dahilbar.com, where you’ll find our handmade candles, seasonal collections, and personalized wedding and event favors. You can also learn more about my story and find inspiration for gifting and home décor on our blog.

If you’re planning a celebration or looking for a thoughtful gift, I’d love to help you create something special!