About ‘Mijo Co’. An interview with ‘Everything Palm Springs’.
Our good friend, Lindsay, of Everything Palm Springs recently interviewed Adolfo and I about Mijo Co. How we got started, our inspiration, and of course our favorite places to eat in the Coachella Valley / Palm Springs.
Have a read below and comment on other eateries we should try!
SPOTLIGHT ON VINCENT & ADOLFO - OWNERS OF MIJO CO.
I have long been a fan of Palm Springs local Vincent Sandoval and his fabulous pet photography business, so when he announced he was starting a new candle company with his husband, Coachella Valley native Adolfo, earlier this year, I was ecstatic! (I am nothing if not a candle hoarder.) I knew their offerings would be exceptional and was not disappointed when they soft-launched Mijo Co., a line of beautifully branded jar candles, this past August. Hand-poured right here in the desert and boasting a decidedly retro vibe, each of their 9 core scents is exquisitely blended - so much so that I found it nearly impossible to narrow down my favorites. (After much debate, I finally landed on powder, clean, and spice.) Mijo candles burn clean, make my house smell divine, and look great on a shelf! With their website now officially live, I am thrilled to spotlight the men behind the brand!
xo, Lindsay
What led you to embark upon this candle-making journey?
Scents have always been part of our relationship, we probably own 200-plus candles at the moment that aren’t our own. We noticed there seemed to be 2 types of candles. One you can barely smell, while the other option is so overpowering it takes over your house. We wanted to create something that elevated your space - not overpower it. A candle you can smell throughout your room, adding to the moment, but isn’t the center of attention.
Also, we didn’t see our culture in candle products in retail stores like Target or West Elm. We wanted to see ourselves, Hispanics, on the shelf. Our culture should be represented in the scent-making business. We have a point of view and unique scents that we would love to share with the world.
Your family is a huge source of inspiration. How have they most impacted your creations?
Family is important to us, we both were called ‘Mijo’ growing up and still til this day. If you’re ever around a Mexican family, whether you’re related to them or not, chances are you’ll be called ‘Mijo’ or ‘Mija.’ It translates to “Son/Daughter/Darling”, but it’s known as a term of endearment.
We create candle scents that are pulled from our memories, current and childhood. Adolfo’s great-grandmother, Mamanie, helped raise him growing up, and he had a deep connection to her. During those periods of time when he was living with her, he felt unconditional love, affection, traditions, and routine. ‘Bloom’ is inspired by the rose bushes in her front yard. You’ll be able to read what each scent means to us in the description on our website.
You have cultivated a highly curated collection of scents. Any favorites?
There is something to love about each scent, and it changes depending on the mood or season, but at the moment Adolfo’s favorites are ‘Zest’ and ‘Bloom’. Zest is so refreshing and clean, it's like starting your morning with a grapefruit, cleansing and resetting the body before a hectic day. ‘Bloom’ is a woodsy floral that's elegant and calming. As we head into fall, Vince loves ‘Spice’ and 'Musk'. They’re both perfect to end the day with.
How long did it take you to narrow down the scents to the 9 you currently offer and what was the process like?
Scent curating is the fun part! We spent months blending, pouring, burning, adding, and lowering fragrance percentages. Honestly, it was fun! We share the same taste level when it comes to scents and we rarely disagree on our blends. We both knew ahead of time what memories we wanted our scents to evoke, so we worked around those. Our good friends at Bosch Studios , located in Palm Springs, helped bring to life the vintage 70’s vibe we were going for.
Where can people find your candles around Palm Springs?
Currently, you can find us at Good Neighbor Trading Post in Palm Desert, Mojave Flea Trading Post, On the Mark and Covet in Palm Springs. We plan to participate in local events throughout the Coachella Valley and hope to be in other stores, as well. We are also available online.
You offer candle-making classes. Tell us more about those.
We are so excited for these! We are offering candle-making classes throughout the Coachella Valley as a mobile studio where we take all the supplies to a specific location. During a two-hour class, guests will be able to smell over 30 scents to make their custom scent and make an 8oz Amber jar candle.
These classes can be held at businesses, your home, bachelorette parties, corporate parties, etc. Our next class is taking place October 26th at Good Neighbor Trading Post. More info can be found on our website.
What is something that surprised you about starting a business here?
How supportive everyone is! We’ve had so many businesses give us a shout-out on social media, offer support, and even purchase our candles. It’s nice to know there’s a support system amongst other businesses.
What part of the desert life brings you the most joy?
The desert wildlife. We have a roadrunner, cotton tail, gopher, and hummingbirds that all live in harmony in our backyard. We’ve watched them grow from babies to adults - it’s been a sweet blessing to witness.
Additionally, we love the calm, peaceful, starry nights. The smell of the heat cooking the sand, and the smell of desert rain.
Favorite time of year in the desert?
We love winter, it brings our favorite holidays and family traditions.
Best meal in the desert?
Adolfo loves Thai Hot in Indio. Vince loves El Tapatio in Indio.
Other Coachella Valley Favorites?
You can find us in thrift stores and consignment shops throughout the desert - we enjoy the hunt for unique finds.
Some of our favorites are:
Martha’s Village Thrift Store in Indio
Foss Resale House in La Quinta
Thriftology in Palm Desert (pictured)
Revivals in Palm Springs
We are fans of Chef Tanya’s Kitchen. When we lived in LA, we made it a point to stop by while visiting.
Sloan’s in Indio has an amazing breakfast.
El Tapatio has amazing enchiladas.
Sabatino's Pizza, Pasta & Wings in La Quinta!
Tiffany's Sweet Spot cupcakes
Teddy's Donuts in Bermuda Dunes
When the season starts, the freshly picked strawberries from Madison St. Produce in Indio are amazing!
We are film buffs and avid readers, so we are usually in a theater for date night or looking for vintage books, but we also love Moorten Botanical Garden, drag shows, and a dance floor.
Thank you Vince & Adolfo!
You are such a welcome addition to the Coachella Valley business landscape and I am so excited to witness your growth. And thank you for the plethora of recommendations, so many of which are new to me! I can't wait to check them out!