In February 2021, Texas was hit with an unexpected deep freeze, and the power went out across Dallas. Chloe and her husband, Trent, were stuck at home without heat or light. As the temperature dropped, they remembered the massive 200-ounce candle that friends had given them as a housewarming gift. They lit it and set it on the kitchen counter. For days, it kept the room warm and lit. When the power came back, the candle was still going.
A few weeks later, when the candle finally burned out, Chloe wanted to replace it. She was shocked to find that similar oversized candles cost hundreds of dollars. Trent joked that he could probably make one himself for less. The joke turned into a project. Trent started melting wax on the stovetop and experimenting with different blends. Some burned too quickly, others didn’t hold their shape. After a lot of trial and error, he landed on a mix of coconut and soy wax. It burned clean, lasted a long time, and didn’t produce soot. The result was a giant, slow-burning candle that actually worked.
Chloe shared the finished product with friends, and they loved it. One neighbor said it would be perfect for camping, while another wanted one for their next outdoor party. That’s when it hit them — if their friends liked the idea this much, maybe other people would too. Chloe and Trent decided to start selling them locally. They called them Big Ass Candles, partly as a joke and partly because it just fit. The candles were huge, sturdy, and clearly not your average wax jar.
They started small, pouring candles in their kitchen and selling at local pop-up events. One of their first big breaks came at DiviFest, a local small-business showcase hosted by a Dallas influencer. The reaction was better than they expected. People loved the oversized look and bold name. One customer joked that it was the perfect gift for the person who “has everything.” After that, the candles started selling faster. A local boutique picked them up, and real estate agents started ordering them as client gifts.
Chloe’s twin sister, Kelsey Saldivar Harris, saw how quickly things were growing and offered to help. She had a knack for branding and marketing, and Chloe loved the idea of working together. The three of them started brainstorming ways to make the brand stand out. Kelsey focused on creating a bold, funny, and memorable image for Big Ass Luxuries while Chloe and Trent worked on improving the production process. Soon, they had outgrown the kitchen and set up a small warehouse in Dallas.
Their flagship product was the Big Ass Candle, a 300-ounce behemoth that could burn for up to 1,000 hours. The smaller version, the Baby Big Ass Candle, held 150 ounces but still lasted for weeks. They kept the formula simple: natural coconut-soy wax, cotton wicks, and no added dyes. The scent range was intentionally broad — from fresh and floral like Sea Salt & Orchid to warm and cozy like Santal & Coconut. Customers liked that the scents lingered but didn’t overwhelm a room.
Chloe and Kelsey managed the website and social media, while Trent handled production. They set up a Shopify store and quickly realized that their biggest challenge was keeping up with orders. Chloe decided to quit her corporate job and focus on the business full-time. As demand grew, they hired a few part-time helpers for packing and shipping. Trent kept tweaking the production process, making sure every candle burned evenly.
The business started to take off. Orders came in from across the country, and their website traffic spiked after a local news feature. By 2022, they had shipped over 20,000 orders. People seemed to appreciate the mix of practicality and humor — a giant candle that was both useful and fun to show off. Chloe says that part of the appeal is how over-the-top the whole thing feels. It’s not just a candle; it’s a conversation piece.
Despite the fast growth, they kept the business simple and grounded. They didn’t take outside investment, choosing instead to reinvest their own profits. Chloe says it helped them stay in control of the brand. Kelsey focused on keeping the marketing lighthearted, using phrases like “spread light the big-ass way.” Trent kept experimenting with new scents and sizes, but they never lost sight of what made the brand work in the first place — creating something a little ridiculous, but totally practical.
As of 2025, Big Ass Luxuries continues to grow. They’ve expanded their line to include a few specialty scents and limited-edition releases. They’ve even considered franchising or licensing the brand for retail shops, but for now, they like keeping it direct-to-consumer. Chloe, Kelsey, and Trent are proud of how far they’ve come, but they’re even more excited about what’s next. For them, it’s not just about selling candles — it’s about creating something that makes people laugh, light up a room, and keep going when the power’s out.
