The inspiration behind Durby x Ellen Candle Co. comes from owner Kayla Rivera’s grandparents.
Married for 50 years, Durby Mayfield and Ruth Ellen Mayfield instilled the meaning of support and love in their family. Durby Mayfield passed in 2010, and Ruth Ellen Mayfield was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Rivera is one of Durby Mayfield and Ruth Ellen Mayfield’s over 12 grandchildren and recently got into the art of candle making.
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“For me, my initial why was to find something where I could express my emotions in a healthy way. I feel like my grandparents played a major role in my childhood,” said Rivera.
“I felt like I needed to continue their legacy on or at least their story in a sense with my products. My biggest take away that I’ve seen is the feedback and customer reactions.”
Isaiah Delaney is a customer who said he sees the effort and thought that goes into the presentation of Rivera’s products.
“She uses a wood wick with her candles, so it gives a crackling sound when you light it. It’s soothing. I’ve tried a lot of her products, and they all have like a meaning,” said Delaney.
Rivera believes it is the science of using her bare hands to create something small that makes a big impact.
Durby x Ellen Candle Co.

This is something that both of her grandparents exuded, as her grandmother was an elementary school teacher, and her grandfather was an auto mechanic.
“A lot of people tend to stock up when they stop by. I would say right now of my signature collection, my top seller would be ‘Ol Little Girl,” said Rivera.
“Then for my fall collection, it would be the Cozy Mornings, which is an espresso nutmeg vanilla. People tend to like coffee a lot.”
A lot of the candle scents pay homage to the memories of her grandparents that she will always hold near and dear.
‘Ol Little Girl is what her grandfather would call all of the girls in her family when they were growing up.
The process of starting her business has been both emotional and therapeutic for Rivera, but deciding to name her business after her grandparents is Rivera’s way of honoring them and cherishing memories that will always be with her.
Ruth, Forget Me Not x ‘Ol Little Girlie

Rivera’s mother, Durrenda Mayfield-Johnson, said growing up with Durby Mayfield and Ruth Ellen Mayfield as parents was a perfect mix of yin and yang.
Her father was extremely humble and family-oriented. He always showed a united front with his wife but was a reasonable gentle giant to her four siblings and her.
Her mother was a no-nonsense firecracker who was strict and sassy. She instilled the importance of education, being a stand-up person and putting God first in her children.
“I’m excited about Kayla’s business. I wish my mom could now see how Kayla is honoring her and my father. They would be ecstatic. When I look at this picture she uses of them for her business, I see the love between them,” said Mayfield-Johnson.
Durby x Ellen Candle Co.’s fall collection recently launched and features candles, wax melts and reed diffusers.
The products are vegan, toxic-free and phthalate-free.
Ten percent of sales go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at (317) 762-7853 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON