laurie guidi

Fabulous People: Laurie Guidi

Gilbert’s Laurie Guidi is the co-owner of Scottsdale Quarter-based candle-making company, Candle Chemistry, alongside her twin brother, husband and sister-in-law. (Sage & Saguaro and Cactus Flower are our favorite scents from Candle Chemistry’s Our Desert collection!) Learn about Laurie Guidi…

Hometown: As a child (all the way up through high school), we moved around a lot. I was born in California, then moved to Henderson, NV, then Phoenix, Tucson, back to California then back to Phoenix for good. I met my husband when I was 19, and we got married almost 10 years later at the Phoenix Art Museum.  We decided very early on that we would find a home, start a family and plant roots, so we chose Gilbert. We love it, and our children love it.

First job: At 14 (10th grade), I worked as a nanny every day after school for a family in California (the Scapellatis). I did that for about a year until we moved back to Arizona

Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: We love to travel and explore outdoors ā€“ especially when itā€™s hot outside. My parents have a second home in Pinetop-Lakeside, so we love to visit them (a k a Grandma and Papa) and enjoy the cooler weather.

Person who has impacted your life the most and why:Ā My ā€œWomb-mateā€ Ron! My twin brother and I have been inseparable since birth. I can depend on him for anything and everything. He is my best friend (next to my husband, of course) and business partner for life. I would not be where I am today without his brilliance and ā€œthinking outside the boxā€ kind of mindset.

Candle Chemistry’s Chris Guidi and Laurie Guidi, and Ron Jones and Salina Jones

Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes and why: My two beautiful girls, Mia and Giuliana. I look at them every day and am in awe that we created two perfect (in my mind) beings! I am so proud of the independent, loving and strong humans they are becoming.

The biggest obstacle you have overcome: The working mom/wife balance!  It was a true inner-struggle for me for years. I had a constant guilt that I was either letting my girls and hubby down for not being there enough or vice-versa letting my work down. This was why I (for so many years) was trying to come up with my own concept and business that would allow me to do it all.

Someone who inspires you and why: My entire family. To tell your family youā€™re going to quit your job (of almost 14 years) to start a ā€œcandle bizā€ is quite frightening and for everyone (and I mean EVERY.ONE.) to be so encouraging and supportive is so inspiring beyond my wildest dreams.  It gives me the fire and the motivation to keep goingā€”even during these scary COVID times. So a big thank you to my mom and dad, Ron and Salina, Tracy and Joby, Chris, Mia and Giuliana and everyone else!

Favorite quote: ā€œIf you can dream it, you can do it.ā€ ā€”Walt Disney

What you think makes someone fabulous: Authenticity. A person that shows their real self, real flaws, real and raw emotions.

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