Today we’d like to introduce you to Francheska Travieso
Francheska, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began 10 years ago, with the birth of my first child. Motherhood was an incredible blessing, but I quickly found myself feeling like I was losing touch with who I was. The creative, passionate person I had always been seemed to fade into the background as I poured everything into being a mom. That’s when I started looking for a way to reconnect with myself.
I’ve always been crafty, so creating something with my hands felt therapeutic. I began making soaps, skin products, and candles—not just for the joy of it but also as a way to carve out space for myself amid the chaos of motherhood. At the time, I didn’t have a name for it, but this was the beginning of my self-love journey.
I started sharing my creations under the name Paper in Bloom, a project focused on reducing waste and reconnecting with nature. However, as I worked on it, I realized I wasn’t just looking for something to help me look good or feel like my old self. This was a process of rediscovering who I truly am, and it became a deeply healing experience.
As women, and especially as mothers, society teaches us to focus on everyone else—to take care of our families, our communities—but rarely ourselves. We’re told to give endlessly, but no one reminds us that you can’t pour from an empty glass. I had to learn this the hard way.
As my healing process deepened, my creations began to evolve. I started learning about meditation, mindfulness, and connecting more deeply with myself. Things I used to value didn’t seem as important anymore, and I began to find beauty in life’s smaller moments. I realized that if I wanted to help others, I had to take care of myself first.
Almost three years ago, my family relocated from Puerto Rico to Florida. It was a chance to start from scratch. That’s when my brand, Soaps Candles and Dots, was born. It became a reflection of everything I had learned on my journey—a way to reconnect with myself and inspire other women to do the same.
This brand isn’t just about products. Every soap, candle, and spray is created with intention and purpose. They are tools for self-care, reminders to pause and reconnect with yourself. Through this work, I realized that my mission goes beyond creating. It’s about helping women embrace their power and rediscover their worth.
That’s what led me to become a certified self-love coach. My goal is to guide women on their own journeys of self-discovery, to remind them that taking care of themselves isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Today, Soaps Candles and Dots is not just a brand; it’s a movement to inspire women to reconnect with themselves, embrace their power, and find fulfillment in who they are.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many journeys of self-discovery and growth, mine has been filled with challenges.
Motherhood itself was the first big challenge. It’s a beautiful experience, but it’s also overwhelming and can feel isolating. I struggled with losing my sense of self while trying to meet everyone else’s needs. Society’s expectations of mothers don’t help; there’s constant pressure to give and give without stopping to care for yourself. Breaking free from that mindset was one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of my journey.
Relocating from Puerto Rico to Florida almost three years ago added another layer of difficulty. Life after Hurricane Maria was incredibly hard. I had two-month-old twins and a young daughter, and navigating the aftermath of such a catastrophic event while caring for them was overwhelming. Moving to Florida felt like starting over from scratch—rebuilding my business, establishing connections, and creating stability for my family.
Trying to change the world in my own way—shifting mentalities, creating products with intention, and encouraging women to prioritize self-love—has been equally challenging. Not everyone understands this process, and I’ve faced my share of skepticism and misunderstanding from people who don’t see the value in it. At times, it was hard not to feel isolated, especially when I lacked a sense of community or the professional contacts to lean on. However, this journey has also introduced me to incredible, like-minded people. Through markets and events, I’ve built relationships with others who share my vision, and collaborating with them has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.
Through it all, my husband has been my rock. His unwavering support and encouragement during the hardest moments have kept me grounded. He believes in me, even when I’ve doubted myself, and has reminded me time and again that I’m not doing this alone.
At the same time, I’ve been navigating my own healing process. That meant facing uncomfortable truths, breaking old patterns, and learning to prioritize my needs. It’s not easy to unlearn years of putting others first, especially when guilt creeps in.
But these struggles taught me resilience. Each challenge helped me grow and shaped the person I am today. They taught me to trust the process, embrace imperfection, and believe in my vision. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade any of it because every obstacle brought me closer to my purpose—helping women reconnect with themselves, embrace their power, and find strength in their own journeys.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in helping women reconnect with themselves and rediscover their inner power through intentional self-care and self-love practices. My work combines handcrafted holistic self-care essentials—like natural soaps, crystal candles, lotion bars, and auric sprays—with self-love coaching that provides tools for personal growth and healing.
I’m most proud of how my journey has transformed into a way to support others. Everything I create has a purpose, whether it’s a product infused with energy and intention or a coaching session designed to guide women back to their authentic selves. Seeing my work impact others positively, helping them regain confidence and embrace who they truly are, is deeply fulfilling.
What sets me apart is the deeply personal connection I have with my work. My brand, Soaps Candles and Dots, is a reflection of my own self-love journey. Each product or service comes from a place of genuine experience and healing. This isn’t just about selling products—it’s about creating tools that inspire transformation and connection.
I also integrate mindfulness, meditation, and spiritual practices into what I offer, creating a unique combination of tangible and intangible support. My products are handcrafted with care, using natural ingredients and infused with intention. My coaching is grounded in empathy and understanding, providing actionable tools rather than advice.
Another thing that sets me apart is my holistic approach. I see self-care not as a luxury but as a necessity, and I aim to create a space where women feel empowered to nurture themselves without guilt. It’s about more than feeling good—it’s about rediscovering who you are and living a life aligned with your true self.
Ultimately, my mission is to inspire women to embrace their worth and live fulfilling lives by prioritizing self-love and self-care. Knowing that my work can help make that a reality is what drives me every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is finding joy in the simple things—my kids’ laughs, hugs, and jokes, the peace of silence, walking barefoot on the grass, appreciating nature, and savoring yummy food. Breathing deeply, being present, knowing I can help others, and feeling free to be myself without worrying about others’ opinions truly fill me with happiness.
Pricing:
- pricing from $9-$35
- Only use natural ingredients
- All craft with intention and love
- All made from scratch
- mindful packaging
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soapscandlesanddots.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapscandlesanddots and https://www.instagram.com/theselflovelight
