Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Porter.
Hi Toni, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I founded Toni’s Collection in 2012 with a simple vision: to create beautiful, high-quality home fragrance products that make people feel at home wherever they are. What began as a creative outlet has grown into a luxury home fragrance brand offering handcrafted soy candles, home and linen mists, wax melts, diffuser oils, and interactive candle-making experiences through our Sip & Scents workshops.
Like many entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve balanced motherhood, worked through financial challenges, navigated unexpected setbacks, and continued investing in my business even when the path wasn’t easy. Every obstacle has strengthened my commitment to building something meaningful that reflects quality, creativity, and community.
Today, Toni’s Collection is more than a candle company. We create elevated fragrance experiences that help people celebrate life’s moments, make their homes feel luxurious, and bring people together. From private candle-making events to wholesale partnerships and custom fragrance experiences, my goal has always been to build a brand that leaves a lasting impression.
As a Detroit entrepreneur, I’m proud to represent a city built on resilience, innovation, and hard work. My journey continues to evolve, and I’m excited about expanding Toni’s Collection through retail partnerships, community events, corporate gifting, and scent branding while inspiring other entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams with confidence and persistence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Entrepreneurship has definitely not been a smooth road, but every challenge has strengthened both me and my business. One of the biggest lessons has been learning to balance being a business owner while also being a full-time mom. There have been countless late nights, early mornings, and moments where I had to choose faith over fear.
Like many small businesses, I’ve navigated economic uncertainty, rising material costs, and the challenge of growing a premium brand while remaining accessible to my customers. I’ve also experienced unexpected personal setbacks, including navigating a major insurance loss that temporarily disrupted both my home and my business. Those experiences tested my patience, resilience, and ability to adapt.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about avoiding obstacles—it’s about continuing to move forward despite them. Every setback has pushed me to become a better leader, strengthen my systems, invest in my education, and remain committed to building a brand rooted in quality, integrity, and community.
Today, I don’t see challenges as roadblocks. I see them as opportunities to grow, innovate, and prove to myself that persistence always outlasts adversity.
We’ve been impressed with Toni’s Collection LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Toni’s Collection is a Detroit-based luxury home fragrance brand specializing in handcrafted soy candles, home and linen mists, diffuser oils, wax melts, and immersive candle-making experiences. Founded in 2012, our mission is to help people transform everyday spaces into elevated experiences through thoughtfully curated fragrance.
While our products are known for their sophisticated scents and modern black-and-gold aesthetic, we’re equally known for the experiences we create. Through our signature Sip & Scents candle-making workshops, we bring families, friends, corporate teams, and communities together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories.
What sets Toni’s Collection apart is our commitment to craftsmanship, quality, and intentional design. Every fragrance is carefully selected, every product is hand-poured in Detroit, and every detail—from our luxury packaging to our customer experience—is designed to evoke comfort, elegance, and lasting impressions.
One of the things I’m most proud of is building a brand that has grown through authenticity, resilience, and community. Over the years, we’ve expanded beyond retail into private events, corporate gifting, wholesale partnerships, and custom fragrance experiences while remaining true to our core values.
As we continue to grow, my vision is for Toni’s Collection to become a nationally recognized luxury fragrance brand that represents Detroit with excellence. I want readers to know that every candle, every fragrance, and every experience is created with intention because we believe scent has the power to transform not only a room, but the moments people share within it.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is, by nature, an exercise in calculated risk. Every investment I make—whether it’s purchasing inventory, signing up for business development programs, launching a new product, or expanding into new markets—comes with uncertainty. The key is making informed decisions while remaining willing to bet on yourself.
One of the biggest risks I took was investing in Toni’s Collection long before I knew exactly where it would lead. Over the years, I’ve reinvested into my business through education, branding, equipment, product development, and networking opportunities, often before seeing an immediate return. Those investments have opened doors to wholesale partnerships, media features, vendor opportunities, and community collaborations that continue to move the business forward.
I don’t consider myself someone who takes reckless risks. I believe in doing my research, creating a plan, and then having the courage to take action. Growth doesn’t happen inside your comfort zone. Some opportunities work out exactly as planned, while others become valuable lessons that shape better decisions in the future.
My philosophy is simple: if the opportunity aligns with my vision and values, I’m willing to take the chance. Every meaningful step in my journey—from launching Toni’s Collection to creating our Sip & Scents experiences—started with believing in something before there was proof it would succeed. That’s a mindset I’ll continue to carry as I grow the brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.toniscollection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toniscollection/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TonisCollection
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@toniscollectionllc
