My Story

Hello, my name is Iara (with an i). I was born on 2 September 1987 in Burgos, Spain, and I am a nurse and a professional illustrator. YŪNABI was born in the most unexpected way. I was lost, I didn't want anything, I didn't know what to do, who I want to be, I fell into a deep depression. By chance, I clicked on a youtube video in which ‘they taught you how to make a natural soy candle’. Without knowing it, I had stumbled upon something that would become, along with drawing, one of my great passions.

At that time I wasn't able to draw either, so I began to watch the video with restrained interest. Little by little something began to awaken inside me and I started to watch more and more videos of how to create these scented candles, which were totally natural. I am a person that any artificial product in air fresheners, candles, incense... makes me allergic, so discovering that there were candles that were created in a handmade way and that on top of that they were natural caught my attention. I realised that I could be able to make them myself at home, and so I went to buy my first starter kit to create them. The first ones I made weren't a total disaster, but they weren't what I expected. So I started buying top quality wax, nicer containers, decorations like natural micas, plastic-free glitter... and little by little I saw the results I wanted.

After a while, I started to feel like drawing again, so I was inspired by the scents I had bought. I drew a picture to match each candle and I couldn't be happier. I had managed to bring all this senses together in one product. I loved the idea of representing and being able to smell my drawings, to feel them.

At that time I didn't seriously think about creating a brand that encompassed this concept but little by little, just for fun, I started to design my logo, my thank you cards... I already have a stationery shop, so I was familiar with these concepts.

Later on I started to take product photographs and it was inevitable that YŪNABI was born.

In addition, it occurred to me to add music to my candles, which was one of the missing senses. I created the new "Aesthetic Collection" especially for those who enjoy a completely enveloping atmosphere, where they can immerse themselves in their thoughts and enjoy the here and now. 

The name YŪNABI comes from joining two Korean words, ‘Yu’ which means ‘harmony’, with ‘Nabi’ which means ‘butterfly’ and it would be like this: 유나비 (柔나비). Its meaning conveys a sense of flowing harmony and elegance, evoking the image of a butterfly in motion.

  • Poetic meaning: I associate YŪNABI with the experience of scented candles. Lighting a candle creates a harmonious flow of fragrance, peace, tranquillity and balance, reminding me of the delicate, soft wings of a butterfly.
  • Sensory transformation: Just as a butterfly undergoes a transformation, scented candles can transform the environment and our senses. YŪNABI symbolises this sensory transformation by lighting a candle and immersing you in its aroma and warm ambience.
  • Ethereal elegance: The combination of the terms ‘Yu’ and ‘Nabi’ evokes a sense of delicacy and elegance that adds an ethereal and enchanting dimension to any space.

I have always associated the wings of the butterfly with a colourful canvas, hence I decided to represent it in my brand to link the candles with my drawings to create a complete sensory experience, where a single product can awaken all your senses in an instant.