Naturally Handcrafted. Thoughtfully Made.
Founded by two sisters, Vanessa and Ivy.
Discover handcrafted soaps, hand-poured candles, natural mists, and beautiful things inspired by the scents, stories, and traditions of our heritage.
One Heritage
Two Crafts
Products inspired by our childhood memories in the Philippines, created with care.
Meet the Makers
Two Sisters. One Mission.
Vanessa handcrafts soaps in St. Petersburg. Ivy hand-pours candles in Miami. 250 miles apart, they're united by a shared vision: creating Filipino-heritage wellness that feels like home.
It all started when Vanessa's daughter introduced the family to handmade soaps. Loving the results but not the price, this former registered nurse with a problem-solving mindset decided to research, test, and create her own. What began as a personal project became something she shared with family, earning rave reviews along the way.
Inspired by Vanessa's work, Ivy saw an opportunity to complement those soaps with candles she'd long wanted to make. Drawing on years in luxury hospitality, she dove into her own research and testing, bringing the same care and intention to every candle.
As their crafts grew, something deeper connected them. Both sisters immigrated from the Philippines as teenagers and found themselves drawn to the scents of their childhood - sampaguita, buko, calamansi. What began as separate creative pursuits became a shared mission: creating culturally rooted self-care for the Filipino diaspora.
Today, both are mothers raising daughters. Together, they run Ives & Bees, making heritage something you can hold, light, and return to, one scent at a time.
Vanessa’s journey into soapmaking started with a simple question: Why not make my own?
Growing up in the Philippines, Vanessa developed a love of music and attended the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, where she majored in piano. At 19, she immigrated to the United States and took a different path, eventually becoming a registered nurse. Her clinical training, combined with her creative background, gave her a natural appreciation for ingredient safety, precision, and thoughtful formulation.
When her daughter introduced the family to handmade soaps, Vanessa loved the way they felt on her skin but couldn’t justify the price—so she decided to learn how to make them herself. After months of researching, testing, and experimenting, soapmaking became more than a curiosity; it became a passion.
Today, Vanessa brings her clinical knowledge, creative problem-solving skills, and love of natural ingredients to every formula. Inspired by the botanicals and memories of her childhood in the Philippines, she handcrafts each batch in her St. Petersburg home studio—creating soaps that are simple, beautiful, and made with care.
Fun Fact: Vanessa came up with the company name, Ives & Bees, inspired by their childhood nicknames. Ivy’s given name is Sylvia, while Vanessa’s childhood nickname was Bunny Bee. She combined them and got Ives & Bees!
Ivy’s journey into candle making started with a love of fragrance—and a simple question: Can I make a better candle?
Growing up in the Philippines, scents like buko, calamansi, and sampaguita became part of Ivy’s childhood memories. After immigrating to the United States at 15, she eventually built a career in luxury hospitality across New Jersey, New York City, Chicago, and Connecticut. That experience taught her the art of creating thoughtful, memorable experiences—a skill that continues to shape everything she does at Ives & Bees.
Ivy has always loved scented candles, but over time, she noticed that some candles would leave her with headaches. Curious about what she was bringing into her home, she began researching waxes, wicks, fragrances, and other candle ingredients. What started as curiosity soon became a passion for creating candles she could feel good about burning.
After months of researching, experimenting, and testing, Ivy began making her own candles. Today, she hand-pours every Ives & Bees candle from her Miami studio while working full-time as a Business Analyst, bringing her analytical mindset, attention to detail, creativity, and love of fragrance to every batch.
Inspired by the scents and memories of her childhood, Ivy creates candles that are thoughtfully made, beautifully scented, and designed to bring a little piece of home into your space.
Fun Fact: Growing up, Ivy was often called “bossy,” and her family predicted she’d become a businesswoman like her mom. Turns out, they were right! 😉
We created Ives & Bees for you
"We started Ives & Bees with a simple intention: to create thoughtful, everyday goods rooted in care and purpose. What began as a small passion has grown into a collection shaped by community, culture, and mindful making. We’re so glad you’re here and hope our products become part of your daily rituals."
A note from Vanessa & Ivy,
The sisters who started Ives & Bees
