WEST BOYLSTON —Jhené Reyna’s pandemic ennui took an entrepreneurial turn.

The eleven-year-old, who began making candles to pass the time during the pandemic, is now selling them on Instagram and at the West Boylston Community Market every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

“During the pandemic it was hard to keep busy, my parents tried everything with us from playing games, watching movies, reading. One day I asked my mom if she could order a candle starter kit just to try something different and from there grew Jhene Reyna Candle Co,” said Reyna. 

Reyna makes soy blended candles in a variety of scents.  Her production process includes measuring and cutting down the wax, melting it at the proper temperature, adding a wick and then the color and scent during the cooling process.

“The top scent I would say is definitely ‘Sea Seal & Orchid,’” said Reyna. “It has a very light floral scent but also smells like the beach. In the summer months watermelon is huge. For fall we get a lot of requests for anything pumpkin.”

Reyna’s mother, Jennifer Garcia, assists her daughter with some incidentals. 

“Jhene is very hands on when it comes to making the candles so I assist her with the small stuff such as labeling, making sure the temperatures are where they should be, cutting the wicks down etc.,” Garcia said. 

Garcia added that her daughter’s ambition and outgoing personality lend themselves to her latest entrepreneurial endeavor. 

“Jhene has a very entrepreneurial spirit,” said Garcia. “She loves everything about meeting new people and showing them what she creates. She is very outgoing and driven.”

Reyna credits her parents with encouraging her to pursue her interests without any perceived impediments.

“I’m actually very proud of myself,” said Reyna. “Not many kids have the courage to start something like this. My parents encourage me every day by telling me girls can do any and everything. Don’t ever limit yourself and that’s kind of what keeps pushing me to try new things.”