(Music) - [Dara] Hes done this hundreds of times over the years Dump wax into the warmer Put the melted liquid in a cup Add fragrance Stir and pour.

- Just sit it there.

It'll start hardening depending on the temperature in here.

- Although Xavier People's candle making process may not catch your eye, the containers holding the wax certainly will.

- I would literally go to recycling centers.

I would wake up, if they open at 8:00 AM I was there 8:01, then I would literally like dig in the recycling bin, handpick the bottles out.

- Bottles that once held liquor, now repurposed to hold candle wax.

- Just seeing a lot of bottles in the trash can.

I was like, you know, a lot of these, a lot of companies, they spend a lot of money on this product.

Once it's done, it's getting tossed out, and it's never getting used again.

Once I started to dive into upcycling, I was like, "Oh wow, there's something kind of beautiful here."

(garage door opening) - [Dara] What's even more beautiful, is that Xavier doesn't have to hunt down bottles anymore.

These boxes on the back of his truck are all donations.

- I love that, how people are stack piling their bottles in their homes, and they're like, "Hey."

Emailing me like "Hey, we had a party last night, and we would love to donate these bottles to you."

And I would love to take 'em, because they're not going into a landfill.

They're going to another greater purpose.

- [Dara] But before they get to that greater purpose, he inspects them thoroughly, picking up each one.

- No one likes a, likes a candle that does have a pretty label on it.

So I just check all the bottles to make sure there aren't any defects on the labels, and to make sure they make a good candle.

- Then, it's time to cut the bottles, giving them their signature look.

Next, using sandpaper, Xavier smooths the edges, moving the bottle around in a circular motion.

(glass being scrubbed) - Couple of good times, so it gets that nice and soft.

So we're not cutting ourselves.

- And no vessel is complete without getting scrubbed, and dumped in soaky water.

- So after that, now we have a candle vessel ready to be turned into a candle.

- [Dara] After watching him work with such dedication, you might think this was always the career path he wanted, but... - I just stumbled upon it.

I love candles as as everyone else does.

And it was during the pandemic, I got furloughed from my flight attend the job, and I just was at home all day, and I had to create an atmosphere at home to be comfortable with.

- And the same comfortable atmosphere Xavier had with his handmade candles was the same one he wanted others to experience too.

- I was in my garage, in my hot garage, 400 square feet making candles every day.

So when I first started, I just started making videos online, and I made a website, and just, I think I posted like 20 candles.

I was like, "Oh yeah, this is, I hope this sells."

- [Dara] And they didn't just sell.

They sold out completely, numerous times.

- Without social media spreading the word, I don't think we would've grown so rapidly.

- [Dara] Viral moments on social media like this TikTok video, with over 2 million views, not only helped him sell products, but also sell tickets for his candle making classes.

- Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Top Shelf Candle Class.

Thank y'all for coming out.

- [Dara] In the weekly classes, Xavier teaches people how to make their own candles, using the upcycled bottles he creates.

- I love it.

I wish I had had the idea first.

Because even in your own home, you find yourself throwing away stuff you just don't need anymore.

- [Dara] Nykia Wheatley has attended classes for nearly a year, and says the sweet aroma of togetherness keeps her coming back.

- When you have people you connect with, and you align with, and you're on the same page, it just makes life easier.

It can be a hard week or a hard day, but you come and you're around people, and then you're laughing, you're laughing about the same thing and there's no drama, I kind of love that for me.

- [Dara] For first timer, Jalisa Griffin, sitting at the same table, the community atmosphere made her feel at ease.

- Being able to be around people, and everybody's doing the same thing at the same time with somebody instructing you was actually pretty cool.

So it was just a calming experience.

- [Dara] Those with the company like Alisa Anthon, who helps prepare tables for the class say it's meaningful, knowing they're bringing folks together.

I like being able to see people leave with a smile, and affect people positively.

This is one of the places you can do that in, not only with the candle class, but also when the people come in, they're not just coming for the candles, they're coming for the experience.

- [Dara] And experience is exactly what the attendees get.

Whether they're fellowshipping with Xavier, stepping out of their comfort zones, or making connections.

For "CarolinaIMPACT," I'm Dara Khalid.