Cali Meets NYC
Affectionately known as the zip code candles, we’re all about a sensory experience because self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
A fragrant love letter to Cali and NYC, Cali Meets NYC is an everyday luxury home fragrance brand inspired by how I met the love of my life in candle form. When we met I lived in the Bay Area of Cali and he lived in NYC. Each candle is named after a zip code in Cali, New York, and places in between. It represents a meaningful chapter, a moment in time, and a specific place.
MELISSA JAGESSAR
My name is Melissa Jagessar, founder and CEO of Cali Meets NYC, a home fragrance brand rooted in meaningful storytelling and clean, health-conscious products. Inspired by my long-distance love story and the entrepreneurial legacy of my maternal grandmother, *Cali Meets NYC* was born from a deeply personal journey. When my grandmother passed away, I struggled with grief and suicidal thoughts, finding solace in lighting candles—a small act that offered healing and connection. This experience inspired me to create a brand centered on wellness and emotional connection. With degrees in Advertising Design (Syracuse University) and Fashion Journalism (Academy of Art University), along with a career spanning teaching, design, and visual merchandising, I’ve built a brand that bridges creativity and purpose. Since launching, Cali Meets NYC has been featured in Travel + Leisure, House Beautiful, and Tabitha Brown’s Very Good Mondays. Beyond the business, I share my expertise on YouTube, empowering others with candle-making tips and entrepreneurial insights. Cali Meets NYC is more than a brand; it’s a tribute to my grandmother’s resilience and a mission to inspire self-care, connection, and healing in others through thoughtful, quality products.
The mission of Cali Meets NYC is to inspire self-care, wellness, and meaningful connections through clean, consciously crafted fragrances. We aim to fill lives with warmth and romance by offering health-conscious products free from harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and endocrine disruptors. Rooted in the personal story of a long-distance love between California and New York City, our fragrances bridge emotional and physical gaps, fostering a sense of connection, tranquility, and mindfulness. At Cali Meets NYC, sustainability and ethical practices are at the heart of what we do. We prioritize eco-friendly materials and packaging to ensure your self-care rituals align with your values. By embracing storytelling, wellness, and thoughtful craftsmanship, we strive to create a lasting impact—helping individuals find joy, peace, and balance in their everyday lives.
