We recently had the chance to connect with Anna Polonska and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anna, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time when I’m creating. When I design candle shapes, mix fragrances, and explore textures, I enter a flow where everything else disappears. It’s not just work — it’s a meditative process.
I find myself again in the moment I hold the finished candle in my hands and see how it brings life to a space. Or when I receive a kind message from someone whose home I made cozier. That’s when I know — I’m on the right path.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Anna Polonska. I moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2024 with my husband and children. Since childhood, I’ve loved creating — drawing, sculpting, imagining. Life once pulled me away from it, but after arriving in the U.S., I found myself again through candles.
I started from scratch — designing molds, working with plaster, soy wax, and fragrances. I don’t copy trends — I create from my own imagination. That’s how my brand Payso was born — named after the initials of my loved ones who support me.
My candles are more than decoration. They’re art pieces made with heart, meant to bring peace, light, and warmth into any home. I design them in various styles — from minimalist to romantic — so they fit different interiors.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
It was my family. My loved ones always saw something special in me — even when I wasn’t sure which path to take.
My children and my husband didn’t just support me when I started making candles — they believed in me more than I believed in myself.
Their faith gave me the strength to rediscover who I am: an artist, a creator, a businesswoman.
Even my brand name, Payso, is inspired by them — built from the first letters of their names. Everything I make carries their love.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self: “Don’t be afraid to be who you are. What you feel isn’t strange — it’s your gift. Protect it.”
I would hug that girl and say: “You will do amazing things. One day, your inner warmth will become light for others. Everything that feels lost now will become your strength.”
I wish I had known that the path doesn’t have to be straight — every turn matters. Even pain will one day become inspiration.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m devoted to the idea of creating beauty, light, and warmth around me. No matter how long it takes — I want to do more than sell products. I want to build an atmosphere people feel drawn to.
I believe that even small things, made with heart, can change a mood, a home, and even a life.
My project is more than a brand. It’s a path to myself, to creativity, to meaning. I’ll keep building it for as long as it takes — because it’s a part of me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
I will regret it if I don’t follow through with my creative journey — the way I truly see it. If I don’t create a space where art, comfort, interior design, and soul come together.
I dream of my brand becoming something more than just candles — something that inspires others and brings warmth into homes around the world.
If I don’t do that, I’ll regret not giving myself the full chance to believe and to show the world everything I carry inside.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paysocreative.etsy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payso.creative?igsh=OWNmbm9jYmxtN29h&utm_source=qr
