Member Stories
Hi Sunday
When Christine Tsang started experimenting with coffee and tea scented candles during the pandemic in her Bronx apartment, she had no idea it would spark the beginnings of Hi Sunday—a home fragrance brand now known for its crackling wooden wick candles and reed diffusers inspired by Asian flavors and NYC culture.
“I’m always developing fragrances with a creative spin on the Asian flavors I grew up with,” Christine says. From matcha pandan latte to lychee rose and ube affogato, Christine’s hand-poured candles blend the warmth of nostalgia with a modern, minimalist aesthetic—offering a creative scent experience for those who crave something different from the mass market.
As an AAPI business owner, Christine embraces the role of both storyteller and torchbearer: “It means contributing to the entrepreneurial tapestry many of the previous generations have already set in motion, and continuing to set the example for the ones to come. It’s also about being a driver of awareness—so that everyone can share in the experiences we love and grew up with.”
Though Hi Sunday is still growing, Christine has her sights set on expansion—including a future brick-and-mortar space where customers can lounge, taste, and experience her signature scents firsthand.
Her advice to aspiring AAPI entrepreneurs? “Start with a problem-solving mindset. Sometimes just going through the process helps build confidence for bigger goals.”
Current favorite scent: mango sticky rice—a fragrance that took the longest to perfect, and one she’s “over the moon” to finally share.