I have always loved essential oils. I love that they are all natural and that they have aromatherapy benefits. I got really obsessed when my son was sick and a friend suggested eucalyptus essential oil to help him breathe. After that, I was hooked. I hurried over to Amazon and ordered as many like as I could.
I did tons of research on essential oils. I learned what each one was used for. I was constantly running my diffuser. I loved the fresh smell each essential oil brought, and I loved mixing them to create new blends.
I was sitting at my desk after class one day, (I’m a teacher) and I thought to myself, “how can I take my knowledge of essential oils and use it to help others?” I was looking at the description on some essential oils I wanted to buy. The description read “great for candle making.” I was thinking to myself, I love candles! Then it hit me. Essential oils. Candles. Essential oils. Essential oil candles. That was the day Attar Jane was born.
I watched every YouTube video on candle making I could find. I researched wicks, vessels, which wax to use. I wanted to create an all natural essential oil candle. I chose soy wax because it was chemical free, I chose my wick, and I already had my essential oils! I was so excited to get started. When I googled “ how to make essential oil candles” I found some discouraging remarks about it being too hard and too expensive. I was determined though, I wanted all natural candles! My mission was to help others through aromatherapy. I also learned how toxic fragrance oils really are, and I couldn’t consciously sell those knowing they could cause someone harm.
Getting started was.. rough. Finding the right amount of essential oil was very hard, as it is different from fragrance oil. Finding an oil supplier that had legitimate essential oils was even harder. My first candles had no scent at all. Making labels was hard, it was all hard, especially getting not so positive feedback in the beginning. Some days I just wanted to give up.
As the weeks flew by, I started getting my formula down. Scents started to come together, and I made a few sales. It was slow, but it was getting easier. I changed vessels I don’t know how many times, in the attempt to compete with other candle makers. My labels seemed to change every week as well.
When Christmas time came around, my sales seemed to explode. I was getting tons of positive feedback. I could barely keep up. I remember one day making a huge batch and my mom looked at me and said, “Hannah, you are going to need a business license,” and that’s the day I became an official business owner.
Business continued to progress right up until I took time off for maternity leave. As I’m writing this, it’s been a year since I started this journey. I’m selling candles and wax melts faster than I can make them, and I have an Etsy shop now. I’m still learning, but I’ve come a long way from where I was, and I’m proud of that. My advice to you if you’re reading this, don’t give up on your dream. Keep pushing, keep grinding, and don’t give up. You will get where you want to go, it just takes time, and lots of work.
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