§1What this business is
This is a home-scale unit with no machinery. Wax is melted in a pot, taken off the heat, coloured with pigment at 70–85 degrees, mixed with an aromatic essence or essential oil, and poured at about 62 degrees into a glass or tin with a waxed wick in the centre. The candle sets in about three hours, the wick is trimmed, and the jar is decorated and labelled. Products are jar candles, pillar candles and soy candles in floral, fruity and herbal scents such as lemongrass, rose and lavender.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A creative person with an eye for scent, colour and packaging who can sell online and at fairs.
Who it is not for
Someone who wants bulk factory production with little selling effort.
Advantages
- No machinery; starts from a home kitchen
- High margin over plain candles
- Tourists and gift buyers pay for design and scent
- Suits women working part-time from home
Drawbacks
- Easy to copy, so many small sellers
- Sales peak at festivals and in tourist season
- Glass jars break in transport
Skills you need
- Wax, fragrance and colour mixing ratios
- Pouring at the right temperature
- Decoration and packaging
- Online selling and product photography
Why difficulty 1/5: Simple hand process with almost no equipment; selling is the real work.
§3Market
Who buys
- Tourists and gift buyers
- Spas, massage centres and wellness resorts
- Home décor shoppers
How it sells
- Online platforms and social media
- Home décor stores, boutiques and supermarkets
- Fairs and exhibitions
Good to know
- The profile says aromatherapy and premium scented candles are in high demand in spas and massage centres.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tools (pan, gas stove, induction, measuring spoon, pot) | — | ₹0.05 lakh |
| Furniture and set-up (work table, storage shelves, packaging station) | — | ₹0.06 lakh |
| Fixtures (light, fan, cabinets) | — | ₹0.01 lakh |
| Others (labelling equipment, gloves, masks) | — | ₹0.02 lakh |
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Aromatic Candles Manufacturing
- Paraffin or soy waxmedium melting point wax, poured at about 62 degrees
- Fragrance essence or essential oilslavender, citrus, lemongrass, rose and others
- Waxed wicks, colour pigments, glass jars and tinsraw material is ₹4.97 lakh a year
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Aromatic Candles Manufacturing
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- Trade licence from the local body
- GST registration once turnover crosses the limit
- Trademark for your brand (optional)
Start it in your state
Pick your state: today’s cost, central + state subsidy, raw material, land and help, on one page.
§6Schemes & subsidies
A ₹7.00 lakh home unit fits a MUDRA loan or PMEGP with subsidy; women's self-help groups can also take it up.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Building rent ₹0.12 lakh + equipment and furniture ₹0.14 lakh + miscellaneous fixed assets ₹0.02 lakh + pre-operative expenses ₹0.05 lakh + working capital ₹6.67 lakh = ₹7.00 lakh. Plant and machinery is ₹0.00.
Working capital: Almost the whole project cost is working capital: ₹6.67 lakh out of ₹7.00 lakh, for wax, fragrance, jars and wages.
Year not printed on the DUY profile, and it is a scanned document — check current prices of wax and fragrance.
§8Export potential
No HS code is given here — the profile prints none. Confirm the ITC(HS) line with DGFT or a customs broker.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Burns or fire from hot wax
- Candles that sink, crack or lose scent
- Unsold stock after the season
- Cheap imports and mass-made candles
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working aromatic (scented) candle making unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, Trade licence from the local body), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Aromatic (Scented) Candle Making?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.