Today we’d like to introduce you to Kareema and Queena Boynton.
Hi Kareema and Queena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Arooma Things was created in March 2018. But our love for candles started early on. Growing up with an unfortunate childhood where we didn’t have the necessities in our house, candles were the one thing that made our house feel like a home. That special bond with candles was created at a very young age for us because it created the comfort we needed. The sweet smells would fill the house, the warmth from the burning wick kept us nice and toasty. Candles were there for us when we needed it and we want to share that comfort with you in your home.
As we got older, we fell in love with candles even more so we would shop for them often. One day at a store, we stopped and asked one another “why does all of these candles smell the same?” and thought it would be nice to see more creative scents that are also eco-friendly for customers. In 2018 we took that leap of faith to become those creators! We officially launched our first website and received our LLC in June of 2021.
Today, our company is centered around Aromatherapy, Candles, Room Sprays and Waxmelts. Making quality scents that lasts and lingers throughout your home. We place aroma above all to ensure quality products that smells great and adds personality to your home decor. It’s not just a candle business, it’s the room scenting experience!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been an easy road, we’ve faced many challenges throughout this journey, even from the beginning. When we originally started, we didn’t have much space to create our candles, we were in a small apartment, didn’t have much money to even buy what we needed, we had the vision but not many resources or funds for it. Our small apartment would hinder us from creating because we needed space and that’s what we didn’t have. Even with no money, we still invested every little dime into our business because we always felt like, “this is going to pay off”. People look at us and think we’ve always had the skills and money. When in reality we struggled with creating candles as well, it took a lot of trial & error to learn the craft. We weren’t always good at it but we were passionate about it. We had a friend tell us, “I wish I was good at something like you guys are” and we responded, “it’s not about being good at something; it’s about being passionate about it because with passion comes determination, and you can turn that determination into perfection”. It wasn’t always easy, we struggled with creating the candles, but with practice, time and determination we’ve gotten a lot better and now are good at what we do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Aroomathings curates specialized candles and room sprays. What makes our candles special is it’s custom scents and added decor to personalize “the look” along with scent of your home. Five years of experience pouring candles has given us the knowledge of all things wax. We are known for 3D wax embeds added to each candle that gives a realistic look to our sweets candles (blueberry cobbler) and all-natural candles (lemon lavender). The pop of color really catches the eye of our Instagram and TikTok following. We’re most proud of our community that’s been so supportive when we’re able to do pop-up shops and other ventures. Offering wholesale for candle beginners that want to start their own small business is by far the greatest way we’re able to share our expertise. Soon, we’ll be starting candle-making classes.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We look at taking risks as a challenge, and we love challenges. We never like things to come easy because the success won’t feel as rewarding. Our biggest risk was investments. The peak of our business was during the pandemic when money was tight for everyone, even us. We knew it would be a risk to launch our business in the middle of a pandemic, where sales weren’t promised and there wasn’t much money to even invest into our business. However, we didn’t let that stop us from taking that leap of faith. We challenged ourselves, and it ended up being the best risk we’ve taken because we were successful not only with sells but with networking, getting our name out there, gaining new loyal customers and learning so much about being entrepreneurs. Risks are necessary in order to grow, and we’re always up for any challenges.
Pricing:
- Candles starting at $7.50
- Room Sprays starting at $7.00
- Wholesale starting at $120.00
- Customize Candles starting at $60.00
- Reed Diffusers starting at $8.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aroomathings.myshopify.com/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/aroomathings?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AroomaThingsLLC
- Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRDCDFkq/
- Other: https://aroomathings.com/password
