Our Story

Hello there! 

I'm Juda and I run The Aromatary

I started The Aromatary from my student house in my first year of university in 2017. I was just finishing up my final exams and had recently got back into baking as a distraction from how lonely and disconnected I felt from my friends and family. However, when you bake something you just have to eat it... all. This wasn't healthy for me at all but it was time away from social media, time away from the tv and sitting on the sofa feeling, not great.

I needed a hobby, a distraction which allowed be to be creative but wouldn't have me piling on the pounds. I cannot draw to save my life but I have always had a wax burner going or a candle burning on an evening since I was around 14/15 years old. I thought I'd give making wax melts a try. I ordered a wax melt 'DIY' kit from a reputable supplier and the day it got delivered I made by first bubblegum wax melt. Although looking back, it wasn't the best but I was proud of it. 

From there I threw myself into researching, making and exploring the world of wax melts. I set up The Aromatary and an Etsy page. It was a disappointment at first, the only sales I had were from friends and family and I was gutted. The Aromatary was put on the back burner.

Skipping forward some time I was still at university but decided to pick my old hobby back up. I sourced new recycled/recyclable packaging with the iconic 'tart' wax melt shape. Sourced higher quality and a more diverse range of scents and decided to not add colour to my melts. I bought a new printer, sticker paper and designed logos with scent names. Typed out all the CLP (the labels with all the allergen Information on them that no one reads) and got to work rebranding. I was happy with the work I'd put in and how far I had came but again it was slow and the market for wax melts was so saturated there was nothing that made me stand out. The Aromatary was stagnant.

Fast forward to 2020. I'm now in my final year of my Masters and spent the first 7 months of the year testing my wooden wick candles. What wax to use, what wicks to try, what size wicks, what type of glasses, how big? Clear glasses or frosted? To colour the wax or not? What range of scents? Ensuring everything was cruelty free, Rebranding (again) and deciding to really throw a lot of my own morals and values into The Aromatary. I kept the wax melt packaging as it was made from 100% recycled plastic and could be recycled again. I decided to use clear glass as it's easier to up-cycle or reuse or even be recycled after use. I decided on brown Kraft paper as an aesthetic as it's recyclable and not bleached like white paper and I LOVE the rustic look of brown Kraft paper, twine and the wooden wick contrasting the whiteness of the blended plant wax I use. 

What you see on this website today is not just a £25 candle. It's a product of the previous 4 years of my life, long nights and early mornings, getting frustrated and nearly giving up but coming back and refusing to be defeated.

I started The Aromatary, studied for my Masters in Chemistry and have a full time job as an analytical chemist. Its busy at times and I never have free time but I wouldn't change it for the world. 

The Aromatary really helped me in a time where I felt like I had nothing.

Thank you to all of my customers, past and present for all of the support.
- Juda