Create artisanal bath and home fragrance products. This growing market appeals to customers seeking natural, locally-made alternatives to mass-produced products with customizable scents and ingredients.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
Create artisanal bath and home fragrance products. This growing market appeals to customers seeking natural, locally-made alternatives to mass-produced products with customizable scents and ingredients.
Consider these related business ideas and specializations:
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Make a batch of 20 candles in one signature scent ($100-150 in supplies). Sell at the farmers market for 2-3 weekends. Note which sizes sell, what questions people ask, and whether tourists or locals buy more.
What scent profiles resonate? Are your prices right? Do people want gift sets? How long does a market day actually take?
You sell 75% of your inventory and have people asking when you'll be back.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Cheap fragrance oils throw poorly (weak scent), discolor wax, or contain ingredients that cause headaches. Your scent IS your product.
Good enough: Mid-tier suppliers like CandleScience or Bramble Berry. Test before buying in bulk. Avoid random Amazon sellers.
Wrong wick = candle that tunnels, smokes, or burns too fast. Each container/wax/fragrance combo needs the right wick size. Testing matters.
Good enough: Reputable suppliers with wick guides. Test 2-3 wick sizes per container before committing.
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your handcrafted candles & soaps business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Design and create wearable art pieces from various materials. Handmade jewelry allows for endless creativity and personalization, from delicate minimalist pieces to bold statement items.
Share your artistic vision through original works and high-quality reproductions. Local art buyers appreciate supporting artists in their community and having access to unique pieces.
Transform yarn and fiber into cozy, wearable, and decorative items. Handknit and crocheted items are treasured for their warmth, uniqueness, and the skilled labor they represent.
San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:
Test this idea before investing heavily:
Make a batch of 20 candles in one signature scent ($100-150 in supplies). Sell at the farmers market for 2-3 weekends. Note which sizes sell, what questions people ask, and whether tourists or locals buy more.
What scent profiles resonate? Are your prices right? Do people want gift sets? How long does a market day actually take?
You sell 75% of your inventory and have people asking when you'll be back.
Expected startup and operating expenses:
Areas where quality investment pays off:
Cheap fragrance oils throw poorly (weak scent), discolor wax, or contain ingredients that cause headaches. Your scent IS your product.
Good enough: Mid-tier suppliers like CandleScience or Bramble Berry. Test before buying in bulk. Avoid random Amazon sellers.
Wrong wick = candle that tunnels, smokes, or burns too fast. Each container/wax/fragrance combo needs the right wick size. Testing matters.
Good enough: Reputable suppliers with wick guides. Test 2-3 wick sizes per container before committing.
Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:
Financial timing and planning notes:
Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:
Join shomby today and start selling to your local community. We provide the platform—you bring the passion.
We build shomby around your business—not the other way around. If there's a feature, integration, or tool that would help your handcrafted candles & soaps business succeed, we want to hear about it.
Design and create wearable art pieces from various materials. Handmade jewelry allows for endless creativity and personalization, from delicate minimalist pieces to bold statement items.
Share your artistic vision through original works and high-quality reproductions. Local art buyers appreciate supporting artists in their community and having access to unique pieces.
Transform yarn and fiber into cozy, wearable, and decorative items. Handknit and crocheted items are treasured for their warmth, uniqueness, and the skilled labor they represent.