For years, I bought candles based on one simple rule: If it smells good — I buy it. I never checked the wax type, wick material, or composition. Atmosphere mattered — not ingredients. But my candle journey actually began much earlier.

A few years ago, I was deeply into soap making. I loved creating things with my hands — mixing oils, choosing fragrances, experimenting with texture and design. Then I became obsessed with perfumery.

I searched for professional perfume courses — and I found them… in Kyiv, for several weeks, with a significant cost (especially if you’re doing it just for yourself). Leaving my family, projects, and work for weeks simply wasn’t possible at that time.

So I decided to learn on my own:

• studied old perfumery books,

• learned the structure of a fragrance pyramid (top — heart — base),

• experimented with essential and aroma oils,

• created small test blends and carried them around in tiny vials like treasure.

And yes — I’m that person who can stand in the laundry aisle for 10 minutes, smelling different fabric softeners to pick my mood for the week 😅.

One evening, I lit a candle I had bought earlier. Within minutes, the room felt heavy, a dark soot ring formed inside the jar, and I got another headache.

“What is this candle actually made of?”

That question changed everything. Most mass-market candles are made of paraffin — a byproduct of petroleum refining. Paraffin candles can emit soot and potentially harmful compounds when burned.

“Is it possible to make a candle that relaxes, doesn’t cause headaches, and is safe for indoor air?”

That was the moment LERO AROMA (IT Candles) was born.

I wanted to create clean, atmospheric, functional aromas — not just “pretty smells,” but scents that help shift your state: from overstimulation → to calm, from chaos → to focus.

Initially, my idea was to create candles specifically for people who work in tech and marketing — those who sit for hours in front of screens, juggling deadlines, multitasking, living with tabs open both on the laptop and in their mind.

• They don’t need a candle covered in dried flowers (and the ritual of removing decor before lighting).

• They need something simple: light → breathe → unwind.

To make that real, I chose natural ingredients:

• professional soy and coconut wax from the UK,

• certified fragrance oils and diffuser bases from Poland (IFRA / CLP compliant).

I started experimenting. At first — candles in regular glass jars.

Then I went deeper into the craft: I attended multiple candle-making workshops — and those workshops helped me understand the process professionally: wick sizing, temperature curves, fragrance load, and wax behavior. I fully immersed myself in candle making and the world of scent.

Soon, I’ll also attend a professional perfume-making workshop — I’ll share all the details afterwards.

Later, I began creating my own vessels: hand-cast gypsum jars (minimalistic and tactile). Then I found my perfect format — tin candles — lightweight, travel-friendly, safe, easy to extinguish and close immediately after use.

Today I work with multiple formats:

• glass jar candles,

• tin candles,

• gypsum vessel candles,

• home diffusers,

• car diffusers,

• wax sachets for closets,

• wax melts for aroma lamps.

And I’m still searching for the signature scent — the one that feels like “LERO AROMA.” When I find it, I’ll pause the search and let that fragrance become the brand’s identity. Until then, I’m testing — already over 122 fragrances — and you’ll be able to test them too.

Next in this article: Soy & Coconut Wax vs. Paraffin — what science says about health, indoor air quality, and environmental impact.

Ready to discover your focus-and-calm ritual? Explore the LERO AROMA collection.

Why this matters

I used to think the difference between waxes was mostly aesthetic. Research shows something more important: wax chemistry directly impacts your indoor air quality.

What paraffin is made of

Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct. When burned indoors, paraffin candles may release toluene, benzene, VOCs, soot, and micro-particles.

A review by the U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that paraffin candles can emit harmful compounds, especially when paired with low-quality synthetic fragrances. Source: PMC / NLM.

How soy & coconut wax behave

Soy and coconut waxes are plant-based and biodegradable. In controlled testing they produce significantly less soot and burn cleaner. Study: ResearchGate.

Sustainability

Paraffin = non-renewable fossil resource. Soy / coconut = renewable agricultural resources. Independent reviews indicate a lower carbon footprint for natural waxes versus paraffin. Sources: GreenMatch, Malibu Apothecary.

Design matters

Clean burn depends not only on wax, but also on the wick, IFRA/CLP-compliant fragrance, and a properly engineered vessel. Industry analysis echoes this: Slatkin & Co.

Side-by-side: Soy / Coconut vs. Paraffin

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions