26 years old Agra Woman After quitting CA prep. CREDIT: Vritika Agarwal, the founder of House of Aura
Learn How 26 years old Agra Woman After quitting CA prep. House of Aura is an Agra-based candle company that was founded in 2024 and sells soy-wax, hand-poured, 100% individualized candles. The small firm typically makes between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1,50,000 a month.
After a long day, picture yourself returning home, ordering pasta, having a hot shower, and lighting a candle that represents your significant other. This aroma candle is highly customized, so it’s not your typical one.
Like a narrative, occasion, or memory transformed into an entire candle, providing you with healthy energy just when you need it most. The founder of House of Aura, Vritika Agarwal, wants every one of her clients to have this exact experience.
There are candle brands everywhere you look. In the sense that it should relate to individuals, their lives, and their stories, I wanted mine to be unique. In an exclusive interview with Indifact News, Vritika Agarwal says, “Luckily, it has been a little over a year, and that is exactly what my small business has turned out to be a warm hug to my customers.”
House of Aura is an Agra-based candle company that was founded in 2024 and sells soy-wax, hand-poured, 100% individualized candles. The small firm typically makes between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1,50,000 a month.
THE HISTORY
Vritika Agarwal is 26 years old and from the Uttar Pradesh city of Agra. She attended St. John’s College in Agra to complete her undergraduate education and earn a B.Com. She immediately started training to become a chartered accountant.
I abandoned my CA strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. My goal was to work in the creative industry. Despite being somewhat surprised by the choice, my parents continued to support me. Vritika Agarwal says, “I began my freelance career in social media and assisted brands in scaling their digital presence through content creation and creative strategy.”
She was prepared to launch her own business after nearly three years of supporting the expansion of other companies.
Working with a candle brand piqued my interest in the artistic process of candlemaking. The balance between fragrance and science is very delicate. I had been creating homemade items since I was a young child. My loved ones would always receive the most beautiful cards and unique gifts from me. “I knew this was my area: craftsmanship and candlemaking,” she explains.
In 2024, this established the framework for House of Aura.
JOURNEY AND DIFFICULTIES
With just Rs 25,000 that she had accumulated from her work managing social media and developing creative strategies, Vritika Agarwal bootstrapped House of Aura.
The creator of the small firm discloses the breakdown of investments:
- The raw materials required to begin creating candles were purchased for Rs 12,000: five kilograms of soy wax, three kilograms of gel wax, simple molds (flowers, teddy bears, etc.), simple glass and tin jars, a small collection of aromas, colors, and additions.
- The packaging, which included cardboard boxes, labels, stickers, bubble wrap, tape, courier package boxes, and safety padding material, cost about Rs 6,000.
- The purchase of essential equipment, including an induction cooktop, a pouring pitcher, a thermometer, spatulas, safety gloves, and a digital weighing scale, cost an additional Rs 4,000.
This is a general breakdown. The founder of the small business adds, “I also kept Rs 3,000 with me, in case I needed any additional stuff like ribbons or gift packaging.”
At first, Vritika had trouble striking a balance between cost and quality. High-end scents, premium jars, and high-quality wax are pricey, and as a fledgling brand with little purchasing power, things initially appeared difficult.
This was the most financial obstacle I faced. In order to continue increasing, I eventually learned to properly plan everything and reinvest every rupee I earned,” she explains.
Another obstacle Vritika overcame was identifying her niche and all that led to it. She attempted to do “everything” when she founded House of Aura. She didn’t become aware of the true market demand for unique candles and personalized gifts until a while later.
One thing became quite evident to me as I entered the market and spoke with numerous customers: people are interested in more than simply candles. They seek experiences that are significant, imaginative, and intelligent. They are looking for something that resonates with them more deeply. The USP of House of Aura eventually became just that, according to entrepreneur Vritika, who speaks to Indifact News.
Vritika continued to experiment, make errors, and improve her culinary methods throughout the trip. I have made every mistake possible while creating candles, from frozen wicks to problems with scent load. However, I maintained my composure and gave myself permission to stumble, get back up, and repeat the process once again,” she says with a smile.
Managing the brand’s development, packaging, shipping, and customer service presented yet another difficulty. At first, it seemed overwhelming, but she persisted.
I’ve been saved by systems. In order to establish trustworthy vendor connections, I established organized testing procedures when I ran across inventory problems. I created content calendars to take advantage of organic marketing and content production when I needed to increase sales. The majority of my problems were resolved by consistency, says entrepreneur Vritika.
Additionally, Vritika does not yet outsource the production process. What was she thinking? She enjoys doing it. She also wants complete control over each product’s quality and detailing. I do everything with my sister. She is my whole team. I collaborate with her at work,” Vritika says to Indifact News.
UNIT ECONOMICS
The typical order value at House of Aura is between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 because most clients buy two or three things at once. On the other hand, customized and event-based orders are far more valuable.
The creator of the small firm gives a buyer the general unit economics of each product that costs Rs 100:
- Approximately Rs 45 goes into production
- Rs 15 goes into packaging
- Rs 20 is taken up by logistics and shipping
- The remaining Rs 20 is the brand’s profit margin
It is important to remember that these figures differ by design, even if this is the fundamental framework.+9.
HOUSE OF AURA: ENERGY-CARRYING CANDLES
Today, House of Aura functions as a distinctive candle brand that combines gift-giving, creativity, and emotions. The Agra-based company offers highly customized gift alternatives, unique handcrafted designs, DIY kits for individuals who wish to produce their own gifts, and custom scents, themes, colors, and forms.
The story-to-candle concept is what sets House of Aura apart. Vritika creates candle sets based on stories, moments, or memories that customers share with her.
For example, I recently produced eight candles for a guy who wanted to give them to his girlfriend for her birthday. These eight candles stood for eight of her favorite things. Pinaté, chai, mango, watermelon, burfi, Christmas theme, and crystal theme all fit her personality and favorite flavors, according to Vritika Agarwal, who speaks to Indifact News.
A GAME FOR SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media has been crucial for Vritika’s House of Aura. She has been posting final product and behind-the-scenes films to YouTube and Instagram since the beginning.
According to the founder of the small business, these platforms are ideal for consumer conversion and brand discovery. Thanks to her clean, organic content, she currently has a community of over 1,000,000 people on social media.
AURA GROWTH
Over 10,000 clients have been served by House of Aura throughout India to far. Additionally, the tiny business’s revenue source has been consistent. It makes between Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,50,000 a month on average. Depending on the number and kind of projects, these estimates increase to Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh during the gift and wedding seasons.
“Our customized area generates the largest portion of our revenue. The founders of the small business tell Indifact News that personalized gifts like themed sets, distinctive mold designs, and candles for particular occasions typically generate the largest sales.
Establishing House of Aura has given Vritika Agarwal numerous opportunities. She is now trusted as a teacher and provides other creators with digital resources, social media advice, and one-on-one candle coaching. She has also branched out into a number of creative endeavors, including the introduction of digital products and the provision of raw materials. She was honored at the Bazama National Handicraft Artisan Shakti Conclave for running a startup that is entirely handmade.
Plan B is not something I believe in. My goal is to expand House of Aura’s product lines and make it a larger brand. To be honest, I am grateful to the Vritika who just pulled out the Rs 25,000 she had saved instead of pursuing her ambition of starting her own business. Vritika Agarwal continues, “This brand is and will continue to grow steadily because of that grit and positive impulse.”