Sculpting Scents: Aneelia’s Magical World of Treat-Inspired Candles
Ever heard the phrase necessity is the mother of invention? This was proven true for nineteen year old entrepreneur, Aneelia Balraj. We met the passionate creative at C3 Mall in San-Fernando where she set up shop with her wick-edly delicious candles. As we passed by, my curiousity was peaked so I just had to know more about the brand and the person behind it.
Aneelia told YCG that her candle making journey started out of necessity.
“I was diagnosed with anxiety and the prescription medication wasn’t for me…”
Needing something to aid with her anxiety, Aneelia said she started to experiment with aromatherapy candles.
“I gave my friends and family it and they really loved it and were willing to buy it and that’s when I really considered making this a business”
Her transition from personal remedy to a burgeoning business unfolded seamlessly, as positive feedback from friends and family fueled her ambition.
Aneelia’s perseverance shines through as, seven years on, Wax Craft has blossomed into a hub of aromatic indulgence. Her journey, marked by numerous trials and triumphs, has evolved into a diverse collection of candles.
From stress-relieving aromatherapy essentials crafted with precision from essential oils to the visually enticing dessert line—each meticulously designed candle has contributed to Wax Craft becoming a haven for those seeking relaxation and sensory delight.
“Aromatherapy first of all, helps with stress, anxiety and general relaxation. Those are strictly made with essential oils. We also have the dessert line which is made to smell exactly how they look. We have coffee, pumpkin spice…”
Aneelia told YCG she was first started displaying symptoms of anxiety disorder when she was a Standard One student. She was around eight or nine years old when she started getting chest pains and breathing problems. Her parents took her to numerous doctors who ran numerous tests but all to no avail. She said for quite a while she was told, there was nothing wrong.
“I was told I was overweight and that was the issue and then years later, a doctor told me I just had anxiety and I was getting anxiety attacks a lot. That was when I was diagnosed with anxiety. I was probably around 11 when I was diagnosed, I was probably in 2015 or 2016.“
Asked to share what in her experience is one of the misconceptions about living with anxiety, Aneelia said many people wrongly believe that the only cure is medication.
While she acknowledges that this is true for some people, she thinks it important to note that like most things, treatment for anxiety is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
“I think I needed to figure out myself on what was triggering my anxiety compared to it just happening. There are some people who were just triggered or had certain stuff that would make them get the anxiety attacks and stuff so I think it’s deeper than just the attack. Sometimes medications would just mask it for a period of time… I needed to figure it out, I needed to meditate. Everybody is different.”
Aneelia On Her Struggles With Anxiety
Aneelia told YCG she was first started displaying symptoms of anxiety disorder when she was a Standard One student. She was around eight or nine years old when she started getting chest pains and breathing problems. Her parents took her to numerous doctors who ran numerous tests but all to no avail. She said for quite a while she was told, there was nothing wrong.
I was told I was overweight and that was the issue and then years later, a doctor told me I just had anxiety and I was getting anxiety attacks a lot. That was when I was diagnosed with anxiety. I was probably around 11 when I was diagnosed, I was probably in 2015 or 2016.
Asked to share what in her experience is one of the misconceptions about living with anxiety, Aneelia said many people wrongly believe that the only cure is medication.
While she acknowledges that this is true for some people, she thinks it important to note that like most things, treatment for anxiety is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
“I think I needed to figure out myself on what was triggering my anxiety compared to it just happening. There are some people who were just triggered or had certain stuff that would make them get the anxiety attacks and stuff so I think it’s deeper than just the attack. Sometimes medications would just mask it for a period of time… I needed to figure it out, I needed to meditate. Everybody is different.”
Aneelia’s Experience As An Entrepreneur
For Aneelia, entrepreneurship continues to be a fulfilling journey.
It all began in 2016 when her mother, Mala Basdeo, decided to a course in soap and candle making that was offered by the Ministry of Community Development. Aneelia was 12 years old at the time and accompanied her mother to the classes after school. She said before long, the course tutor encouraged her mother to officially sign her up for the class.
Aneelia was registered and wound up being the youngest person to successfully complete that course. The rest, as they say, is history.
Such is the success of WaxCraft, that Aneelia said her biggest challenge to date has been meeting the demands of her growing client-base.
“I have a lot of requests for different things so it’s probably the biggest challenge is meeting everyone’s demands in a sense that sometimes it’ll be hard to get supplies for demands at a certain point in time as my suppliers wouldn’t have stuff in stock.”
Asked what’s next for her company, the 19-year-old said she is working on getting a physical storefront and she is also looking into selling her goods on the international market.
