So we thought it would be apt to begin our first blog post by documenting our journey to opening the RANDU online store.
RANDU began with something simple — the desire to learn a new skill and create luxury candles designed exactly the way we wanted them. After spending years buying expensive candles ourselves, we started wondering whether we could create beautiful, high-quality candles that looked, smelled, and performed just as well, but with our own personal touch and style behind them.
Interestingly, the name RANDU was actually created long before the business was. Around five years ago, we had the idea of creating a candle brand, but this came at the time when our business owner was just due to start adoption leave and life quite rightly became focused on enjoying time together as a family and helping our little one settle into their forever family. The candle idea was put to one side for a while, but the name always stayed in the back of our mind.
The name RANDU came from the feeling we wanted the brand to represent — relaxing and unwinding. By combining parts of the words “relax” and “unwind,” RANDU was born.
The real journey finally started in October 2025 when we began learning how to make candles from scratch. What seemed like a simple hobby quickly turned into months of research, testing, and learning. Countless hours were spent reading about candle making online, watching YouTube tutorials, and learning the realities of opening a small business — including understanding CLP label compliance and product safety requirements.
Candle making itself became a huge learning curve. There was endless testing to find the correct wick sizes, experimenting with the best oil percentages in soy wax, and discovering the ideal temperatures for mixing oils and pouring candles. Every small adjustment could completely change how a candle burned, smelled, or looked.
Along the way, we invested in equipment and tools to improve both the process and the final product. A large wax melter became essential for making larger batches, while funnels helped gently decant the wax into candle vessels to reduce air bubbles and create a smoother finish. We even discovered the importance of owning a heat gun — something we never imagined buying before — to perfect the tops of the candles and give them a clean, luxury appearance.
Outside of candle making, building the business came with its own challenges. Creating a Shopify store from scratch was a steep learning curve, and learning how to create Instagram content as a 40-year-old who has never really used social media has probably been one of the most difficult (but ultimately enjoyable) parts of the entire process.
But despite all the testing, research, frustrations, and late nights, seeing RANDU finally come to life has made the journey incredibly rewarding. What started as an idea years ago and a simple desire to learn something new has grown into a brand built around relaxation, comfort, and creating luxury candles that people can truly enjoy in their homes.