This year we piloted a home-based candle making batch with two women from the settlement, Rekha and Vaishali. Both had limited literacy, no previous work experience and very little confidence in handling heat-based or precision tasks. Candle making was selected because it allows safe home production, small-batch work and festival-season income.
Month One – Learning the basics
The first few weeks were slow because both women were hesitant to work with hot wax. Rekha kept checking the temperature every few minutes because she was worried it would spill. Vaishali mixed too quickly at first, which created air bubbles in the final product. We focused on three basics
- melting and pouring at the right temperature
- adding fragrance and colour evenly
- setting and unmoulding without cracks
By the end of the month they could produce simple tea lights without supervision.
Output was small, but the consistency was improving.
Months Two to Four – Developing steady quality
By the second quarter, both women had begun experimenting more confidently. Rekha became very particular about wick placement. She adjusts every wick with a pin until it stays perfectly centered. Vaishali developed a strong sense of colour gradients. Her layered candles began to look surprisingly polished. We introduced
- glass jar candles
- festival diya-style candles
- basic packaging and labelling
Their first trial batch for a local exhibition sold out slowly, but it gave them real feedback on fragrance strength and pricing.
Months Five to Eight – Moving toward income
During festival season the demand increased and both women handled their first real orders. Rekha managed a 50-piece order for simple scented jars. Vaishali completed 80 tea-light packs for a school fundraiser. Challenges at this stage
- Fragrance consistency still varies
- Packaging takes too much time
- Costing is unclear and they depend on me for pricing
- Storage is limited and finished candles sometimes lose shape in heat
Despite these issues, the confidence shift has been significant. They now take
responsibility for delays and check for cracks before handing in finished pieces.
Year-End Review (2022–2023) – Financial Milestones
The most meaningful change this year has been in how both women plan their income.
Rekha’s Milestone
Rekha has saved enough for the down payment of a two-wheeler. For her, this is not a luxury. It means she will no longer depend on her husband’s availability to collect supplies or deliver small orders. It is a quiet step toward independence.
Vaishali’s Milestone
Vaishali has started a dedicated education savings envelope for her daughter, who wants to study medicine. Every time she finishes a batch, she puts a small portion aside. She told me, “If I learn this work properly, at least my daughter will not have to stop studying.”
Operational Challenges for Next Year
- inconsistent quality in coloured candles
- heat-related storage problems
- slow packaging time
- limited market links beyond festival season
- need for training in costing and profit calculation
Next Steps
- run a two-week refresher on fragrance blending
- introduce heat-resistant storage boxes
- begin simple bookkeeping sessions
- identify off-season product lines (aroma sachets, small gift sets)
- explore monthly corporate gifting orders
Suvarna Kulkarni, age 41
Candle Making Batch (2022–2023)
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