Desserts in disguise: The siblings behind 'Candle Blow by Sisters'

One day, a picture of a tempting dessert suddenly appeared on my Facebook feed. It was lush, vibrant, and looked exactly like something that belonged on a gourmet menu.

Curious and a bit hungry, I clicked on the details to place an order, only to discover it was actually a scented candle. I had just woken up, so I thought I must be mistaken in my sleepy haze.

As I scrolled through the page, the "illusion" became even more impressive. These weren't just candles; they were hyper-realistic culinary art pieces – red velvet cupcakes with swirls of frosting, mango shakes with realistic "pulp", and even KitKat shakes.

Only, they were not food, and I was not the only one to be fooled.

One day, when neither of the two founding sisters was home, a relative saw the "desserts" laid out on the table and almost took a bite. Even when their mother explained that they were candles, the relative refused to believe it. The mother had to light one to prove the point.

Laughing as the food-loving sisters, Sunayna Islam Hridita and Twayrun Noor Elina, founders of the Facebook page "Candle Blow by Sisters", recounted the story.

Idle doodles to a melting business

"From childhood, both of us had a deep interest in creative work," Elina explains.

"We used to make all kinds of crafts. The idea of designer candles came mainly from my younger sister, Hridita, who watched candle-making videos on Instagram, while I was drawn to aesthetic designs on Pinterest. One day, I suggested that since everyone was starting small online businesses, why not try something with candles?"

At first, Hridita was sceptical. She had finished her studies and was working, and candles were still a luxury item in Bangladesh. She doubted whether people would buy them.

When she expressed concern about profits, Elina suggested they could still make videos and post them on Facebook, even if no one bought any.

In July 2025, they took the leap with a modest investment of Tk6,000, buying raw materials and accessories and creating designs at their home in Keraniganj, Dhaka. They also photographed and filmed their work to post online. 

"At the beginning, we had no expectations. We weren't even sure we would make a sale within a year. But over time, people began to appreciate our work," says Hridita.

"One day I saw a mango milkshake and thought, what if we could make this as a candle? Both of us have loved food since childhood, and that's how dessert-themed candles were born. People were genuinely amazed – many could not even tell they were candles."

Despite having few moulds due to high costs, the sisters persevered. Within a week, they received their first order. 

"We could hardly believe it. Slowly, our work grew, and now, by the grace of Almighty, we receive a good number of orders each month."

The first big challenge: 2,300 candles

"Our business was just three months old, and we had only 750 followers," Hridita recalls.

"One day, a young man messaged our page asking the price of our candles. Later, he placed an order for 2,200 pieces. At first, we couldn't believe it. We went to his office to show our samples. The candles were for return gifts at an office event, and later, an additional 100 pieces were added to the order."

They had a contract to supply 2,300 candles in seven days, and after receiving some advance payment, their toughest challenge began.

"Day and night, we worked with wax, moulds, and fragrances, often forgetting to eat. One day, I accidentally lit the stove while distracted. If I had been slower, it could have caused a serious accident."

Through immense effort, countless sleepless nights, and their mother's support, they completed the order.

"This taught us never to underestimate anything and to have confidence in ourselves," Hridita says.

Pricing and customisation 

"At present, we operate entirely online, with no physical stores. Our candles range from Tk40 to Tk600," Elina explains.

"When we first started, we didn't fully understand the online delivery process, and there were many customer queries. Now, we handle these efficiently."

Their candles are popular for birthdays, weddings, mehendi, and haldi events. 

"We customise them along with cards for these occasions. Event-specific designs are especially important, and for these we charge slightly higher prices. Such designs are exclusive to the event, and there is no guarantee of resale," adds Elina.

Since their candles are scented, customers can choose their preferred fragrance. Options include vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, sandalwood, and lavender, with sandalwood being the most popular.

These candles are used primarily for home decoration, particularly in homes with frequent air conditioning or closed spaces where damp or stuffy odours develop.

The scented candles effectively neutralise these smells.

The road ahead 

Despite being less than a year old, the venture had already achieved remarkable success. Currently, they receive 10 to 15 orders daily, and for major events, the number can exceed 100.

"Of course, we want to expand our business further. Alongside online sales, we hope to open a physical store as well," says Elina. 

"To anyone wanting to start a new business, I would say: before beginning, be clear about what you want to do and why. Make sure you understand the business thoroughly. Often we hear stories of people starting successful businesses with just Tk200, but that's not true. Business requires gradual investment, and it is essential to be aware of both profits and losses. You cannot succeed by simply going with the flow," she adds.