--- title: "Behind the Scenes: The Real Story of Mandy & Co Handmade Candles" description: "Discover the real story behind Mandy & Co handmade candles. From sustainable soy wax to the highs and lows of small business, see why our craft matters." canonical: https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/from-my-studio-the-entrepreneur-s-journey last_updated: 2025-09-18 --- # The Entrepreneur's Journey: Building a Handmade Candle Brand Tribe Verified · Small-batch, eco-friendly candles from Gurugram. By [Mandy & Co](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in) · Ships across India; Visit store in Sector 63, Gurugram · ₹200 per box/set (estimate) Part of [Artisanal & Decorative Candles](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/gallery) Running a small business is a mix of late-night pouring, creative highs, and the constant reality of proving why handmade matters. Here is the unfiltered story behind Mandy & Co. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Selling on Instagram felt impossible until I started showing the human behind the brand. This video shows how my engagement soared once I started sharing my real self and the behind-the-scenes of my business.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/28e166fd-bb7e-4db9-9bef-fb5242fb3184) - [Video: A true story from a posh exhibition where customers with designer bags haggled over 50 rupees. It taught me the importance of educating customers on the value of handmade and standing firm on my pricing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4554a7a0-0aed-4448-9f91-23b83c22490b) - [Video: What I would say if I wasn't afraid to hurt a customer's feelings: negotiating on handmade items isn't thrifty, it's insulting to the artist's time and craft.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/11523395-7c7d-4aa9-ac26-9d0e15a70933) - [Video: I almost killed my own dream because my ego stopped me from white-labelling. This video is about how embracing it gave my business the stability and oxygen it needed to grow.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/81caa041-ee40-4362-b413-f0a2c1594a95) - [Video: Behind the pretty posts are hard lessons. This video shares the five hardest truths I've had to learn while building my brand, from dealing with rejection to avoiding burnout.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/378c8b41-c9df-4ca0-888a-48b1ec16f2db) - [Video: A sarcastic Hindi video about how to be a difficult customer. This is my humorous way of venting frustrations about ghosting, haggling, and last-minute demands that all small business owners face.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e5a5df2d-64d6-4ea6-931b-7f4c76d419c0) - [Video: A quick introduction: This is me, Aakriti, the founder of Mandy & Co. And this is what I do. I make gorgeous handmade soy candles for you.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e4110b6b-f7a0-4092-97b9-47273f5cb005) ## About From My Studio: The Entrepreneur's Journey You will notice my candles are priced for the craft, not just the wax. When you buy from Mandy & Co, you are not paying for mass production; you are paying for hours of testing, hand-poured precision, and ethically sourced, chemical-free ingredients. I do not compromise on the quality of my burn, and I am always transparent about why handmade costs what it does. Building a brand from a one-woman studio in Gurugram has taught me that the product is only half the battle. The other half is communication. When I started, I thought high-quality, eco-friendly soy wax candles would sell themselves. I quickly learned that I had to be the face of the brand to build trust. ### The Realities of Handmade Whether it is creating a hyper-realistic Motichoor Laddu candle or a marble Urli centerpiece, every item goes through a rigorous testing phase. I check for even melt pools, heat resistance in the vessels, and fragrance throw. If a candle does not burn clean, it does not leave my studio. This is why you might see me posting about the frustration of haggling or the challenges of shipping delicate items across India. ### Why I Keep Batches Small My process is deliberately slow. I use 100% natural soy wax, avoiding the paraffin and nasty chemicals found in cheaper alternatives. This approach ensures that when you light a candle, you are inhaling premium fragrance oils, not toxins. My journey has been about proving that 'handmade' means intentional design. It means I can customize a Daisy thank you card or create a bespoke hamper for a corporate event that does not feel like a generic off-the-shelf gift. ### Moving Beyond the Transaction I am not just selling decor; I am selling a craft. When I share the behind-the-scenes of my studio or a sarcastic reel about the small business struggle, it is because I want my customers to value the time that goes into each pour. If you are looking for candles that reflect a personal touch rather than a factory output, you are in the right place. ## About Mandy & Co I am Aakriti, the one-woman show behind Mandy & Co. I started out just loving the smell of melting wax, but now I am CEO, packer, and the voice of the brand. I believe in honest, small-batch crafting—no shortcuts, no corporate fluff, just things made with actual heart. [See all of Mandy & Co's services](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in) ## More from Artisanal & Decorative Candles by Mandy & Co - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/featured) - [Mithai & Festive Food Candles](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/mithai-festive-food-candles) - [Statement Centerpieces](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/statement-centerpieces) - [Sculptural & Artistic Candles](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/sculptural-artistic-candles) - [Dessert & Drink Inspired Candles](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/dessert-drink-inspired-candles) - [Unique Gifting & Party Favors](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/unique-gifting-party-favors) - [Corporate & Bulk Gifting](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/corporate-bulk-gifting) - [DIY Refillable Candles](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/diy-refillable-candles) - [Behind the Craft: The Art of Handmade](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/behind-the-craft-the-art-of-handmade) - [Seasonal Collection: Christmas Specials](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/seasonal-collection-christmas-specials) - [Additional Products & Creations](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/artisanal-decorative-candles/additional-products-creations) ## More services by Mandy & Co - [Handmade Soaps](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/handmade-soaps) - [Customized Gifting Solutions](https://mytribe.in/mandyandco.in/customized-gifting-solutions) ## Similar work from other experts - [The Handmade Process & My Story](https://mytribe.in/huesofmemories/custom-scented-candles-wax-products/the-handmade-process-my-story) by Hues of Memories · Custom Scented Candles & Wax Products · Ships across India; Local delivery in Bengaluru - [The Handmade Process: Art That You Can Light](https://mytribe.in/overthelune.official/decorative-sculptural-candles/the-handmade-process) by Over The Lune Studio · Decorative & Sculptural Candles · Ships across India; Based in Bengaluru - [My Handmade Journey: Behind the Scenes](https://mytribe.in/essentialsbyplush/handmade-home-fragrance/my-handmade-journey-behind-the-scenes) by Plush · Handmade Home Fragrance · Ships products across India - [Behind the Scenes: My Handcrafted Candle Process](https://mytribe.in/_candlewonders_bybhavya/custom-candles-for-gifting-events/how-it-s-made-a-look-behind-the-scenes) by Luxe Candles · Custom Candles for Gifting & Events · Ships across India - [Behind the Scenes: The Art of Handmade Candles](https://mytribe.in/amour_by_anjali/themed-decorative-candles/the-artisan-s-touch-behind-the-scenes) by Amour by Anjali · Themed Decorative Candles · Ships across India - [Behind the Scenes: My Hand-Poured Candle Process](https://mytribe.in/gulmoharcandles/custom-event-gifting-candles/my-process-hand-poured-with-love) by Nimisha · Custom Event & Gifting Candles · Ships across India ## Book To book Mandy & Co, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Aakriti%2C%20I%20loved%20your%20story%20on%20the%20Entrepreneur's%20Journey%20page!%20I%20am%20interested%20in%20discussing%20a%20custom%20order.)