Wax and Wonder: Handmade Candles Spark a Craft Movement in Ethiopia

From ancient rituals to modern mindfulness, candles have lit more than just rooms; they've illuminated hearts, guided spirits, and marked moments of joy, sorrow, and reflection. In a world increasingly drawn to handmade, sustainable, and culturally resonant products, locally manufactured candles are beginning to shine in Ethiopia. A few local entrepreneurs are phasing out imports with an integrated supply chain that extends from manufacturing machines to handmade candles.

Architect turned entrepreneur Mihret Chole launched her company, Demam Candles, looking for a way to earn income while she searched for jobs after graduation. Starting with a kilogram of wax, she did not expect her candles to become a reliable source of income.

“If I could cover some of my expenses while doing something I enjoyed, it would be enough,” Mihret told Shega.

Her hand-made candles quickly began flying off the shelf as word of mouth spread about the unique scents and stylistic designs. The positive feedback spurred Mihret to invest more energy in perfecting her artisan skills as she spent hours researching online.

“A candle is more than wax and wick—it's a vessel of emotion,” she says.

Mihret uses gypsum to shape her candles while she relies on imports from the United Arab Emirates and some local supply for wax. Mocha cream, vanilla, lavender, and lemongrass scented candles are some of her flagship products. The candles, ensconced in a container, sell between 300 to 1,500 birr while loose pieces fetch between 200 and 2,000 birr.

Over the past two years, the passion project named after her grandmother has evolved into a niche business attracting newlyweds and young business owners. Several boutiques and spas also rely on her products to create a sort of brand ambience for their business helping her sell around 200 items in the past six months.

She spends around 30,000 birr for each batch of candles and has hired an extra pair of hands to help. Miheret personally selects every input to ensure that the candles maintain optical, aromatic, and stylistic synergy.

“Harmony is key in the candle business,” she says 

While candles don’t necessarily weigh heavily on Ethiopia’s trade balance, with imports adding up to around a quarter of a million dollars annually, it is one of those rare items that can be fully produced locally. Abundant supply of pillar candles is particularly pertinent in rural Ethiopia, which has a significantly smaller share of the national 55% electricity coverage.

Entrepreneurs like Geletu Basha, an engineer by training, have begun assembling machines for candle production locally, targeting the underserved population segment. He says both electric and heat-powered engines are available for the bulk production of pillar candles.

“Fifty candles can be produced in each batch,” Geletu told Shega.

His machines cost somewhere between 30 and 40,000 birr, depending on their size and efficiency.

However, the supply surge appears to be towards handmade candles as a slew of new entrepreneurs enter the business. Nardos Abera, an engineering graduate who started a candle business right after graduation, believes that a personal touch is essential for success. She says quality and beauty come from careful selection of items and thoughtfully crafted styles.

“The candles have to look and smell good as they burn,” Nardos says.

Her brand of Nard Candles has recently gained popularity on social media while she also sells from a shop around Bole District, Addis Ababa. Each candle takes around three hours and sell for prices starting from 500 birr up to 4,500.