This M’sian quit pharmaceuticals to run her side gig, now makes “tea cup” candles full-time

Candles are a common commodity nowadays, including artisanal ones with unique scents and designs.

But Dreamm Studio’s offering stands out in a saturated landscape with her intriguing concept. She offers cup candles, whereby wax is poured into an actual coffee or tea cup, completed with unique range of customisable wax “toppings”.

It’s not easy to set yourself apart in this industry, so here’s how Dreamm Studio found settled on this concept.  

From pharmaceuticals to crafts

Behind Dreamm Studio is Cynthia Chen, who previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry.

Passionate about art and crafts, though, she eventually decided to leave the industry and start her own creative business instead.

“I did have some experience with small businesses before Dreamm Studio,” she shared with Vulcan Post. “During university, I sold clothes and accessories online, and when I started working full-time, I ran a small side business selling gift sets during the festive season.”

So, why candles now? Well, her interest in candles started last year. She wanted to include handmade candles in her Christmas and Chinese New Year gift set, and lo and behold, the candles turned out to be a hit.

“The holiday sales were fantastic, and I discovered how much joy I found in creating candles and sharing them with others,” she expressed. “That positive response and my love for crafting gave me the confidence to turn this passion into my full-time job.”

Lighting up her business

When Cynthia first started making candles, they were simple candles in jars. But with the positive responses she got for her festive designs, she decided to bring her creative touch to all her candle offerings.

As a self-taught candlemaker, Cynthia would mostly upskill through hands-on experimentation.

“But as my passion grew, I wanted to refine my skills and produce even better products, so at the beginning of this year, I completed a formal candle-making course,” she said. “I’m now a certified candle artist and trainer, which has really elevated my craft.”

Even with the appropriate skills, though, the creative aspect of the R&D process can still be very challenging. It’s not easy to constantly come up with unique and beautiful designs.

Cynthia explained that each new creation also goes through rigorous burn testing to ensure it not only looks great but has a good scent throw and performs safely.

“It’s a process that combines artistry and precision, and I really enjoy both sides of it,” she said.

With her cute designs, she originally targeted younger customers. But as she started attending bazaars, she discovered that her candles resonated with people of all ages—from young adults to older customers.

“Everyone found them charming and ‘healing’,” she explained.

Since attending bazaars in June and launching her online store, Cynthia estimated that she’s sold around 2,000 pieces of her products.

Not just a candle business

As mentioned, though, candle businesses aren’t rare nowadays. But Cynthia believes that Dreamm Studio stands out because they don’t just sell candles.

Rather, the brand offers customers a chance to “create something truly personal”.

“At bazaars, for example, I provide a DIY experience where customers can fully customize their candles, choosing the wax decorations and toppings they want. This way, each candle becomes a unique, meaningful piece, whether for themselves or as a heartfelt gift for someone else,” she reasoned.

Cynthia explained that her tea cup candle idea actually came from a collaboration with a friend’s coffee roastery (KamiKofi) at Pingmin Market, where the theme was ‘crossover.’

She created a coffee-scented candle using real coffee grounds in a coffee cup, and it became her main design.

After choosing a preferred cup size and scent, customers can choose from a range of wax decorations and toppings, arranging them on top of the candle base to create their own unique design. Once happy with their arrangement, Cynthia helps secure the toppings for a polished finish. Finally, they pick a positive or fun sticker to add to the cup for an extra personal touch.

The pricing is fixed for the entire DIY cup (RM28), which includes all the toppings at no extra charge.

“This way, my customers can fully enjoy the creative process without worrying about additional costs—they can add as many toppings as they like until they’re happy with their design,” Cynthia said.

She also offers customisation, such as personalised words, at no extra cost.

Aside from the cup concept, she also creates candles shaped in adorable animals such as dogs and bunnies. Using moulds for the main structure of each candle, she then adds detailing for an intricate and realistic finish.

“I usually work in batches, which allows me to maintain consistency across each piece while also making the process more efficient,” she shared. “Each candle takes several hours to complete, including drying time, as I carefully craft each detail to create a unique and high-quality final product.”

As a response to customers’ interests, Cynthia has also started offering classes, giving others the chance to create their own unique candles.

Fanning the flame

Currently, Cynthia is a solopreneuer, handling all aspects of Dreamm Studio on her own.

She admitted, “Since I started this journey alone, I sometimes feel the weight of loneliness and the limitations of being a one-person operation.”

However, Cynthia believes this is where proper time management becomes crucial. She prioritises tasks and sets clear goals to ensure that she stays organised and productive.

“In the next few years, I envision Dreamm Studio expanding beyond candles to include collaborations with gifting companies, which I’ve recently started exploring,” she said.

She has also begun consigning products to a few cafes in the Klang Valley. It’s still in the early stages, but she hopes to expand consignments to other states across Malaysia so that more people can experience and purchase Dreamm Studio items.

“My goal is to go beyond just selling candles; I want each piece to spread joy and positivity every time someone looks at it,” she concluded.

Featured Image Credit: Dreamm Studio