Every story has a beginning

Sometimes it begins with something unexpectedly small. 

In the fall of 2017, our family booked what we thought would simply be a fun afternoon together. We had never made candles before, and we certainly weren't looking to start a business. We were simply looking for a creative way to spend time together.

As we watched guests blend their fragrances, something stood out. The same collection of notes produced completely different results because each person brought their own memories, preferences, and perspective to the process.

More than the candles themselves, we noticed something else. People slowed down. Stories surfaced. Childhood homes, favorite vacations, and places they had never forgotten suddenly became part of the conversation.

Fragrance had become a language. 

We left wondering what it would look like to create a place where fragrance felt approachable, creativity came naturally, and hospitality mattered just as much as craftsmanship.

That conversation became the first chapter of what would eventually become AURA.

 

Choosing Chicago

In 2019, life brought us to Chicago. 

We didn't just fall in love with the city—we fell in love with its neighborhoods, its people, and the remarkable way a city of millions can still feel personal.

When we found our space in the Southport Corridor, we knew we had found a home for AURA.

From the beginning, our goal wasn't simply to open a business. It was to become part of the neighborhood—to create a place where people could gather, connect, and make memories together.

 

Designing a place to slow down

Before we ever welcomed our first guest, we spent months thinking about how we wanted people to feel.

We believed creativity needs room to breathe, so we designed a calm, inviting space where guests could step away from the pace of everyday life and immerse themselves in fragrance.

Every detail was thoughtfully considered-from the shape of the candle-pouring bar to the finishes throughout the studio-with one intention: to create an environment where fragrance could be more than a scent-it could be an experience.

Opening when the world closed

Construction wrapped up in early 2020. Then the world changed.

Opening a fragrance studio during a global pandemic wasn't part of the plan. But as we welcomed our first guests, we realized people weren't simply looking for something to do. They were looking for a place to reconnect—with family, friends, creativity, and even themselves.

What began as an unexpected challenge became one of the clearest reminders of why AURA existed in the first place.

 

The stories became bigger than us

Over the years, we've had the privilege of becoming a small part of thousands of people's stories.

We've watched couples create fragrances for their wedding day. Parents have returned year after year with their children. Friends have celebrated birthdays, promotions, retirements, and new beginnings around our fragrance bar. We've even witnessed first dates, anniversaries, and marriage proposals.

No two guests have ever created the same fragrance blend because no two people carry the same story.

What continues to amaze us is how often fragrance unlocks memory. When someone says, "This smells like my nana's garden," or "This reminds me of the cabin we visited every summer," they aren't just making a candle. They're preserving a memory. It's a reminder that fragrance isn't simply something we smell. It's one of the most powerful ways we remember.

Never stop learning

As AURA grew, so did our responsibility. We wanted every conversation about fragrance and every guest experience to be grounded in genuine expertise.

That commitment led our ownership team to complete professional training through the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in France—the historic heart of modern perfumery.

That education transformed how we think about fragrance—and, more importantly, how we guide every guest who walks into our studio.

Today, every experience is shaped by both the science and artistry of perfumery—shared in a way that feels welcoming, approachable, and inspiring for someone discovering fragrance for the first time.

 

Growing together

One of the milestones we're proudest of came in 2024, when our daughter Kristen joined AURA's ownership team.

Her story with AURA actually began before it existed. After our family's first fragrance experience in 2017, she joined the studio that inspired us, where her curiosity and natural ability to understand fragrance quickly stood out.

When AURA opened, Kristen helped shape the guest experience from the ground up—training our team, mentoring Scent Consultants, and building the culture of hospitality our studio is known for today.

Welcoming her as an owner wasn't simply a business decision. It reflected something we had hoped for from the very beginning: to build a company where craftsmanship, hospitality, and genuine care would always guide the people behind the experience.

 

The next chapter

When we opened our doors in 2020, our goal was simple: create a place where people could slow down and experience fragrance in a more personal way. Six years later, that mission hasn't changed.

Today, we're expanding the ways people experience fragrance—through our studio, original collections, partnerships with like-minded brands, and experiences beyond our four walls.

Wherever the next chapter takes us, our purpose remains the same: helping people create memories through scent.

 

Thank you

When we first imagined AURA, we hoped to create a place people would enjoy visiting. We never imagined it would become part of so many lives.

Every reservation, conversation across the fragrance bar, recommendation you've shared, and tradition you've started here has shaped who we are. These aren't simply moments we created—they're moments you invited us to share.

For that, we are endlessly grateful.

To our guests, thank you for making AURA part of your story.

To our incredible team, thank you for bringing curiosity, warmth, and genuine care to every guest who walks through our doors.

And to our Chicago community, thank you for welcoming us from the very beginning.

Six years ago, AURA began with one family's experience. Today, it's a collection of thousands of stories—and we're honored to be a small part of each one.

Thank you for celebrating six years with us. We can't wait to see where the next chapter takes us. We hope you'll continue writing it with us.