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Express yourself with fragrance.

55-minute guided experience

Starts at $48 per guest

Over 110 fragrances

55-minute guided experience

Starts at $48 per guest

Over 110 fragrances

“Unexpected in a magical way.” Angela B.

“We had the BEST experience.” Aubrey H.

“I never imagined candlemaking could be so engaging.” SCOTT D.

“A staple for all Chicago visitors and friends.” Maddi C.

What to expect

Welcome to AURA

Our team will welcome you into the studio, introduce you to the experience, and get you ready to begin your fragrance journey.

Discover your favorite scents

Explore 110+ foundational fragrances and find the scents you are most drawn to.

Choose your vessel

Find a vessel that feels right for you, from its shape and color to its size and burn time. Flameless options are available, too.

Explore and learn

Take a seat at our candle-pouring bar and work one-on-one with a trained Scent Consultant to discover fragrance families, individual notes, and the nuances that make each scent unique.

Create your blend

Choose up to three fragrances and experiment with different ratios until you find a blend that smells just right to you.

Pour and share

Pour your custom blend into the wax in your chosen vessel, then stir to bring your fragrance and wax together. Discover the unique fragrances everyone in your group has created, too.

Enjoy your creation

Your candle will need two hours to cool before it’s ready to take home. Pick it up within two weeks, or ask us about shipping options.

Have a seat

Upon arriving at the studio, our team will show you to your reserved seats and get you started on your journey of fragrance.

Explore the world of fragrance

Begin your scent journey by exploring over 110 thoughtfully curated scents. Use your worksheet to identify the fragrances that speak the most to you.

Choose your vessel

Select from our variety of vessels to choose what considering color, shape, price and burn time. Flameless options are also available.

Learn about fragrance

Work one-on-one with a trained Scent Consultant who'll help you understand fragrance families, individual notes, and what makes certain scents resonate with you.

Create your blend

Choose up to three fragrances and experiment with the ratios until you've created a blend that feels distinctly personal.

Smell the final blends

Pour your fragrance into the wax, then experience the scents everyone in your group has created. No two blends are quite alike.

Pick up your finished candle

Your candle needs about two hours to cool before it's ready. Pick it up within our two-week window, or ask about shipping options.

Create a fragrance that’s uniquely yours.

Make a reservation

4.8 Stars on Google

HM

Hailey Martin

Would recommend Aura Candle Bar to anyone visiting Chicago or looking for a fun, interesting date night/girls night/corporate or team outing! The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and it’s truly an experience from beginning to end. Love this place and can’t wait to go back again!

AH

Andrew Hood

Local Guide

This is one of my favorite business in chicago. Stepping in from the street feels like walking into a portal into a calmer world. Every experience I've had here has been exceptional, and I love stopping by whenever I can. Perfect place to take your parents, your kids, a new date, or an old friend. 100/10, no notes whatsoever.

Katy Gordon

Katy Gordon

Local Guide

We booked this for a bachelorette group and it was a highlight of the weekend! The studio itself is gorgeous - bright, spotlessly clean, and thoughtfully designed. The whole thing felt elevated and special rather than crafty or generic. We’re thrilled with our candles and would absolutely return the next time we’re in the area.

CF

Cecelia Fawcett

Aura Candle Bar is such a fun and welcoming environment/activity to do with friends, family etc. Me and my friends come here a few times each year to make a candles together (this has been a tradition for us for the last 3.5+ years now!). We love coming here throughout the year and supporting such a nice local business!

Chris Reynolds

Chris Reynolds

Have you ever wondered why your favorite smell is your favorite smell? I hadn’t—until my experience at Aura. If you’re curious (and why wouldn’t you be?), think of going to Aura like hiring a personal scent sommelier. I can’t recommend this experience enough. Truly fascinating.

Michelle Krick

Michelle Krick

My boyfriend and I had the absolute best experience at Aura candle bar. Came here for a fun day date and it exceeded our expectations. This family owned business is one that is so worth supporting. Thank you to the team at Aura who helped create one of our favorites dates we’ve ever had. Can’t wait to come back!

Fred

Fred

I can not say enough. I spotted Aura when looking for something special to do with my wife while we were spending the weekend together in the area. This was a no brainer as, candles have always been something that make me think of her, along with some symbolic sentiment to our wedding ceremony. I can't imagine I could find a better place to do so. 

Maggie Ann Martin

Maggie Ann Martin

Local Guide

We happened to walk past AURA while we were visiting for a bachelorette trip and thought it looked like a fun experience - little did we know it would blow our expectations out of the water! Each of us felt so seen and heard when it came time to create our signature scents and we loved learning the science behind why each scent worked together.

Yeehaw Smarties

Yeehaw Smarties

Local Guide

I went here by myself and- Wow... what a beautiful experience. Instead of just picking some smells I liked and throwing them together, I felt like I went on a journey. I'll can already see myself coming here for every change of the season. 10/10!

Megan Grandstaff

Megan Grandstaff

Local Guide

I came here as part of a group outing, and we had such a lovely time!! The guidance we received through the whole process was incredible, and I personally appreciated the breakdown of how scents get layered to create something that fits our scent "personalities." Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun group activity, or something solo to occupy a rainy afternoon.

JE

Jenetta E

So much fun, loved the ladies helping us! They made it so easy to understand what would make a beautifully scented candle and we all had a great time.

Alex Muir

Alex Muir

We happened to walk past AURA while we were visiting for a bachelorette trip and thought it looked like a fun experience - little did we know it would blow our expectations out of the water.

Mallory Fitzhenry

Mallory Fitzhenry

My best friend and I visited Aura Candle Making during the work week for a change of pace, and it ended up being such a memorable experience. The candle making process was both relaxing and surprisingly interesting. We loved exploring the different scent combinations and learning what actually goes into creating a well-balanced candle.

Sarah Jurgensmeyer Langas

Sarah Jurgensmeyer Langas

Local Guide

I cannot recommend this team and experience more highly! We had the best time and they made it an incredible experience start to finish. I would recommend this group to any and all folks!

Lauren Neuenschwander

Lauren Neuenschwander

I have done several candle making experiences before, but this one was in a league of it's own! We learned SO much about scents/smells, including the reasons behind why we were drawn to certain smells. I'd highly recommend this experience to locals and visitors alike- it's not just something to do, you really can learn quite a bit about the creative science of scents and candle making!

Hope Perry

Hope Perry

What an AMAZING experience. When booking it I assumed it would be a little fun activity but I was so wrong in the best way. You start on a scent journey and end the experience knowing more about yourself and why scent is so important to you. If you think you have done candle making before forget what you know and just book an appointment here. You will not be disappointed!

Aashna Moorjani

Aashna Moorjani

I cannot recommend Aura Candle Bar highly enough! I entered the experience unsure what to expect and if it would be worth the money. Let me tell you: it 100% is. Full stop. You not only will have a truly personalized scent experience, but you also will benefit from the expertise of the employees, who have all been trained in perfumery.

Stephanie A

Stephanie A

Local Guide

The candle making experience was so much fun! I went with a group of girls for our work holiday party and all of us didn’t make a candle that was the same. They offer so many different scents, it’s so hard to narrow it down to 3 scents for your candle. The space is clean, gorgeous, and spacious. The staff is so kind and helpful.

Maddi Carr

Maddi Carr

Aura has become a staple in my itinerary for all Chicago visitors and friends. I've brought client groups (now a yearly tradition), friends, my mom, grandma, and even in-laws, and every time we return with more rave reviews. I'd give 6 stars if I could!

IR

I "Shoe Addict" R

The team running the class were excellent—friendly, knowledgeable, and very professional. Everyone felt comfortable, engaged, and genuinely enjoyed the experience. It was a great team activity and I would highly recommend this class to anyone looking for a fun, well-run private event.

Nick Casario

Nick Casario

Awesome date night activity! Went here for an anniversary and the experience was really cool! You get to smell all the candles and then one of the fragrance experts helps you understand different categories of scents and a bunch of other cool info! It was like having a sommelier for smells best way to describe it.

DK

Dana Kosanovic

I’ve done candle-pouring experiences before at other places and left feeling like it was more gimmick than quality, especially for the price. Aura Candle Bar was the total opposite. Everything felt intentional, well-thought-out, and worth it. I highly recommend this experience for groups, date nights, or just a little self-care outing. We’ll definitely be back!

Ready to experience fragrance like never before?

Frequently asked questions

Ready to create your own custom fragrance?

COCONUT APRICOT WAX

HANDMADE IN CHICAGO

FREE OF PARABENS AND PHLATATES

TOXIN-FREE

PREMIUM FRAGRANCE MATERIALS