Aura Candle Bar has a calm, quiet, relaxing atmosphere with exposed brick walls, light flooring, high ceilings and floating shelving. One wall holds all the candle inventory with fragrances like old books, dad's den, dragon-blood or more identifiable scents like elderberry, dark chocolate, bonsai, yuzu. The candle experience starts with an explanation of the experience and setting expectations before exploring fragrances that speak to us individually. Off we went to the shelves, making notes and sniffing coffee in a silver sifter to reset "nose fatigue". Our "chandlers" curated our blends with us and instructed us on blending technique to help us build the scent. Vessels were selected, wax poured, fragrances added and candles created. Candles are available for pick up the next day. I have been back three times. I highly recommend this business. They are a family owned business. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Tom, co-owner, of Aura, leading candle making workshop - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been to Aura a handful of times and each experience is just as enjoyable as the last. It has become one of my go-tos when spending time with friends, family, or a date night. The owners are lovely and each of the people who works there is extremely knowledgeable. No matter what your scent pallet is, you will be able to find smells you love and create candles that will last all season. Highly recommend also grabbing one of their sugar scrubs. It has become a staple in my house as well as a great gift for other others! read more

Aura Candle Bar was such a fun experience that I would 100% do again! Alex was our guide. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she was also very sweet and kind. Gave very clear instructions and was just super interactive which I appreciated. They have so many scents to choose from that you definitely won't be able to smell them all, but I think you can get through a good amount of them to know that you're picking the best scents that stand out to you. I think this experience is definitely worth the money! They hold the candles for you for two weeks, but you can go in the same day to pick it up too just a few hours later. I can't wait to go back! read more

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10000% this is one of the most relaxing and fun things I've done in Chicago! This is a make your own candle bar. Your experience begins by choosing 5-12 of your favorite scents from a huge wall of over 100 scents, and writing that on a sheet of paper. You also choose which vessel you want your candle to go in. After that, your scent consultant helps you pick out the three that work the best based on your preferences, and you get to try different concoctions until it smells exactly how you want it! Finally, you get to mix your essential oils and scents into the vessel with wax, and tada!! You're all set!! Honestly, for $50 a person it's not too bad, as some higher quality candles out there cost just as much. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle bar scents - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a horrible shop. I honestly had the most draining experience with one of their employees. They didn't act to help anyone at all! They just sat there on their phone while our group looked around clueless as to what to do next. She gave us no instruction as if we were supposed to know how to make the candle. Hello!! That's why we're there! Even when we did ask questiona, they just looked at us like we were dumb and had an attitude. Maybe you'd consider hiring somebody who actually cares about their job. Also, the selection was horrible. Whatever you do, do not go here. read more

My sisters, mom and I came here while wedding dress shopping, and we had an absolute blast! The staff were incredibly kind, and guided us through the process of selecting scents in a very thoughtful way. You can choose a variety of candle sizes and scents, and I chose to blend 3 different scents. They had a really nice variety of scents to choose from, and some that I surprisingly liked, including the basmati rice. They guide you through the process of adding scents to your wax and pouring your candles. They need some time to set afterwards, so we walked around and shopped until they were ready to be picked up, but you can also leave the area and come back later if that works better for you. When I burn my candle, it's so fun to know that I made it. The experience is on the pricier side, but I think it is absolutely worth it. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a wonderful time at Aura Candle Bar! I came in with a small group and we all had so much fun making our candles with the help of Alex. She was so warm, positive, and we learned a lot from her about fragrances. It can seem overwhelming at first with so many different scents to choose from, but the whole process was organized and I feel like I left with a candle that perfectly captured all the things I love. I would 100% recommend this experience and looking forward to going back. read more

I wanted to clarify since the owner replied to my review that the reason I couldn't smell 50% of the candles on the wall because of alcohol. I did not consume any alcohol before attending. It feels strange and unnecessarily presumptive to be told that alcohol might be the reason I couldn't smell anything. A more thoughtful response would have acknowledged the feedback without making assumptions about the customer or suggest alternative reasons (i.e. allergies, congestion, winter). I was in a group of 7 - and I was not the only person that could not smell the scents. The ambiance and group activity aspect were enjoyable, but I hope future responses show more openness and care toward guest concerns. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my candle once I brought it home and the scents that I chose grapefruit, jasmine, and sea salt were pronounced, even when I drank alcohol. read more

This is probably one of my favorite activities that I've done this year. The staff are super friendly and patient in walking you through each step of the candle making process from selecting your fragrances, mixing the perfume oils, and adding the perfume oils to the candle wax. They have a great selection of vessels for your candle across various price ranges. They even offer oil infusers for those who want the experience but don't want to burn a candle. Overall this spot is great for date night, a night out with the girls, or even a family activi read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

it's a very nice and fun experience! however, after lighting the candle a few times I realized there was black soot ALL over my house. On my walls, on white porcelain objects (tub, toilet, sink) and it was 100% from the candle smoke. so, I finished the candle by just using my candle warmer, so that's how i recommend you to use the candles from here. read more

Went here with my boyfriend for a date night - it was truly such a wonderful experience. From the personalized one-on-one service, to the interior design that made me feel like I was in a professional candle making spa - it was a wonderful time. And even when my boyfriend and I were running a bit late to our appointment we were met with such kindness and understanding. A great local spot for a magical sensational date night for something different and something to take home with you! Thank you for a wonderful time! read more

A very fun and fairly priced experience. The workers were very well trained and eager to help us make a scent we all loved. The price points for options was really nice to have such a large range. read more

Enjoyed a sweet time with my friends at Aura. A fun way to connect with each other and relax at the same time. The personalized approach and friendly, clean atmosphere so great. The candle(s) you get to take home are the icing on the cake! Lots of fabulous establishments nearby to enjoy while your candle getting ready. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Mixing my candle in the vessel - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I absolutely loved my experience here. You have the option to create your own scent(s) for a candle or diffuser. I created a candle and picked 3 scents. If you're making a candle you'll need to wait 2 hours after mixing your scents for the wax to set. Ex: if you mix your scents at 12:30 you won't be able to pick up your candle until 2:30. They also hold your candles for up to 2 weeks if you're not able to stay in the area and take the candle home on the same day. If you're making a diffuser you are able to take it home immediately after mixing your scents. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. They give suggestions and walk you through the process of creating your candle. The inside of here is extremely calming and bright. It it well lit and designed nicely. This is a fun spot for a date night or going with a group of friends. Tips: Go when they first open - it's not as crowded and not as overwhelming with all the scents. Utilize smelling the coffee grounds to cleanse your nose. The smells can be overwhelming. read more

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It's a nice hour to enjoy. We did it for my daughter's birthday and then had dinner across the street. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a great time! I was hosting a group of wives for an afternoon activity and this was perfect. The right amount of time and we could all see each others personality by the fragrances they picked. Would be a fun idea to make a small tea light for a group so everyone got a small piece from each of their friends to take home. 5/5 would recommend read more

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This was so fun to do! The candles are high quality and I loved the scents I picked! Makes my apartment smell so good read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow! What an amazing experience we had making candles at AURA Candle Bar. It was truly a delightful experience from start to finish! We decided to visit AURA to celebrate my spouse's birthday. It was a great way to celebrate! To reserve your candle making experience, it is a wise choice to make a reservation on advanced. While they are able to accommodate walk-ins, making a reservation beforehand, insurers enough seats, and that you will be able to sit together. Plus, you do not have to pay in advance since each person will have a unique price, depending on the candle vase that you choose. When you enter, you are immediately welcomed with kind faces and words, and invited to your reserved spots at the bar style seating. Once seated, you get the lowdown on the process. First you choose the candle vase that you will end up putting your scented wax into at the end. This is where the different price points come in because each vase holds a different amount of wax and costs a different price. Next, time to smell! With shelf after shelf of unique candle scents, you spend the first third of your time going around and smelling each of the candles and making notes of your favorites. I encourage you to write down more than less, but also make note of your favorites. It is wise to have a wide selection, but also to know which ones were your favorites. Once you've made notes of all your favorite scents, you sit back down and work with your individualized candle-making expert to choose the three notes of your candle. You'll have a primary, a base, and an accent scent. This is where it is good to have a wide selection to choose from. Each of the candle scents only fits within one of the three. So you want to make sure that you have options within and all three types: primary, base, and accent. Once you have identified your primary, bass, and accent, your candle-making expert will bring the oil bottles for each of the scents. You then use a droplet method to fill a tiny container with the exact mixture that you would like. I ended up using mostly my primary oil with just a few drops of my base and accent. But it really depends on you, the scents you chose, and what makes your nose happy! Once your mixture is to your liking, your candle-making expert will fill your candle vase with hot melted wax, bring it to you, and will have you pour your oil mixture into the wax. You spend three minutes stirring the scented oil into the wax. When you are done the candle-making expert will take your completed candle where it will dry and solidify over the next few hours or overnight. If you go in the evening like we did, you can come back and pick it up after a few hours or within two weeks. At this point you pay for the completed candles and go about the rest of your day. What a truly delightful experience! And we all loved our completed candles. We are already brainstorming the next excuse/event that we have to go back! We can't wait to make another candle . read more

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I went to The Aura Candle Bar with my sister for her birthday this past weekend. She LOVES this place and has been there to make candles 6 times. Now, I understand why. The ambience is warm and welcoming from the moment you walk inside. They have over 100 fragrances to choose from to create your perfect candle. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Kristin helped us make 2 beautiful candles. She was so knowledgeable and patient. There are lots of great shops and restaurants nearby to visit while you wait to pick up your candle. read more

My friends and I created candles as a fun Saturday night activity! We had a great time and our instructor made our experience worthwhile. Will be back! read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We made an appointment for Friday afternoon via their website and it was super easy to do. FYI the appointments are ~30 min so you'll want to pair this with a restaurant resy if it's for a date. There are enough seats for 4-5 pairs to make candles at once. I'm sure you can walk in, but I'd recommend making a reservation so you don't have to wait. Our candle making guide Alianna was so great! She clearly explained the instructions, and gave us good recommendations so our candles turned out exactly how we wanted them. I had the "Gift of Scent" from my birthday so we didn't have to spend time picking out vessels. It was fun to mix the scents ourselves, and I can't wait to see how the final product turned out! Candles need 2 hours to cool, so we need to go back and pick them up. They'll hold your candles for up to 2 weeks so you don't have to rush back to get them if you're busy. Overall this was a really fun experience and I plan to go back with my mom the next time she's in town. Definitely check it out if you haven't already! read more

My daughter and I had a wonderful experience making candles at Aura. Kristen was artful and brilliant in explaining and guiding our experience. Our candles became personal expressions of the fragrances we selected. The best part was sharing such a special moment with my daughter and learning even more about her beautiful essence by the fragrances she selected. Aura is a one-of-kind and unforgettable experience not to be missed. read more

Service and experience were unique. We had the best time creating our own scented candle. We plan on doing this 3 times a year. For the price, you should provide some water to drink. read more

AURA Candle Bar - 911 Girls having a lovely afternoon. - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came with my friend since I gifted her an experience her for her birthday. Kevin was the best at guiding us through the process of making our candles, was patient with us, and even making sure our scents complemented each other. After we were finished, our candles were sent off to cool and we picked them up an hour later. Boy do they smell good! The place has a calming feeling to it and with so many scents - who wouldn't! This would be a good place to bring a friend or two to create your own! read more

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Came here with my friend and it was altogether such a lovely experience. Definitely learned a lot about candles and had fun experimenting with different scents. We had a reservation and was attended to quickly. Our candle expert/guide was super sweet and helped us choose our ultimate scents. Would come back again! Best to make a reservation!! read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super cute concept and great date idea. Walk around and gather scents and the scent connoisseur will assist with what works well together. You'll then choose your 3 scents and smell via pure oil which then will be poured into a jager until perfectly balanced and poured into the wax. 2 hours later you have a candle voila read more

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Great fun at Aura candle bar. Booked a session for 4 including 2 grandkids. The staff were fun and helpful thruout the process of creating our own custom candles. Will definitely come back! read more

We booked this experience as the start to our friend's bachelorette weekend and we couldn't stop talking about how much we enjoyed ourselves! It was an intimate setting with only one other group, we were able to learn so much from Kristin and she was matching our energy so well. It was a unique and connecting experience for all of us and would recommend to anyone! read more

AURA Candle Bar - Smells so good! - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an amazing candle outing experience. I have been to quite a few candle pouring classes throughout the city and Aura Candle Bar does it best. Over 50 scents to choose from to create the perfect three scent blend for your candle. They also offer beautiful vessels to make your candle look as good as it smells. If you're not interested in making a candle they also have options to make your scent in to a reed diffuser or wax melts which was awesome options! My absolute favorite part about my experience was Kevin, the staff member who supported us throughout our time at Aura. Kevin was extremely knowledgeable about the scents, how to layer the scents and helped me and my friends create a perfect blend to our liking. He was patient, extremely knowledgeable, and personable. He truly made our experience at Aura one of a kind and we all loved our creations! Highly recommend Aura!! read more

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I almost named my candle Kevin for the superior service. we came for a candle making class and it was so easy and fun! it was a perfect, low-key birthday activity for a small group or for a date with a partner or for a group of gal pals- the possibilities are endless! you start by smelling every candle in the shop to pick which ones will be your candle sent. after, you pick out your candle jar out of a wall full of cute and aesthetic options. then you get to work with Kevin who walks you through the process and gives his expertise on what smells will compliment each other and how to mix the notes into the perfect candle. will bring a group back again! read more

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This is TRULY one of the best experiences I've had in Chicago since moving. My mom was coming to visit and I wanted to do something fun and not touristy. She LOVES candles and I stumbled upon this place. From the moment you walk in, you feel so incredibly special. This experience is so well curated and thought out-you choose scents from their wall of candles (with labels and a nice photo of what you're smelling). You aren't pressured at all here. I selected 5 or 6 scents and Kevin walks you through what works best together. Trust him. They walk you through every single step of the process and it is so wonderful. Our candles were ready for pick up a few hours later and smelled sooooo good. I am taking everyone here. This would be such a fun bachelorette outing or a date night or girls night out. Truly wonderful. Thank you!!!! read more

AURA Candle Bar - Mom and I had a blast here!!! - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The candle making experience is so cool and fun! The only downside is that when we lit our candles, we unfortunately couldn't smell them. You have to stand right next to it to smell it. If you light it and you're in the room, you won't really smell it. Maybe it's the scents we chose but that part was a bummer. Otherwise, super cool experience! read more

Kristin is great Amazing place to make Beautiful candles Aura has a variety of scents to chose from And the prices are reasonable read more

I would give a zero if available. Given I have made candles in the past and had a successful business I sold, this could not be more of a rip-off. We made 3 candles at Lakeview and not a one has any scent even if you are standing over the candle. I was upset as they displayed the candle vessels with prices, and charged more money for 2 of the 3 vessels which did not sit well with us as I found that to be irresponsible. This is the 3rd time we have gone there to make candles and have spent over $150 to essentially receive wax, no aroma. This is fun to go in and take guests to make candles but not at all impressed with the lack of attention, and done receiving wax candles--trust me, no scent, it is not at all worth it for $44-$55 for one. They allow you to pick up to 12 scents....only pick your top 3 and an alternative is my suggestion, but these are not luxury candles and very if any scent. Rip off! read more

My mom, sister, and I had a wonderful experience making candles here! Our consultant was very knowledgeable and friendly and made the process interesting. The facility is very clean and well-kept with a great ambiance. Would recommend AURA Candle Bar to anyone looking for something relaxing and fun to do with friends or family! read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. I was visiting a friend who just moved to Chicago and this shop was just down the street from her. The shop was so clean and welcoming, and I talked to 4 staff members who were all wonderful. My friend and I made a reservation for 6:30pm. The whole process took less than an hour. They have easily over 100 scents for you to pick from, and a great mix too! A couple of classic scent options were: patchouli and lavender but they also had some really unique scents like old books, absinthe, leather, and first snow. As we were wrapping up, we were told that we would be able to pick up our candles the next day, as they were closing at 8 and the candles need about an hour and a half to dry. This would have been fine for my friend who lives in the area, but I was flying out the next day very early. Long story short: they offered to BRING ME THE CANDLE to the restaurant where I was eating across the street once they closed up! Absolutely incredible service, great staff, and amazing ambiance. This is going to be a staple for whenever I'm in Chicago, and I'm recommending to everyone who is travelling there. Thanks for making our experience amazing! read more

AURA Candle Bar - Candle bar with scents in the background. - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing place to bring your team of coworkers to bond! You can really get to know someone based off their sense of smell!

Get service and fun experience for a quick and fun thing to add to your day or night out.

I went with my girlfriend back in February to celebrate my birthday, the staff immediately noticed that myself (6'4) and my girlfriend (5'10) felt crammed in at the bar, and very quickly offered to move us to the end, to have a one on one, more personal and intimate experience. the scents are incredible, the process is very cool and explained to you thoroughly. 7 months later i'm still burning my candle and it ignites a very special, nostalgic feeling each time. Can't recommend this place more. Awesome people, awesome experience. read more

AURA Candle Bar - Tons of scents! - Candle Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is such an amazing place to come for a girls day, date day or even a group hang out spot. Create your own candles, oils and much more. The staff there are absolutely the best (I love them all). They walk you through every step of the way. You get to meet the most creative and talented people who love making candles. This is my 4th time going to Aura Candle Bar and looking forward to going there again with my girls day out for making our Spring candles! read more

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