If you're looking for a unique activity to do in the Bay, I highly recommend taking a candle making workshop at Jia Home in Berkeley, CA! They specialize in Asian inspired candle scents that brings a sense if nostalgia. It was such a fun and immersive experience picking out your favorite scents and creating your custom combo. Leona was very knowledgable in her craft and led a great workshop. She had very inquisitive recommendations and I'm very happy with how my candle turned out. read more

Such an engaging and unique class. I took my fiancé here for Valentine's Day to make candles and we had such a good time learning about candle making and different scents. I'd recommend this for anyone looking a new and special experience. It was worth the money! read more

JIĀ HOME CO - Candle making supplies - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of the best DIY workshops I've attended :-) I booked a Sunday candlemaking session for my family and partner-- we had a great time. Ro (sp?) was a wonderful host. Recommend arriving 10-15 mins early, as stated on their instructions, to settle in. Our session was with another group of 4 that all arrived 10-20 mins late which pushed everything back. There's only street parking in this area, which can take a while to find (free on Sundays). The studio is clean and airy, very zen. The first room is the workshop area, while the adjacent room is where their in-house candles are made. Our session started with Ro explaining how JIA came about, what to expect, and brief icebreaker intros. As prep before making the candles, we had a chance to then sample and guess the 24 unmarked candle scents on the back wall, followed by a short discussion with the rest of the group (don't worry, you get the answer sheet afterwards :P). It was fun seeing how different people perceive scents... I only got 4 of 24 correct LOL The candle making portion is mostly blending scents and then putting the actual candle together (sticking the wick down, pouring the wax, doodling the label). We left the studio to let the candles harden (1.5~ hours) and came back to an array of "toppings" to decorate. I chose a few wax hearts and dried herbs. $70 per person isn't too bad for the overall experience! Each piece was thoughtful and engaging. Would be great for any occasion. read more

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Definitely a highly recommended group (or even personal!) wellness event. It was a fun 1.5 hour experience exploring loads of scents and bonding with other people. Rome was amazing and made the entire experience welcoming. The tables were already laid out with individual candle making trays, and the entire workshop area smelled incredible. We started out with smelling 24 different scents and writing down our thoughts about what they might be or the association that we had with that scent. I must say it almost felt like a quiz but it was fun going "what is this it's so familiar" with my friends. Some people were better than others at guessing but we all came away with a sense of what scents that we liked best. Then we got down to mixing. Making out own concoction of scents and figuring out what we wanted our candles to smell like. Between getting to choose the vessel, to the scents, and making our personalized labels it was fun being able to express ourselves. After picking up the candles I felt like the scent of the unlit and the lit candles are slightly different, but both are enjoyable. Yes, it's a little pricey of an experience but I definitely enjoyed every aspect of my time at Jia and felt like it was worth it. read more

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If you're looking for a fun date activity (or just a really cute candle store that sells unique, Asian-inspired scents), JIA is the place to be! The founder puts a lot of intentional thought into the candles she makes, ranging from White Rabbit candy to mango sago. I'm usually very picky with scents, because they overwhelm me very easily. But here, I have yet to find a candle scent that I don't like. JIA candles make the perfect gift for that special person in your life! On top of the candles JIA has available for purchase, the store also hosts interactive candle-making classes! The day I went with my boyfriend, Rome led us through a fun activity of smelling each of their scent vials and guessing each scent. Afterwards, she helped us create our own candle scent! The candles take a few hours at minimum to cool, but Rome also has prepared a list of things to do/see/eat in the neighborhood to help pass the time. All in all, I love the uniqueness of JIA! Highly recommend. read more

I decided to visit JIĀ HOME CO and try the candle making experience on a whim during a holiday weekend. I had always wanted to create a custom candle and wasn't sure what to expect. The entire experience was such a TREAT! I really enjoyed how calming the space was and how participants were given complete creative freedom and encouraged to explore and create a unique candle. From choosing the glass candle jar, to smelling the scents and creating a unique name and label it really was a special experience. I also appreciated the interactive portion of the workshop. Participants were able to get up and smell candles, smell each other's finished candles and learn a little about the "why" behind our scent choices. It was great that I could go get a bite to eat across the street and come back to get my candle the same day. I still have my candle (I use it with a wax burner instead of lighting the wick) and it still smells like the day I made it. The staff were very friendly, helpful and sweet and even offered to take pictures of me with my candle when I returned to pick it up! The price ($60) was well worth the experience. I would definitely participate in any of the workshops they offer. read more

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The candle making workshop was lovely--it was fun smelling scents and thinking about what memories they reminded me of. Leona was friendly and a great host. They also sell candles with nostalgic AAPI-related scents, I was tempted to buy the Tea Talk or Lychee Jelly candles. read more

What a great experience! I was gifted this candle making workshop and had no idea what to expect. The Asian influence scents sold me! I end up making a moonflower + jasmine & lemongrass candle. This is great as a shared experience. The guidance and engagement with a small intimate group made the experience so much better. Leona and her husband definitely has a great thing here. read more

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I had such a wonderful time at Jia Home Co! Can't rave about it enough. Leona and Tony were kind, knowledgeable and personable making the whole experience memorable. I came in for the 90 minute candle workshop and had a blast! The process consisted of educating, blind testing 24 scents and then creating your own custom candle. The interactive experience is perfect for a date night, friends or family. What I really love about Jia Home Co is that it's poc, asian american, female owned! They create scents that are nostalgic for Asian households. Unique memories in a candle that you can't find anywhere else. Scents from Jia: Tea Talk - this was my favorite scent that Jia offers simply because, it's extremely nostalgic for me and is the most gentle, sweet jasmine scent that I can't get enough of. Pink Haze - this one is popular for a reason and is so fresh and floral. Absolutely love it. read more

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What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than creating your very own custom candle?? If you're looking for a cute and creative bonding activity, Jiā Home Co's candle making workshop has got you covered. For 90-minutes, you get to experience a blind scent wall of various fragrances (which rotate seasonally!) and a guided personalized candle making course. The blind scent wall really challenges you to figure out what types of fragrances you truly resonate with. Once you choose your fragrance blends, the hosts guide you through a precise step by step process. It was so fun and truly a wonderful experience. One of the most unique aspects of this small business are the various Asian-inspired candles. I chose to take home a few signature scents: Almond Jello (杏仁豆腐 / xìngrén dòufu), Tea Talk (茶話 / cháhuà), and Karaoke ( / noraebang). Not to be dramatic or anything, but Almond Jello literally changed my life. For the first time in my life, a candle was able to transport me back to my warm childhood days and evoke memories of a comforting morning bowl of Taiwanese almond soup. Thank you for recreating the nostalgia. I can't wait to light my new candles and come back again for another workshop~~ read more

JIĀ HOME CO - lovely open space for the candle making workshop - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Highly recommend their candle making workshops! Such an incredible small business to support with really unique and interesting candles.

The workshop was an hour and a half and was $60 per person. We were able to blind smell 24 scents and choose our favorite 2-3. I was a little bit disappointed that many of the scents from the candle on sale were not available as scents that we could use (e.g. lychee, coffee, etc.). It was very much like a class discussion, in which all of our session attendees were able to describe and guess our favorite scents. Most of the tasks were very simple, and instructions were easy to follow. Leona was very personable and easy to talk to. One of the main reasons I docked a star was because the class price is pretty hefty for creating a single candle. read more

My sister found this cute candle making class on Tik Tok and we had to try it for ourselves. This was our first candle making class, so we didn't know what to expect. When we walked in and everything was set up nicely-it was super aesthetics! We were given some time to smell and guess 24 different scents. It was surprising how many scents I had encountered before, but did not know the name to. It felt great to finally put a name to each scent. After choosing our favorite scents, we started to mix different oils to create one scented candle. I really enjoyed the whole process and I think we will be back for more. I made a candle with Palo Santo and White Green Tea ( to me it smelled like a feminine men's cologne). ***********My Overall Rating********** Price: 4.5 Environment: 5 Service: 5 read more

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I want to start off by thanking Leona and her husband for taking care of me and my group of friends! I booked a candle making workshop for a private event. Leona was very quick to respond to all of my messages and questions. I appreciated that she worked with me to add on crystals and last minute add ons for our party. JIA Home CO is such a unique experience. I loved the tranquil ambiance and the beautiful aroma. We started off by doing a "blind" smell test of the various candles on the shelf. We made notes of any fragrance that was familiar with us. That was so much fun! The actual candle making was so relaxing! I thought the process would be a little difficult, but with Leona's guidance...everything went very smoothly. There are lots of areas to take photos! (shout out to Leona's hubby for taking videos and pictures of me and the ladies!) We all created our own art on the candle labels and gave our candles names. Leona also offered us tea and water while we made our candles. JIA Home Co is not just your average candle shop, it is a unique experience! I plan on returning to purchase candles and enjoy the ambiance. read more

I cannot overstate how much fun I had at Jiā Home Co's candle workshop. Leona and Tony made everyone feel right at home, and every aspect of the experience felt so thought-out and well-paced. My favorite part was the blind smell test of the 24 scents you get to pick from for your custom candle scent. So much of what we experience with a scent is tied with the visual packaging or an expectation we have based on the name, so it was a very fun challenge to see what scents we could identify and which we were most drawn to! Every aspect of your candle is customizable, from the scent combination to the jar type to the label. It was so much fun getting creative with what to name the scent and how to decorate the label! What truly stands out about Jiā Home Co is its line of Asian-inspired candles that genuinely evoke familiar memories. Karaoke (noraebang) is a delightfully refreshing blend of peach, mint and mandarin that smells just like having a peach soju in a karaoke room. Almond jello (杏仁豆腐) is a creamy, true almond scent that isn't overly cloying like most other almond-scented candles. Needless to say, I left the store with a few more candles than I expected. Everything about this experience was so unforgettable. I'm excited for their new seasonal candles and I can't wait to come back! read more

JIĀ HOME CO - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It was so fun! Learned a bunch of new scents and it surprises you what you end up picking for your candle! Definitely recommend for a group! read more

JIĀ HOME CO - Such a cute aesthetic - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've never made a candle before so this seemed like a fun thing to do! The owner was very friendly and made the class interesting and easy to follow. We started off with a blind smell test and ended up with some surprising answers. Then you pick your favorite scents and concoct your own unique blend. The class was an intimate size and I had a great time with friends as a special occasion event. If you're sensitive to smells though, it might be too much... I definitely reached my limit by the end of class read more

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I went to a candle workshop with my friend and it was a super fun and unique experience! The class was run by Leona, Tony, and Makayla. They are all super nice and love getting to meet their customers. In the workshop, you can really create your own custom candle from the scent to designing the label. The most fun part was doing the smell test of 24 unlabeled scents to see what we liked, then we got to combine a couple scents to create our unique candles. I'd highly recommend the workshop for a day out! The shop also sells Asian-inspired, handcrafted candles that smell absolutely amazing. My roommates and I have a few at home. read more

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I've been here twice for the workshop and it's a pleasure. It's a 1.5 hour long experience. I went in and was offered tea, sparking water or regular water. The place was small and cute. They had already set up our seats with all the things we need for the workshop. We waited a few minutes for everyone to arrive and then we started. The owner gave us a little story about how she started this business and what it means to her. We all did some small introductions about ourselves. We started off by using our sense of smell and our subconscious mind to try and figure out the 24 candle scents by smelling them and writing down what it reminds us off or what smell it gives off. Then we all had a discussions about some of the smells. She then gave us a sheet that tells us what each scent actually is. A lot of the scents are asian inspired which I love since these scents are so rare. She gives us two tiny tester cups for us to mix out favorite options and smell them before we finalize what we want. Once we have them finalized she goes through the steps of adding the wick, the warning sticker at the bottom, decorating our candle label and giving the candle a name. We measure the oils in and finally add the wax. Once done if you want to pick up the candle the same day it'll be ready in 2 hours. She'll give you a list of restaurant recommendations if you want to grab food while you wait. You can also have it delivered for a $10 fee. you can also pick it up within a week. The experience is so cozy and intimate that you also end up making friends in the class. The first time I went solo and made lovely friends. There is street parking in the area too! read more

I signed up for one of Leona's candle-making classes with my fiance for date night and we had so much fun! When we first walked in the shop, I was in awe by the simplicity and aesthetics. I saw pictures beforehand online but being there in person was so much better. Leona is such a natural at teaching. We first did a blind smell test and wrote down notes of 24 scents she had on her shelves. There were a lot of scents that were familiar to me and also brought back memories from when I was a child, especially since Jia create scents that are nostalgic to Asian households - I freaking LOVE that. Afterwards, we created our own custom candles with the scents that we liked from the shelves. We even decorated our own label; I wrote mine as "Roses, Chanel, and Champagne" lol. After we were done, we had the option to come back and hour later to pick up our candles after they were done drying/curing. Two days later, I was able to light up my candle and I don't know if it was me, but I think my candle really did smell like Roses, Chanel, and Champagne LOL. Definitely recommend Leona's class!! read more

JIĀ HOME CO - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I love this shop! The owners and staff are amazing. They truly treat you like family and provide an atmosphere that is peaceful and authentic. The candle making workshop was perfect for my self care day! What intrigued me most about this family ran business is that they go above and beyond creating candles and scents. Their goods tell a story, an homage to culture and tradition. It's been most fun making friends and getting to know the owners. One of my favorite candles supplied is 'ikigai' which is a Japanese concept I've since applied to my life and shared with my family. Owners, Tony and his wife send me literature and recommendations for yummy food in the area. Truly great people all around! Shop local and build community! read more

My brother and I had such a great experience! From start to finish, the entire workshop was interesting, well-organized, and so much fun. The small size of the group allows for connection and a lot of interaction with the instructor throughout the process. You leave with an appreciation for candle-making and become more in-tune with what scents you're drawn to by smell, not just visuals. Best of all, you get to bring home the high-quality candle you make yourself to remember it all by. Highly recommend, especially for sharing a fun experience with friends and loved ones! read more

The candle making workshop was a cute and fun experience. I enjoyed guessing the different scents and decorating my candle in a nice and calm setting. I'm knocking off some stars, because my candle only smelled nice and strong unlit. After letting the candle burn for a bit, all I could really smell was the burning wick. I followed the candle making instructions well, so I'm not sure what happened. $60 is a lot for a candle that only smells good unlit :/ read more

The candle making workshop at Jia is awesome! Leona and her husband are very attentive, explains everything throughly, and you will learn the different scents, have a chance to make your very own candle. If you are looking for any ideas for friends party, for a fun date, or to learn something new and fun, I totally recommend Leona's class. read more

This is a hidden gem, they offer unique scented candles and courses on how to make your own candles. It's great for small parties or date nights. If you can remember the white rabbit candy-they offer candles with that scent or Thai tea. You can also make your own personal candle and experiment with other scents. Stop by and check it out, the staff are very friendly and the experience was super dope. The place is super clean and close to many local shops. I'm definitely coming back! Oh yeah, make sure you schedule an appointment this place is always booked :) read more

The workshop was a nice experience and I did enjoy it. I do wish that there were more scent selections. I am giving 3 stars because the price ($60) was a bit too much & the candle that I made (although I followed the instructions), did not emit a scent once burned. The most expensive scentless candle I own & the biggest disappointment. Somehow, it has already preselected "service, selection, & value" for me and I am unable to edit/remove. read more

such a lovely activity idea, and a very immersive experience led by leona! it's great to have something to take home at the end of the activity and i loved how she helped us tap into the nostalgia aspect of our asian upbringings via smell. there's a variety of candles to buy as well if you want to! definitely worth the money and i'm planning to go again. read more

Really great experience !!! My friends and I went on a Saturday morning and it was so fun. I definitely will come again and tell everybody. It was a relaxing experience , the candles smelled so good and i was so happy to create my own scent ! Must try!!! read more

this is such a fun experience to do with your friends! our instructor was super friendly and personable and made the experience so much better! they walk you through each step very clearly and allow you to experiment with the different scents they offer. the original scents made in house also smelled super good and i ended up purchasing one. read more

JIĀ HOME CO - Home Decor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The candle workshop was wonderful. I'm bummed though that for the amount of money my candle did not have a scent when it was burned.

We had a fun team event thanks to Jia Home! They came to our office in San Francisco and set up a candle making workshop! We first got to smell various scents. Then, we got to create our own candles, from decorating our tin, selecting different scents, and pouring in the wax! Leona and Rome were knowledgeable, friendly, interactive, and full of energy! 90 minutes went by quick and we got to bring home our handmade candles and they gave us little gifts too! I would recommend this for a work team building event or just to get some friends together in their Berkeley store. read more

my boyfriend and i came here a couple of months ago for the "c" of our alphabet dates and we loved it !! the experience was so intimate and you learn about the different scents and combinations it was actually so fun read more