Over the years, open-concept spaces have become popular as we find ourselves becoming more and more intrigued to catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes process of how the products we purchase are made. One of the places that recently caught our attention is the all-new PJ showroom of Lilin+Co, a local artisanal, handmade fragrance brand that was launched in 2016. If you’re looking for a space to destress, find a solution to your sleeping problems or get candles to match your different moods, then we’d recommend you to visit this store-cum-studio as the combination of aromas from the various candles are exactly what we need especially during this time when there’s so much going on around us.

Photography: Yang Mei Ling

Resembling a stylish lab, this 325-square-metre space is bright and airy, which will help you decide more easily on which scent would suit you best based on your current state of mind. “The idea behind having an open-concept boutique is to let everyone be aware of the in-house production process of our candles. When it comes to the kitchen, customers enjoy seeing how their food is made. Likewise, we decided to go ahead with a similar concept for our store,” shares Julie Yim, co-founder of Lilin+Co.

Upon entering the space, you’ll spot a library of candles (12 scents plus two limited-edition Christmas scents – Blackcurrant & Plum and Mulled Wine) on the left side of the boutique as well as the ingredients that are used to produce them. On the opposite side of the showroom are what we consider as the chill-out spots – the lounge area and balcony, which is beautifully decorated with plants, chairs and a mirror that spells out ‘good vibes only’, which instantly makes it an Instagrammable spot! While the décor gave us peace of mind, here are three other things about Lilin+Co that wowed us:

It’s an eco-conscious effort

In the last few weeks, we’ve seen the severe effects of global warming hit Malaysia, and if anything, this should be a wake-up call for all of us to take this matter seriously. If you’re a big fan of candles, learning about the different types and their effects can be your starting point to make a change. “The beauty about soy wax candles is that they’re non-toxic, biodegradable and less likely to trigger allergies among kids and animals. Mass-produced candles are usually made from paraffin wax which is a by-product of petroleum that takes longer to biodegrade. As much as soy wax can be quite temperamental, we decided to go with it as we’re moving towards a more conscious society and wanted to educate more people about the difference that soy wax candles can make to the environment,” says Julie.

There’s a scent for everyone

Caramel popcorn. Strawberries & champagne. Vanilla bourbon. How does one pick a scent from the choices available at Lilin+Co? We say leave it in the hands of the pros! “More often than not, people come to us for recommendations, and in a way, this place works like a beauty store, so we consider ourselves as consultants too. There’s definitely a scent for everyone – for instance, for those who find it difficult to sleep, are stressed and going through anxiety, we recommend our Neroli & Ylang Ylang candle. If a guy walks through our doors and doesn’t know what to pick for himself, then our first pick for him would be a woody scent and we’ll take it from there,” shares Julie. Rest assured, if you’d like to walk into 2022 with a particular scent that’d be your source of inspiration for the year, leave it to Lilin+Co to find the right one for you based on your likes and dislikes.

Pandemic or not, always look at the bright side

As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. Likewise, at Lilin+ Co, it was during the pandemic that the founders saw the opportunity to expand the business. “The pandemic accelerated our growth as people weren’t buying clothes but food, candles and home-improvement products that helped them relax better at night. Many people suffered insomnia and we received many messages asking us to help them with anxiety and so on. Space was crucial to us as we’re doing not only retail but production as well, and we found this space after the first MCO. Upon signing the lease, we realised that that was when things got real, and although I loved my job as an editor, I knew that I had to focus on this 100 per cent. That’s when I took the leap as I could see that this is the future. During the lockdown, our business operated more on B2C, but now that we’ve gone past that, we’re juggling more B2B orders as many of our previous customers have recommended our candles to their organisations and we find ourselves fulfilling a huge chunk of corporate orders too. Weddings are also in season now and we cater to that as well,” concludes Julie. Similarly, let’s walk into 2022 with a positive spirit and find ways to always make the best out of the situation we’re in!

Lilin+Co is located on the 2nd floor, Lot 5, Jalan 51A/225A, Seksyen 51A, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Opening hours are from 11am to 6pm, Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, click here.

Featured image: Lilin+Co
Videography & editing:
Tan Guo Xiang

To catch a glimpse of the space, click play.

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