PEORIA HEIGHTS – A new shop in Peoria Heights is giving people a chance to dabble in the science of scent.

Generations Candle Company, the latest do-it-yourself boutique to locate in the trendy business district, enables people to create custom scented candles. Designing a custom scent is not only fun, it also can be a great way to commemorate a special moment because scent has the power to trigger memories for years to come.

“We had a wedding this fall where the bride and groom came in and created their very own scent for their wedding,” said business co-owner Susan Zobrist. “We created a label for their candles with their names and the date of their wedding. They burned them at their wedding and they gave some as hostess gifts.”

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Bringing a new experience to the area

Scented candles are not reserved for special occasions, however. They are an every-day thing for many people. Because scented candles are so popular, Zobrist and her husband, Chad, saw a great opportunity when they walked into a similar shop while visiting their daughter in Lafayette, Indiana, in 2020.

“We just thought it might be something fun to bring to the area, so we decided to check it out,” said Zobrist. The couple began communicating with the parent company of the shop, which sells supplies and teaches the process for making custom candles.

The science of scent

Scents can be simple, with only one mixed into the candle, or complex, combining multiple scents to form a unique fragrance. Mixing scents gives customers the opportunity to learn a little bit about the complex science of scent.

“When you walk in, it can be a little overwhelming,” said Zobrist. “You take a clipboard and you go to what we call our scent wall, which has over 80 scents on it. You get to twist the lid, you smell if you like the smell of it, and you write it down on your clipboard. We'll ask you to get a good list so that when you come to the bar, we can choose from your list to blend three or four of those together to make your own custom scent."

Some people know exactly what they want, while others don’t have a clue.

“Some people come with a list of 12 different scents, so we ask them to start with two that they would definitely want in their candle,” said Zobrist.

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Scents get mixed and tested until the customer finds a combination they love. The next step is to choose the candle container.

"We have several different vessels, from 4 ounces to 20 ounces," said Zobrist. “There are tins, there are glass jars, there are wood dough bowls, concrete vessels, and you choose what you would like to pour into. We price those on the bottom. Whatever vessel you choose, that's what you're paying, but that includes the experience as well.”

Vessels range from $13 to $38. They get filled with hot soy wax warmed by two melters at the bar. Customers stir their scents into the wax, then create a custom label with the name of the scent and what was in it, so they can make the candle again when the original is gone.

It usually takes an hour or two for candles to cool enough to take home, an opportunity for people to check out some of the other shops and restaurants in the Heights.

Finding an encore

Generations Candle Company has grown thanks to social media and word of mouth since opening in August, said Zobrist. People can make appointments, but walk-ins are also welcome, as are group events.

Generations Candle Company is not the first shop the couple has owned. Chad Zobrist runs FJT Office Supply in Morton, where the couple live.

“My husband is nearing the age of looking for what we call an encore, something next, you know, not retirement, but something different to finish off his working time," said Zobrist, who has taken the lead on the new business while her husband continues running his shop. The pair found the perfect location in the old Smith Pharmacy building, which was not yet on the market when their Realtor suggested it. The space was renovated with a minimalistic color scheme to create a bright, open interior.

Celebrating four generations

Since Chad Zobrist’s business has been around since long before social media was a thing, the couple had to learn how to use the new technology to market Generations Candle Company. It’s been a great learning experience, aided by a pair of consultants and a recent Bradley University graduate hired to help run the business. Family members also work in the shop on a rotating basis.

“Our family is super important to us. That’s why we named the shop Generations,” said Zobrist. “My husband wanted something like Four Daughters Candles, so I said, ‘What about Generations?’ and that idea just took off.”

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One wall of the shop is covered with family photos showcasing four generations, from Chad Zobrist’s 97-year-old mother to the newest family member, the couple’s first grandchild. Susan Zobrist was planning to shoot a portrait of her granddaughter during a recent trip to Indiana.

“Right now, we have the sonogram up on the wall.”

Leslie Renken can be reached at 309-370-5087 or lrenken@pjstar.com. Follow her on Facebook.com/leslie.renken.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Create custom smells at Generations Candle Company in Peoria Heights