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“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary, and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.” - Diane Ackerman
When Lana Gronwald’s husband bought a candle-making kit for a date night, she would have never thought that this simple gesture would kickstart her journey into entrepreneurship.
Like many small businesses, especially those focusing on handmade items, Gronwald’s business has humble beginnings. She started out by doing everything from managing the business, to taking meetings, and even handmaking her products – which at the time were just candles – out of her home.
As word quickly spread about her candles, it was apparent that she had to expand the business out of her home and create new product offerings. Now, seven years on, Gronwald has a production warehouse and a small team, and there are no signs of slowing down.
“We’re growing at an incredibly fast rate that we couldn’t have predicted,” says Gronwald. Even with its massive growth and increasing demand, the business prides itself on being locally handmade, with the entirety of its product line made and hand-poured in its warehouse in Hawai’i.
Although keeping up with demand can be challenging, Gronwald aims to keep her products handmade in Hawai’i for the foreseeable future.
“It’s what makes us who we are,” she says. With so many companies outsourcing their production owing to rising costs, Gronwald believes that keeping as much of its production in Hawai’i as possible is not only a differentiator but also a commitment to the workforce, supply chain, and people of the islands.
Because of her dedication, Jules + Gem Hawai’i, is quickly becoming a household name. In addition to candles, they also offer other fragrance products such as reed diffusers, room sprays, and perfumes made from popular flowers and plants from the islands.
Some of the company’s fragrant floral offerings include the ever-popular and ultra-delicate Pikake, the beautifully sought-after Puakenikeni, and the sweet, elegant Pakalana. In Hawai’i, flower leis are typically given as a gift to honor their recipient; unfortunately, their wonderful aromas are fleeting. But, with Jules + Gem, those warm and happy moments last much longer.
Another aspect of the business’s product offerings is its focus on moments of self-care and relaxation. By simply lighting a candle or applying one of their body products, customers are immediately transported to their personal version of paradise. People who have been to or are from Hawaii say the products bring them back to a happy moment they can genuinely feel. Whether spending time with friends, celebrating a special occasion, or even having a relaxing night at home, Jules + Gem Hawai’i has perfected creating a feeling and a lifestyle embedded in aroma therapy.
So, whether you’re a world traveler or a homebody, you can make any place paradise. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let yourself get lost in the moment.
Jules + Gem Hawai’i can be purchased in retailers across the Hawaiian islands or online at julesandgemhawaii.com. For wholesale orders, visit faire.com.
