We were lucky to catch up with Erica Wiley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erica, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think the number one thing it takes to make a business successful is consistency. Even when you’re exhausted, experiencing a slow week in sales, or feeling like your efforts won’t make a difference. Consistency, consistency, and more consistency is key. When I first started my business, I had the support of family and friends to help me get it off the ground. However, it was my consistency that sustained my sales once that initial support faded. I constantly posted on social media about my products and topics related to the central themes of my business, and often attended events where I had the opportunity to sell my products and share my business with new groups of people. I also stayed consistent with inventory checks and expense tracking, which are crucial to staying organized behind the scenes. On the other hand, when I didn’t stay consistent with these things, I’d notice declines in sales and social media engagement, as well as disorganization in business operations. This is when I learned that consistency was the key to my success, and was crucial to regaining momentum. Consistency, along with patience, will always yield the results you’re striving for in due time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Erica Wiley. I’m an engineer by profession, married, and a proud cat mom to three. I first got into candle-making in college during the early days of the pandemic. Already struggling with untreated depression and anxiety, being stuck at home with nothing to do but schoolwork took a toll on my mental health. Like many, I picked up new hobbies during that time, one of which was candle-making.

I started with a simple candle-making kit from Amazon that included the essentials: wax, fragrance oils, wicks, a few containers, and a melting pot. From watching the wax melt to adding fragrance and pouring it into a container, I fell in love with the process. It felt almost therapeutic. I began making candles for my family and the few friends I was able to see during the pandemic. It was one of those friends who pointed out how great my candles were and encouraged me to turn my hobby into a business. Soon after, AstroScents was born, and the rest is history.

Today, I sell space-themed aromatherapy candles and wax melts. Each scent is carefully crafted with specific ratios of essential oils designed to support different emotions and mental states. For example, my Deep Space scent combines lavender and vanilla to promote relaxation and help prepare your mind for sleep. My products address a common struggle: being so caught up in your thoughts that you can’t fully experience the present moment. Often, while getting ready for bed, people are replaying the stresses of the day, worrying about tomorrow, planning meals for their kids, or thinking about an upcoming deadline. This kind of overthinking isn’t just stressful, it’s also not ideal for winding down. Deep Space is designed to quiet those racing thoughts, helping you focus on your nighttime routine and prepare for restful sleep.

This principle applies to all of my scents: they encourage you to step outside of your usual, often chaotic, frame of mind and create a sense of calm that allows you to be present. They “bring you to your own space” as I like to call it.

What I’m most proud of is the growing community around mental health and wellness, and I’m grateful that my brand can be a part of that movement. As someone who has faced their own mental health challenges, I know firsthand how impactful aromatherapy can be in finding balance. It played a big role in centering myself, and I’m honored to provide that same experience to others through my products.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I manufacture all my products myself. While I already had experience making candles as a hobby, starting a business required me to learn much more, how to melt and cool large batches of wax evenly, how to scale up an essential oil blend, and everything else involved in turning a hobby into a business. While the process was rewarding, there was definitely a learning curve. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in manufacturing my own product is the importance of developing a recipe and sticking to it. When customers experience your products, they expect the same quality and scent every time they repurchase. For example, if someone loves my Mission to Mars scent and buys it again, only to find it smells different than before, they’re less likely to become a repeat customer. Maintaining consistent recipes ensures that your products remain reliable, which makes it easier for customers to connect your creations with your brand.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been participating in pop-up shops and other vendor events that allow me to showcase my products in person. No matter how strong your social media presence is, nothing compares to engaging with customers face-to-face and giving them the opportunity to experience your products firsthand before making a purchase. At in-person sales events, I can personally connect with potential customers, share a bit about myself, and guide them through my collection of candles and wax melts. I walk them through each scent, allowing them to smell the fragrances as I explain the essential oils in each blend. This one-on-one experience often draws people in, leading them to purchase a candle or wax melt, follow me on social media, and/or sign up for my email list.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ASAromatherapy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astro.scents/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astroscents
• Twitter: https://x.com/astro_scents