Joany Brink’s perseverance was recently recognised when her Brink of Touch Italian Orange Groves tin candle won the Best Candle in South Africa award. She has turned her passion for candle-making into a successful business, overcoming challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic along the way.

Brink of Touch Candle Company is just over five years old. Its owner previously worked in human resources and spent 20 years working overseas. After returning to South Africa, Brink ventured into the hospitality industry and established an Airbnb business. However, the pandemic brought the business to a standstill, leaving her struggling to make ends meet.

“When the pandemic brought my Airbnb business to a standstill, I found myself having to sell almost everything I owned to make ends meet. With no way to operate during the lockdown, I organised a small thrift sale, putting my clothes, jewellery, watches, bicycle, and camera up for sale.”

Brink said she went for a massage course and replaced her own bed with a sleeper couch and a massage bed. She started her own massage business. She wanted her workspace to smell appealing for customers. One way is by using candles. “I decided to make my own candles after struggling to find ones that burned well and had a noticeable fragrance.

“I attended a short candle-making course in Cape Town and started making candles in glass tumblers for my massage salon. When one of my clients noticed the fragrance and asked whether she could place an order, that was how it all began.”

Brink of Touch Italian Orange Groves tin candle won the Best Candle in South Africa award. Photo supplied

Quality is a key priority for Brink, who ensures she sources ethically produced, non-toxic ingredients and fragrance oils that are free from parabens (chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics and other products) and phthalates (chemicals used to make plastics).

“The candle-making process involves melting the wax, adding fragrance oils, pouring the mixture into containers, and allowing it to set before trimming the wicks and adding the finishing touches. The process is time-consuming and requires attention to detail.”

One of her biggest challenges was finding the right target market and staying true to her brand. As the business grew, she received various suggestions from customers about different fragrances, designs, and more affordable products, which sometimes made it difficult to decide which direction to take.

“It took me a few years to establish the identity of the business and focus on the market I wanted to serve. I also wanted colourful products to reflect my own personality rather than simply imitating what competitors were doing.”

She is proud of how far her business has grown, particularly after starting out of necessity and overcoming several challenges. Looking ahead, she hopes to maintain the quality and uniqueness of her products while continuing to grow the business.

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa dg

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