Ep # 140 Igniting Passion: From Corporate to Candles

Meet Christi Kisela , the creative force behind Aura and Ember Company, who traded her twenty-year corporate leadership career for a studio filled with "wax, wicks, and wonder." What began as a simple search for clean-burning candles for her son with asthma has blossomed into a luxury candle and fragrance business that's capturing Charlotte's attention through scent and story.

Christi takes us behind the scenes of her Charlotte-inspired Queens Boulevard Collection, where each candle is named after local streets with rich histories. As a self-proclaimed "closet history nerd," she reveals fascinating tidbits about how Charlotte's roads were originally named to guide people to churches, and how historic intersections like Trade and Tryon transformed from horse-and-buggy commerce centers to modern urban hubs. Each fragrance carries these stories and connects users to Charlotte's vibrant past and present.

What truly sets Aura and Ember apart is their custom business fragrance service. Christi designs signature scents exclusively for companies that become their olfactory trademark—a formula they own for life. "When a business gets to give out something as an appreciation that is their signature moment, it creates that elevated customer experience," she explains. The artistry extends beyond beautiful scents; it's precise chemistry requiring specific temperatures, mixing times, and cooling periods to create the perfect candle. From their popular Selwyn Reserve and Glen Eagles fragrances to their new Explicit Desire collection, Aura and Ember is redefining luxury as both accessible and personal. Visit them online at auraember.com, follow their market appearances on Instagram @auraandember_co, or look for their upcoming permanent location at The Local Focal in Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood. Your new signature scent awaits!

Aura & Amber Co.

Christi Kisela 

[email protected]

Auraember.com