About Me

Let me Introduce Myself

Hi I am Paula Sechrest, owner of Perfect Scents Candles & Incense. I live in Holden, MO with my husband Bill; we have three sons, Dillon, Michael, and Jacob. Dillon is 19 and currently a student at State Fair Community College. Michael is 16, and a junior at Holden High School, Jacob is 14, and a freshman also at Holden High School.

How did I get started making candles?

I have been involved in making all kinds of crafts since I was a kid. Both of my parents were very creative and crafty, they taught my sisters and I a lot of different things, the joy of crafts has always been an important part of my life. Some people get a massage to relax I do crafts

Learning to make candles started about 5 years ago after I burned my favorite candle as much as I could but still had a lot of wax left ( just not enough wick). I couldn't bring myself to throw the remains away and knew there had to be a way to make a new candle out of it. I went to a well-known hobby store and purchased a candle making kit, read the instructions and poured a new candle out of the chunk of wax. The candle came out ok, nothing to brag about, but that was all it took to get me hooked.

I spent the next four years reading, researching, experimenting, and pouring candles. At first I just kept everything for myself, then started giving candles as gifts, and now I have succeeded in selling my candles to others. In 2010 I expanded my product line to hand-dipped incense sticks, cones, and the newest product is disposable air freshners, called Aroma Ornies.

Why do I want to have my own successful business?

I think most entrepreneurs start their own business for the same reasons; creative freedom, better financial standing, more control over their life, etc. I am no different in that respect however I do have another reason driving me to make Perfect Scents a successful business.

Our son Michael has Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy and is in a wheelchair. He is unable to care for himself even the most basic needs require assistance. I not only want more freedom in my own life but also for him and still be able to contribute financially to my family. Michael has been limited his entire life and not been able to participate in a lot of activities like his brothers. To make up for that I focused on teaching Michael as many different crafts as I could.

He has many dreams and ideas of ways he can work with me in the candle business. As a mother it is almost impossible to put into words how reaching this goal will make me feel. The best I single word I can think of is "Priceless".