Today we’d like to introduce you to Henna Khan.
Hi Henna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey with Aura’s Fragrances started very organically. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for scents and how they shape our environment and emotions. For me, fragrance isn’t just about something smelling nice — it’s about creating an atmosphere, a feeling, and sometimes even a memory.
That appreciation became even more meaningful when I began searching for ways to create a comfortable and welcoming home environment for my family. My children struggled with allergies and sensitivities, and many store-bought candles and fragrances simply didn’t work for them. I started researching ingredients and experimenting with fragrance blends that were gentler and more mindful of those sensitivities. What began as a personal effort to create something safe and beautiful for my home slowly evolved into something much bigger.
At first, I was simply making fragrances for my own home and sharing them with close friends and family. Their response and encouragement helped me realize that what I was creating resonated with people. I also recognized that many other parents shared similar concerns about the products they bring into their homes, which inspired me to continue refining my blends and eventually turn my passion into Aura’s Fragrances.
Building the business has been a journey of creativity, learning, and growth. Over time I’ve developed a collection of handcrafted products including candles, diffusers, and fragrance sprays designed to bring warmth and comfort into everyday spaces. Connecting with customers at local markets and events around Houston has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience, allowing me to share my story and see firsthand how fragrance can create meaningful moments for others.
Today, Aura’s Fragrances continues to grow, but the heart of the brand remains the same — creating thoughtfully crafted scents that help make homes feel warm, inviting, and personal. My children were the inspiration behind it all, and they continue to remind me why this work matters.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most small businesses, the journey has definitely not been a completely smooth road. Building something from the ground up comes with a lot of learning, patience, and resilience. In the beginning, there was a great deal of trial and error — from perfecting fragrance blends to understanding sourcing, packaging, and the many layers involved in running a business.
One of the more personal challenges has been balancing entrepreneurship with family life. As a mother, my children are always my first priority, and learning how to grow a business while also being present for them requires constant balance and flexibility. At the same time, they are also the inspiration behind Aura’s Fragrances, which makes the journey incredibly meaningful.
There have also been practical challenges that many small businesses face today. The post-COVID economic environment changed the way people shop and how small brands operate. Rising costs for materials, packaging, and supplies meant constantly adapting while still trying to keep products accessible for customers. Since I often connect with customers through local markets and community events, even something as simple as weather can have a real impact — a rainy or stormy day can completely change the outcome of a market.
But those experiences have also made me more resourceful and determined. They’ve taught me to stay flexible, continue learning, and trust the process.
In many ways, the challenges have become part of the story — reminding me that building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a genuine love for what you create.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At its core, my work is deeply rooted in creativity and storytelling through scent. I see fragrance as an art form — something that has the power to transport people back to a specific moment, place, or feeling. Through Aura’s Fragrances, I specialize in creating handcrafted candles, diffusers, and fragrance blends that are designed not just to scent a space, but to evoke emotion and connection.
One of the things that truly sets my work apart is the focus on nostalgia and memory. Many of our fragrances are inspired by personal stories or memories shared by customers. Often someone will describe a scent that reminds them of their childhood — something their parents wore, a garden outside the home they grew up in, or a place that holds special meaning for them. I love the creative challenge of recreating those memories through fragrance and transforming them into something people can experience again in their everyday lives.
Some of these inspirations come from my own memories as well. One fragrance, FLORET, was inspired by my travels to India and the beautiful floral scents that seemed to fill the air — fresh roses, gardenia, and jasmine blooming in gardens and markets. Those fragrances felt vibrant, natural, and deeply connected to place, and FLORET was created to capture that same feeling of walking through a garden filled with blooming florals.
Another fragrance, Meditate, was inspired by a trip to the south of India, where I experienced eucalyptus plantations for the first time. The crisp, calming scent of eucalyptus in the air left such a strong impression on me that it stayed with me for years. That memory eventually inspired the creation of Meditate, which has since become one of our most relaxing and grounding fragrances.
We also love creating new scent memories within our own family. One of our most personal fragrances, Horizon, was inspired by my son. Growing up close to Galveston, he loved the peaceful moments spent at the beach — watching the sun rise and set where the sky meets the ocean. He wanted to create a candle that captured that feeling of calm, warmth, and comfort, and he named it Horizon. For me, that fragrance represents those quiet moments of reflection by the water and the simple beauty of slowing down to take in the world around you.
What I’m most proud of is being able to turn fragrance into something deeply personal. Whether it’s recreating a nostalgic memory or helping someone capture a feeling they want to hold onto, Aura’s Fragrances is ultimately about connection — to places, to moments, and to the emotions that scent can carry with it.
To me, fragrance is more than a scent in a room — it’s a way of holding onto memories and creating new ones that people can return to again and again.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is building something meaningful and staying true to the values that inspired Aura’s Fragrances in the first place. My children were a big part of that beginning. Their sensitivities and allergies pushed me to look more closely at the ingredients in everyday fragrance products, which eventually led me to explore creating scents that were more thoughtful and intentional for our home.
As the business has grown, I’ve realized many people are becoming more conscious about the products they bring into their homes. We’re living in a time where shopping is no longer just about retail therapy — it’s about making healthier, more informed decisions.
That’s one of the reasons I personally attend many of the local markets and events where Aura’s Fragrances is present. Those moments allow me to connect directly with customers, share the story behind the brand, and help people understand the intention behind what we create. It becomes a space where conversation and education naturally happen.
At the same time, fragrance is still deeply emotional. Whether someone reconnects with a nostalgic scent from their childhood or discovers a fragrance that simply makes their home feel more peaceful, those moments are incredibly meaningful to me.
Ultimately, what matters most is creating something people trust — a brand that is thoughtful, personal, and rooted in genuine care for the experience it brings into someone’s home.
Pricing:
- Handcrafted Soy Candles: $20 – $28 depending on size and design
- Fragrance Sprays: $20 – $24
- Car Diffusers: $10 each
- Bath Therapy (bath salts / soak blends): $8 – $12
- Custom fragrance requests and gift sets: priced based on design and quantity
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aurasfragrances.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auracandlesstudio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/hennashomestead
- TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@auracandlesstudio0
