Well oiled machine here! Staff were attentive and helpful. Wide selection of scents to select from as well as containers. Sundays there are 2 for 1 mimosas! Products are 1st class; not cheap but worth it! Food not allowed which is understandable with the need for clarity when choosing scents. read more

If you haven't been to Scents By Design to make your own custom candle yet... what are you waiting for ?! Well hold on, you can actually make body scrubs and hand soap now too.. I had no idea ! It had been years since I last visited, so I was really excited to go back with my sisters. Staff welcomed us, we got some drinks and had such a fun time sniffing all the endless possibilities we could create. Once we had our fave lists together and sat down to create the scent... I ended up not loving mine. Even with their help and some tweaking, I just wasn't feeling it at all, which was a little disappointing for me. I did end up finding a happy medium in the end.. and honestly I was having such a good time with my family that I didn't let it bother me anyway. BUT when I picked up my candle the next day... I was completely blown away !! The scent had mellowed out and smelled way better than the day before. Like it was basically what I was looking for ! I guess sometimes it's just like that. So if you're not loving what you made... just wait until you pick it up and give it a sniff then. I will definitely be back now that I have my list of favorite smells and cant wait to make another. read more

One of my friends told me about this place and I couldn't wait to stop here and create my own one of a kind candle. My boyfriend and I stopped here as part of our anniversary getaway. I highly recommend this place. We were immediately greeted by the owner who explained the process. We were directed to a wall where there are about 100 scents. I smelled every scent, and something went back to smell it again. You get to make a list of all the scents you liked. Next, you choose your vessel, or item you want to make, and then go over to the candle bar where you create it. The woman helping us out was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. She let us know what scents would pair well together after initially telling her what we loved. I crafted a candle with rhubarb, mint and Earl Grey Tea. You also get to name your candle. You get bottles of your scents and are told to go slow to craft the scent that you want. After adding a few drops, keep smelling to make sure the process is going how you want it to go. We than received our vessel with hot wax in it and were told to take the jigger with the scent and pour it in and stir a lot. I am clumsy and got the jigger in my hot wax. Don't be like me. Everything was fine though, after I washed my hands and cleared my phone from the wax. An hour and a half later, you can come pick up your creation. It smells blissful. My boyfriend enjoyed the process too. I want to bring everyone I know here. They also offer mimosas on Sundays. I love the atmosphere as well. The couches and chairs make this place super comfy and a fun spot to hang out. read more

See all

My boyfriend and I were in dire need of trying something new together every since we moved out here. We saw the before and after of this business and let me first of by saying, this place is beautiful. I love that it's walking distance from our place and there is a large variety of scents that you can smell. It's Woman Owned, which is phenomenal!!! While we found the scents that we wanted, we knew they were going to smell great together. Vanilla bean is my favorite scent and teakwood is my boyfriends favorite scent. Then we both ended up liking black/tan. We mixed the oils, had a few laughs and drinks. It was such an amazing time. I would highly recommend 10/10! read more

See all

What a gorgeous space and experience in the Neighborhood of the Arts! There are so few spots for joy and safe things to do throughout this pandemic, stopping in to Scents by Design was good for my SOUL. Soothing scents, amazing staff, and a fun experience for girls night, date night, a bach or bridal shower, or just a treat YOURSELF moment. You can buy a candle, oil, or spray right from the wall, or choose your vessel and make your own candle at the bar. Christina guided me through what would smell great together, and I landed on a mix of honeysuckle, bourbon, and maple syrup. You stir the candle scents mixed with wax (it feels like cocktail making, sort of!) and then wait 90 minutes while your candle comes together. The vessel choices are stunning and you only pay for the candle itself - $20 for the experience of pouring AND you the candle. So fun! The space is large and thoughtfully set up, with artists changing out every month on the wall and each element you interact with totally stunning. I can't wait to go back in the future and continue supporting this incredible new local business! read more

See all

We're all hitting the Pandemic Wall so I have been looking for ways to get us out of the house safely. Right now, you can book a 30 minute slot for you or your group. Masks are being worn by all parties. Chrissy - the owner- greeted us and walked us through the process. If you've been to Build A Bear, this isike that but with candles. The wall to the right of the entrance is full of different scents. You get a note card and a pen and write down your favorites. All your favorites. Then you pick a candle holder. Or you can make wax melts or a room spray. Prices vary based on what you pick. $12 for wax melts up to $40 for a large candle. If you buy 3, you get 1 free. And right now, if you bring back your candle holder, you get a $1 off your next candle. Then you go to the candle bar. There, someone walks you through your scent choices and tells you what works together. They recommend mixing no more than 2-3 scents. When you are happy with the smell, your wax is poured. They use a soy wax. Your candles or wax melts need 90 minutes to set. So walk around NOTA, Get a snack at Matildas or plan to pick up later. I picked up our items the next day. Future (non Covid) plans include a license for Beer and Wine. Great spot for a date night, girls night, teen birthday and so on. read more

See all

Fun experience creating your own candles. There's a 2 hour cure time, so after you make the candles, we found a bite to eat. I picked two scents from a huge wall of candle scents to go in my candle vessel because the first time I made one, three scents blended together end up smiling like one thing. They suggest no more than 3 scents as it is. The vessel you choose is how much you pay for the candle. I chose the 8oz basic white vessel. The candles were ready when I picked up and Christine was pleasant and delivered them to us as we walked in for pick up. read more

This was an absolute blast. I ended up making it a little early to the store. Upon arrival there is a hand sanitizer station to spray your hands. Then you grab a clip board and pen and go to the scents. They have a full wall of scents to figure out which one you would like. I started at one end saying let me just try some different smells. I am so glad I did. When I came in I figured i would go for these bright fruit smells but I found myself likincg smells like agave and champagne. So I just went methodically thru the wall. After I wrote down my favorites I grabbed my vessels. I opted for two room sprays, wax melts and a 8oz candle. It was buy three get one free which is an awesome deal. Then I went to the employee and she helped me narrow down which scents I wanted. She let me even let me do a different scent for each item. It was so fun mixing the smells. After I mixed the scents into the wax for the candle it has to set for an hour or so. The same goes for the wax tarts. The room sprays i was able to come home with them. She gave me the labels and markers where I could name my items anyway I wanted and I had the option of many pens and colors to really make my label unique. I don't have the greatest skill at labeling so I just labeled them the scents This place is definitely worth it. You have your own personalized candle and the scents you want them. The employees are really nice. Everything is covid protocol with spacing and hand sanitizer etc. I definitely plan on coming back. This would be a fun girl night activity or date night too. read more

See all

Had an absolutely amazing time! Christina the owner is so sweet and nice! We worked with Tiffany and she was absolutely amazing. So so sweet and great with customers. They have soooo many different scents and options on top of candles. Great staff, great ambience, great experience. Would recommend to anyone in Rochester!! read more

See all

Unique experience in the Neighborhood of the Arts! Upon walking into Scents by Design, we were greeted by friendly staff and invited to smell candle scents from a wall of dozens of unique scents. After doing a lot of sniffing, you write down your top scents, and the staff recommend the best scent combinations based on your favorites. There are a handful of candle jar options ranging from the smallest size at around $20, and larger sizes ranging between $35-45. You can also add a gemstone for $2. Your wax and scent oils are included in the cost that you pay for your candle jar. While you mix your scent oils to find the perfect combination, you can buy a drink (coffee, water, wine, etc.) at the bar; we happened to be there for "Sunday Funday" and got 2 for 1 mimosas. The decor is quirky and trendy and we loved that the walls are decorated by art available for purchase by a local Rochester artist; the artist on display changes each month. This is a great idea for a date with your partner; an activity with girlfriends; or some one-on-one time with your mother or grandmother. Although we wouldn't do this activity frequently, it is a unique and fun activity to do once in a while or for a special occasion (anniversary, birthday, bachelorette party). We love our candle jar and the scent we ended up with! Next time, we probably would not add an additional $2 gemstone, because it ended up sinking into the melted wax after we lit the candle at home (although it looks very cute on top before you light your candle). read more

The people at the Scents by Design were super friendly!!! They welcome us and they also asked us to get some hand sanitizer before we can get the notepad for which scents we want to use to create our own candle or diffuser oil. It's very thoughtful and making sure that the store is well clean and stay sanitized much as they can. For anyone who have dogs and they are welcome to join us and they do offer dog treats. They have a lot of different scents and it was interesting how it smells. I am truly enjoying sniff different scents before make a candle. We chose the scents then we sit at the counter with the plate, small cup, and markers for us to design the label and ready to create a diffuser oil or candle. It was fun and it reminds me of chemistry that you add different scent oil to create a new scent. I would recommend anyone who love the candles or diffuser oil. They definitely should go here to create their own creation. Thank you for an amazing experience! read more

See all

My new obsession. Did I open and smell EVERY. SINGLE. CANDLE. the first time I went? Yes. And then I smelled them all again on my next visit. The scent stylists are so patient and helpful, and treat you like you've been doing this for years. I remade a candle I'd created at a prior visit, and then tried brand new scent creations. The entire experience is managed so well - you come in, sanitize your hands, smell all the beautiful smells, and keep a list of what you like. If, like me, you like them all, the staff help you narrow down what might pair well together for a well balanced candle. Then about 2 hours later, you're headed home with a completely unique candle, designed by you. They have a buy 3 get 1 free deal, which is definitely worth it. You have great vessels to choose from, and can even select wax melts, diffusers, and/or aromatic sprays, if a flame is not your thing. This is a lovely idea and a great experience. Perfect for Mother's Day if you're looking! read more

Well that was fun! My wife loves candles and a few people have recommended this place to take her. Suprised her with a date here and she loved it...and I may have too. Spent some time smelling the different scented candles then chose our scents and candle holder and made our way to "the bar". Our "bartender" was super nice and friendly. Grabbed some adult beverages and he helped us choose which scents would go well together. The scents you choose are blended together in one candle and you choose the amount of scented oils and kinda test smell it along the way to see if it's to your liking before pouring the oil mix into your candle holder filled with hot wax. They take a couple hours to set, so we took off and had lunch and came back to pick up our candles. Overall a great little date in Rochester. Definitely recommend bringing your partner here...or if it's not your thing getting them a gift card to come with friends I also saw quite a few families with kids and teens here as well. I think a great possible addition would be adding more "kid friendly" candle holders. read more

Scents by Design - Candle Stores Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

This store is AMAZING and offers such a UNIQUE experience!! I went in and was so impressed with Christina (the owner) and her staff. At Scents by Design, you get to choose your favorite scents and then the *scent stylist* helps you create a candle masterpiece of your favorite scents. There are over 100 scents to choose from, which equals THOUSANDS of combinations! I made holiday gifts for friends and family and curated custom scent combinations for them. It was so much FUN since I chose scents that I would not typically choose for myself and created one-of-a-kind scent combinations. After making my candles, I was able to pick up the finished products within 90 minutes (even with a larger order)! I already started burning my candle and it burns evenly and does not tunnel, and it lasts over 40 hours! I absolutely LOVE how the scent fills my home. There are a variety of candle vessels (starting at $19) and other home fragrance options (starting at $12). They're also currently offering "buy 3, get 1 free", so it's the perfect incentive to make some for friends and keep one (or 3) for yourself! If mixing scents is too overwhelming, they also offer pre-poured single scent candles. It was such a fun activity to do on a cold, winter day. Scents by Design was implementing many COVID precautions. Everyone in the store is required to wear a mask. They ask you to hand sanitize upon entering the store. They're limiting the number of customers at a time by requesting customers make reservations for the custom pour experience. Between customers, they're cleaning the product and shared surfaces. This is one of the only indoor activities I've done during COVID and I definitely felt safe doing it. The store even has a rotating GALLERY WALL to display local artists! 100% recommend!!! TIPS: Make a reservation. Buy 4 products! read more

See all

I'm glad this popped up over on University Ave in NOTA I think it's a great addition. Basically you go online make an appointment (30 minute increments) go in on the selected day and are warmly greeted when you arrive. You are asked to sanitize your hands and than they go through the info. You get a small worksheet on a clip board go smell the vast amount of fragrances and write down 3-4 that you like, then pick a vessel (prices vary) than you go sit at the bar (long bar) and discuss with staff your choices on how to mix your fragrance for your candle. But you can to a wax melt, Reed Defuser or Room Spray. If you do a candle it takes about 90 or so minutes to cure. They are flexible if you can't come back the same day but if you can Just Juice, Matilda are just down the way and if it's nice outside sit outside and enjoy the weather. If your not in the mood to make your own candle (why not?) you can purchase pre- made ones or get someone a gift card. This would be a great activity for friends to get together, bridal/wedding/baby shower ideas and I'm sure if you ask to see how many people can be in the space. It's a lot of fun and a welcome addition to the area. Street parking or parking in the back of the building. Cheers! read more

See all

Decided to plan a girls' night for myself and 3 girlfriends. We decided to try out Scents by Design and I used the online reservation system on their website to reserve our time block for the pour your own experience. The retail space is beautiful and sleek. We were greeted when we entered, asked to sanitize (COVID safe for sure), and walked through the process. We took our time smelling the 100+ available scents and noted all our favorites on the provided clipboards. I HIGHLY recommend everyone smell the baked bread! It was crazy accurate. The holiday scents were great too! Once we were ready we were seated at the bar and a Scent Stylist (cute name) walked us through multiple scent paths we could take to create great scents. I had planned on only making one candle but once I saw the available options the employee suggested I ended up utilizing the buy 3 get your fourth free deal. I ended up pouring 2 candles, making a wax melter, and infusing a reed diffuser. We ended up having a great time and making some amazing custom products. Would recommend for girls' night, date night, mom and daughter day, or just looking to freshen up your scents around the house! Super fun! read more

Scents by Design - My custom scented candle! - Candle Stores Near Me - Rochester, New York

It was a really interesting experience! They have over 100 scents that you can sniff around on and then you pick 2 to 3 to make a candle. Plus you can pick a name and make a label. They also have sprays and body scrubs and wax tart options if you're not into candles. It should be noted that it takes about an hour and a half for a candle to set so you have to come back to pick it up. read more

See all

This is a great and relaxing place to go to with friends or family during this pandemic. We reserved online for a 30-minute session to make our own candles. The owner said they opened 3 months ago so the digs are quite clean/spacious and lots of social distancing when you go in groups. We were welcomed nicely into the place and got clipboards of what scents we liked from the wall. There were so many scents to choose from and I think that was my favorite part of the process was sniffing the wonderful aromas. Some interesting scents I saw were baked bread, Dad's den and bacon. My favorite scents were the lemon grass, clothesline, Anjou pear, agave and earl grey tea. I asked the owner what were the top favorite scents and she said baked bread, bamboo, and earl grey tea to name a few. We were then directed to the large candle bar area where we were able to decide what scents we wanted to mix and match. The staff there were helpful in helping us to decide what went with what. The whole process is quite quick and efficient and you pay for what you decide to make. If you aren't a candle person, you can also make reed diffusing oils, aroma spray/fragrance oils and wax melts. I myself don't really light candles so I went with doing a wax melt and an aroma spray. Just on a side note, it takes 90 minutes for the candles to set and for the wax melts; 45 minutes. You can come back to pick up your candle on the days they are open. My friend also told me that you can create your own scent and they can allow you to buy the scent from them so I felt that's another creative way to create business in these hard times. We throughly enjoyed the experience and all the helpful staff there! My only tiny complaint was we did feel the 30 minute sessions of making the candles seemed sort of short because sometimes it takes a while for you to figure out what scents you want and it would be nice to not feel too rushed during the experience, maybe extending it to 45 minute sessions to allow for the next groups to come in would be better. But either way, we definitely thought it was a neat concept and we definitely will be back to experience this innovative business. read more

See all

If you have a love for scented candles and a knack for creativity then this could be your oasis. We decided to spice up our Valentine's Date with a visit to Scents by Design. We were immediately greeted upon entering and were super happy to have the entire place to ourselves. After a quick hand sanitizing, we were given directions and off to check out candles. The smelling of the candles was pretty tricky with our masks and I must confess that I found myself tugging at my mask more than once trying to get a better take on certain candles. This was the best part of the whole process. After that, the mixing of scents begins. Everything at Scents by Design has been well thought out and is extremely sanitary. We witnessed the staff clean every single tester candle, the stools, the markers, the counter and pretty much anything that customers come in contact with in the shop. We also washed our hands after finishing the mixing. The vibe is very comfortable and the customer service was super friendly. As a Valentine's Day bonus, I was given one long stem rose. It was absolutely gorgeous. Great experience, for anyone of any age and for all occasions. Let the good times roll. read more

Scents by Design - Babe's candles - Candle Stores Near Me - Rochester, New York

I love this place. Staff is super friendly and good luck trying to choose your signature scent from the pick of 100 wall of scents. Each candle is made by you there fore it's your unique creation. The making process takes about 30 min and would be cooled off for pick up either later in the day or the next few days after. This would be a fun date for you snd your hubby or guy friend and there are manly scents for them to try as well. Reserve a spot on line. Bring your gal friends or Mom! Street parking only. It's close to the memorial art gallery. Come over for a great candle experience! read more

Scents by Design is such a fun and cool experience!! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something to do outside the box. I made a reservation on their website and when we arrived we were greeted by the owner who gave us the run down of the process. We were able to view the whole wall of different scents and write down which ones were our favorite. After we had our list we went over them with her to narrow it down and make a selection as to what we wanted our candles to smell like. I ended up with a champagne, bubble bath and elderflower scented candle and my husband chose inscents, sandlewood and honey suckle. We poured our oils into the hot wax and then were able to pick up our candles 90 minutes later. It was such a fun thing to do on our Saturday afternoon! Can't wait to go back! read more

Came here for the yelp event and it was a fun experience getting to create your own scent. They have about 100 scents on the wall to choose from, all of which are dead on accurate to the actual smells. Choose several scents you enjoy and the friendly staff with help you choose the best ones to mix into a custom scent. I chose Teakwood, Bordeaux and Brown Sugar to create what I like to call Teakaux. Tree smell, mixed with a grape wine smell and a dash of sweetness from the brown sugar. Almost smells kind of bourbon-y. Was a fun place and worth trying at least once. read more

See all

Such a fun afternoon celebrating a friend's birthday! You smell 110 scents, write down your favorites, select a vessel to purchase, go over to the candle bar, and discuss with a specialist which of your scents will blend together well in a candle. Three is a good number to choose. You take those essential oils and slowly drip them into a little metal bowl, stirring them with a long spoon, and sniffing as you go along to see if you like the blend you're creating. (Did I mention: you can purchase a mimosa or glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage to sip during the process. ) You control the ratio of each oil, based on which of the three scents you want to be stronger. When the little bowl is full and you're happy with the blend, the specialist takes the vessel you've chosen and fills it with hot soy wax from a machine that looks like a Tastee-Freez dispenser. She returns it to you, and you use the long spoon to blend the combined oils into the wax. You go have lunch for 90 minutes (I recommend delicious Magnolia's on Park at Oxford) while your candle cools and solidifies. Go back and pick it up, and you're on your way. Very attractive packaging. You pay according to what vessel you choose. The least expensive is $21 plus tax ($22.68); they vary in size and style, with several in the $30 range. I chose the translucent cobalt blue one ($22.68), and my friend selected a copperish one for $26 ($28.08). Oh ... you get to name your unique, personal blend, and write it on a label to be adhered to the bottom. My friend blended mahogany, pumpkin spice, and balsam fir, aptly naming her blend Woods of Winter. I chose sea foam, balsam fir, and elderflower, naming the blend Highway One, reminded of the drive down that breathtaking, fragrant, California coastal highway. It's as if your label tells a story. I kept this activity a surprise, convincing Vickie to trust me she'd enjoy the experience. We both did. Highly recommend! We truly appreciated the friendliness of the staff, the convenient use of their restroom, and the exhibited art by local artists. We easily found street parking right in front of the store; there's also a lot behind the store. The atmosphere is so cozy with several couches and chairs. If you can go on a weekday, it's less busy than a weekend. I christened my candle last night, and it smells great. As planned when I blended, the sea foam is the primary scent and just lovely. My friend and I are both candle freaks and couldn't believe we hadn't heard of this hidden gem before. A man and woman were finishing up their candles when we arrived, and he admitted he was surprised how much he enjoyed the experience. Not just for women! [FYI - Only because I'm a slow sipper, I'd pass on getting a beverage next time because the process didn't take very long, and I only sipped about half of my mimosa. But that's just me. * Recommendation to the delightful staff: when one person is paying for more than herself/himself and using a credit/debit card, please try to be discreet when having them finish the transaction on the large electronic device, so the total amount isn't big and bold and visible by the person being treated. Thanks. read more

See all

What a unique evening activity! I was lucky enough to have a promo code and thought "new business, why not!" The shoppe is small but spacious. There is a huge wall of scented candles right when you walk in, all single scents. The ladies instruct you to take a note card and smell EVERY candle. As you sniff along, you make notes on which are your favorites. At the end of smelling, you pick out a candle holder. They have a bunch of different shapes and sizes. Then you go to the candle bar. There the ladies work with you on combining two or three scents to make your own unique candle. You get to bland the scents yourself so if you want one smell to be more powerful than the others, you can change the measurements around to customize the smell. The ladies fill the holders with scentless wax and then you pour and mix. After everything is settled, the candle have to cure for 90 minutes. So you either pick up later that day or another day. I would strongly suggest setting up your appointment to make a candle then walk down to Edibles to eat then come back for your candle. If you are in love with a singular scented candle, you can purchase those as well. They even have mystery bags of candles you can purchase, how fun! Love this. I am planning on bringing my wedding party here for a large event this summer! read more

See all

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE this place! My husband and I were vacationing in Rochester and just happened to walk by Scents by Design. We had a blast creating a candle scent unique to us. We ended up back in the store two days later to make two more candles and some hand soap. The scents were all different and definitely us. I told my husband that it's a good thing there's not a Scents by Design close to me because I would be there all the time. (BTW the candles and soap travel well in airplanes.) read more

Best birthday present ever ! Who knew this was in in Rochester (thank you Instagram !) Great time with my daughters, made a beautiful wood wick candle AND tart warmers. Atmosphere is great. I was worried I would be overpowered by scents when I walked in (Yankee candle store gives me a headache), but no, it was open, airy, and surprisingly scent free. So much fun to pick out scents and name my creations. Two for one mimosas that day was a plus :) Owner and staff are so helpful. Great food places nearby while you wait for your candle to set. Can't wait to go back on a date night with my husband read more