The scent of home
Evoking lasting memories
Home is not just about physical spaces but also about the people and the memories created there.
Henriette Lamprecht - In honour of her late grandmother who played a significant role in shaping her understanding of home, today she has built a business that aims to create that same sense of home and lasting memories through fragrances.
In celebration and honour of her Kuku Nakashwa’s legacy, Ester Ashilungu aptly named her business Naka Namibia.
“She taught me that home is not just about physical spaces but also about the people, details, and memories that make a place truly special,” explains Ester.
The decision to focus on home fragrance products springs from her belief that the olfactory sense plays a meaningful role in our lives.
“Fragrances have the power to evoke emotions, trigger memories, and create a sense of comfort and joy. I wanted to bring this experience to people's homes and enhance their living spaces with captivating scents and beautiful designs. I believe fragrances can indeed 'create' a home by adding a personal touch and elevating the overall ambiance, making it a place where one can feel connected, inspired, and at peace.”
Before embarking on her candle journey in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in October 2020, Ester was a 21-year-old accounting student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
She always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a dream of owning her own business someday.
“While I was not sure which industry I wanted to venture into, the idea of being my own boss and creating something meaningful was always a future goal of mine.”
The seed to start Naka was planted when she decided to combine her passion for interior décor and design with her love of fragrances.
“I had a list of challenges to accomplish before turning 21, and one of those challenges was to start a business. After extensive research, I realized there was a unique opportunity to create luxury home fragrances that could elevate living spaces and evoke lasting memories.”
When it comes to designing and making Naka’s products, the most important aspect of the process is creating the fragrance, explains Ester.
“We firmly believe scent has the power to evoke emotions and transport people to different places. Therefore, our journey always begins with crafting the perfect fragrance.”
It starts with brainstorming and conceptualizing the kind of atmosphere or feeling the fragrance should evoke. Once the fragrance profile is decided on, they move on to candle making. The candles are made in small, micro-batches to ensure attention to detail and consistency.
“We carefully measure and blend the ingredients, pour the wax, and add the fragrance. Each candle is then individually hand-poured and left to cure before being packaged with care.”
The commitment to sustainability and being "green" was a deliberate decision from the beginning, says Ester.
“We believe in creating products that bring joy to people's lives while also minimizing our impact on the environment.”
For this reason, only high-quality natural ingredients and 100% soy wax are used for Naka’s candles, ensuring a cleaner burn. Additionally, the packaging is reusable, minimizing waste and promoting eco-consciousness.
Currently, the business is a "one-woman show”. However, Ester does get assistance from her family and friends when necessary.
“All our products are handmade in Windhoek in our home kitchen. As a small and growing brand, we take pride in the personal touch we bring to our production process.”
Looking ahead, Ester has exciting plans for Naka Namibia. She aims to offer a wider variety of luxury home fragrance products, including new scents and unique designs, and expand into more retail stores within the country. And with her recent graduation from an export and trade program by Trade Forward Southern Africa, Ester also has plans to expand Naka Namibia's presence in the global market.
“We also participate in local artisan markets and pop-up events to connect directly with our customers and share the Naka experience. It will soon also be available in our online store on our website.” – www.naka.com.na; Instagram: @naka_namibia; [email protected]
In celebration and honour of her Kuku Nakashwa’s legacy, Ester Ashilungu aptly named her business Naka Namibia.
“She taught me that home is not just about physical spaces but also about the people, details, and memories that make a place truly special,” explains Ester.
The decision to focus on home fragrance products springs from her belief that the olfactory sense plays a meaningful role in our lives.
“Fragrances have the power to evoke emotions, trigger memories, and create a sense of comfort and joy. I wanted to bring this experience to people's homes and enhance their living spaces with captivating scents and beautiful designs. I believe fragrances can indeed 'create' a home by adding a personal touch and elevating the overall ambiance, making it a place where one can feel connected, inspired, and at peace.”
Before embarking on her candle journey in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in October 2020, Ester was a 21-year-old accounting student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
She always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a dream of owning her own business someday.
“While I was not sure which industry I wanted to venture into, the idea of being my own boss and creating something meaningful was always a future goal of mine.”
The seed to start Naka was planted when she decided to combine her passion for interior décor and design with her love of fragrances.
“I had a list of challenges to accomplish before turning 21, and one of those challenges was to start a business. After extensive research, I realized there was a unique opportunity to create luxury home fragrances that could elevate living spaces and evoke lasting memories.”
When it comes to designing and making Naka’s products, the most important aspect of the process is creating the fragrance, explains Ester.
“We firmly believe scent has the power to evoke emotions and transport people to different places. Therefore, our journey always begins with crafting the perfect fragrance.”
It starts with brainstorming and conceptualizing the kind of atmosphere or feeling the fragrance should evoke. Once the fragrance profile is decided on, they move on to candle making. The candles are made in small, micro-batches to ensure attention to detail and consistency.
“We carefully measure and blend the ingredients, pour the wax, and add the fragrance. Each candle is then individually hand-poured and left to cure before being packaged with care.”
The commitment to sustainability and being "green" was a deliberate decision from the beginning, says Ester.
“We believe in creating products that bring joy to people's lives while also minimizing our impact on the environment.”
For this reason, only high-quality natural ingredients and 100% soy wax are used for Naka’s candles, ensuring a cleaner burn. Additionally, the packaging is reusable, minimizing waste and promoting eco-consciousness.
Currently, the business is a "one-woman show”. However, Ester does get assistance from her family and friends when necessary.
“All our products are handmade in Windhoek in our home kitchen. As a small and growing brand, we take pride in the personal touch we bring to our production process.”
Looking ahead, Ester has exciting plans for Naka Namibia. She aims to offer a wider variety of luxury home fragrance products, including new scents and unique designs, and expand into more retail stores within the country. And with her recent graduation from an export and trade program by Trade Forward Southern Africa, Ester also has plans to expand Naka Namibia's presence in the global market.
“We also participate in local artisan markets and pop-up events to connect directly with our customers and share the Naka experience. It will soon also be available in our online store on our website.” – www.naka.com.na; Instagram: @naka_namibia; [email protected]
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