Amour Bivens first crafted her business idea at 15 years old. Three years later, the 18-year-old entrepreneur runs her own candles and sweets shop, selling handmade products across Madison through her online store and pop-up events like the ones hosted by the Madison Public Market.
What sets her products apart is a deep consideration for health and wellness.
“I started making the purest form of candles with oils and fragrance oils that don’t contain any chemicals or anything that could cause headaches or respiratory issues,” she said. “Now, that might vary per person because scent can be really strong. I prefer to make mine subtle, but not too strong.”
Prior to launching her brand, Bivens frequently burned store-bought candles, but her enjoyment clashed with a physical reaction to overpowering, synthetic fragrances. After wrestling with chronic migraines and respiratory irritation, she decided that instead of giving up candles entirely, she would create a cleaner alternative.
“I really love candles, but when I burn candles from specific companies, I feel like I’m dying,” Bivens said. “So I’m like, okay, I’m gonna make my own candles. I did my research on the cleanest candle wax to burn, what would be the smartest choice of scents and where I should go to get my scents.”
In December 2023, Bivens officially began selling her candles alongside baked goods under the name Amour’s Sweets. She describes her business as a venture dedicated to keeping the “heart, home and body warm” with high-quality products made entirely from scratch.
“I just started adding and adding. It first started with cookies and candles, so there was a pair. The vanilla candle was paired with sugar cookies,” Bivens said.
Over time, Amour’s Sweets expanded to include soaps, car diffusers, fidget tools, moisturizers and moisturizing scrubs.
“I just separated it entirely,” Bivens said. “So I made cookies and candles on the side, and then I added on soaps like shea butter, unscented coconut soap, stuff like that. Then body scrubs and car diffusers, and then that made a very large ring of products. My goal is to have clean products but still have it affordable to where people would actually want to come back and be like, oh, it’s not really hurting my pockets too much, and I still don’t have to worry about getting sick from chemicals.”
To promote her products and engage Madison’s consumer base, Bivens attends major local vendor events, selling her items while connecting face-to-face with the community.
“Those very big markets, where there were like 700 people just walking past, it was amazing. I loved it. It was crazy. I love really big markets because you get a lot of connections, especially with business owners,” Bivens said.
“I do want to get my own storefront sooner or later and be able to ship out,” Bivens said.
To browse her latest collection of candles, skincare, baked goods and more, click here.
