Make your own scented candle at Fort Wayne's new Wixporium started by a local entrepreneur

When you think of fall, you might picture vibrant-colored trees, crunchy leaves on the sidewalk, and chilly weather that makes you want to cozy up inside with a candle. 

But finding a scented candle that satisfies your style and the ambiance of your space can be challenging. The scent stylists at Wixporium in Fort Wayne can help you create a candle that’s right for you. Located at 3954 W Jefferson Blvd. in the Parkwest Shopping Center across the street from Jefferson Pointe, Wixporium is a new, local D.I.Y. candle bar. 

Wixporium is located at 3954 W Jefferson Blvd.

Entrepreneur Londria Ladner founded the business after she picked up candlemaking while stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Ladner is helping others savor their own favorite spaces and enjoy the fun of making custom candles on date nights or outings with friends.

Clients can visit Wixporium’s shop, opening October 20, and explore more than 40 scents available on the fragrance wall. Once they’ve found their favorite scent combos, they pick a vessel to hold their candle. Vessels come in various shapes and sizes to suit different styles. Then, clients head to the candle bar for a candle-pouring workshop, led by the scent stylists. 

At Wixporium, customers are guided through the candle making process by scent stylists.Candles take about three hours to dry, so Ladner encourages guests to shop around the store while they wait. She sells wax crumbles and car fresheners. Customers can also visit other nearby restaurants and shops at Parkwest or Jefferson Pointe. Guests can come back anytime within two weeks after making their candles to pick up their creations.

For the past 15 years, Ladner has worked in a factory. She visited her first candle bar in Chicago in 2021 on a date night and decided to bring the concept back to Fort Wayne.

“We went; we loved it, and that’s how it came about,” she says.

At Wixporium, customers are guided through the candle making process by scent stylists.
To learn about starting a business of her own, she attended SEED Fort Wayne’s Build Institute program in January 2022. It is a nine-week, cohort-based basic business startup course for early-stage entrepreneurs. Ladner says the program gave her the proper steps to start a successful business and has allowed her to network with other up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

SEED Program Coordinator Rochelle Ulanowicz says Ladner has shown tremendous dedication toward her business.

"She has been diligent and persistent every step of the way," Ulanowicz says. "Even when a few of her plans fell through, she kept moving forward." 

Londria Ladner, owner of Wixporium.

Ladner says finding a brick-and-mortar location to lease in Fort Wayne has been her biggest challenge so far.

“Some owners didn’t see my vision and didn’t want to take a chance with me because I had no prior experience running a business,” she says.

Ladner has been preparing to open her shop since August. She describes her space as “fun, vibrant, inviting, and calm,” and she’s determined to exceed the expectations of those who have doubted her.

As for her own favorite scent? Ladner enjoys what she's dubbed the Wixporium blend: Grapefruit, mint, coco cashmere, and pink sugar. She also recommends a blend of French bourbon reserved, black ice, and palo santo.

Wixporium opens Thursday at noon.

Londria Ladner, owner of Wixporium, helps customers at the candle bar.Visit Wixporium

Wixporium is open Thursday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment on Wednesdays.