Loke says her candles are meant to enhance an empty corner in one’s house (All photos: Low Yen Yeing/ The Edge)
Since the dawn of time, creatives have cited boredom, or the absence of distractions, as the trigger and catalyst for their artistic expressions.
Pablo Picasso, a pioneer of Cubism, was most productive in solitude at night; detective novelist Agatha Christie wrote prolifically in a distraction-free era; and film director Martin Scorsese credits his quiet childhood home with nurturing his love of reading, imagination and cinema.
Candlemaker Christina Loke Kit May, 45, is another individual who can testify to the benefits of boredom. She turned a pandemic side project into a business after picking it up during a period with little else to do.
“While I was looking for things to fill my time with, my Instagram algorithm showed me an ad for a candle workshop. So, I signed up for a session and found the craft quite interesting and not that difficult.”
When she decided to “get serious” with it, she registered for a three-day workshop to become a certified professional artisan candlemaker. “I wanted to learn from scratch. The course was comprehensive, covering how to market my products, manage accounting and the essential basics for starting a small-scale enterprise.”
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Loke established MayLeeLoves in 2023. Instead of container candles, she chose to focus on decorative pieces after observing the former were already very common, with plenty of existing homegrown labels producing them.
As to how she settled on the brand’s name, she says: “I wanted something that could be easily pronounced and remembered.
“‘May’ is part of my Chinese name and ‘Lee’ is my mum’s. I didn’t want to use the word ‘candle’ in case I wanted to sell a wider range of products later on.”
Loke says her candles are meant to enhance an empty corner in one’s house. “Some of them may be small, but they add visual interest to your bookshelf or coffee table.” From animals and desserts to film-inspired characters, there is a diverse range of designs to suit every taste.
She does not sculpt or carve the shapes herself but relies entirely on ready-made silicone moulds sourced from online platforms. These containers are essential in giving the wax its final, structured form.
The real work begins once the items arrive at her dedicated studio — or “small factory”, as she calls it — at home. “Each comes in different sizes and there is a specific calculation involved. To measure how much wax is needed for every design, I fill the mould with water, then weigh the liquid.”
Loke uses only sustainable waxes for all her products. For decorative candles, she works with a blend of beeswax and pillar wax — the former being non-toxic, and the latter formulated for rigidity to help the candles hold their shape. This combination suits MayLeeLoves’ creations, some of which weigh more than 1kg.
Colouring is usually the most fun part. “You have the freedom to do whatever you want.” But the therapeutic bit comes after waiting eight hours for the mixture to set and harden. “I sit down and pull out the samples one by one. Seeing the results turn out the way I like is one of the things that makes me really happy,” she smiles.
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Though most materials — such as moulds, waxes and wicks — are purchased online because of limited options in physical stores, Loke still prefers to buy essential oils in person. “I need to smell them to know whether they would be suitable for my candles.”
One of her favourite activities is experimenting with different scents to develop her own signature blends. Among the bestsellers are English pear and sakura. She is quick to note, however, that durian will never make the cut. “I don’t eat durian so there’s no way I’m going to do that!” she laughs.
To gauge customer interest in a new offering, Loke usually makes a single piece before uploading photos of it to the brand’s Instagram page. At weekend markets — often organised around specific seasonal or celebratory themes — she typically produces five units for each design.
Reflecting on a particularly bustling period, she says: “Christmas last year was quite busy for me. I participated in 10 markets across the Klang Valley. I was still new with the pop-up stuff; so, I didn’t know which venue or organiser was good. I just signed up depending on my budget. I was at Jaya One, Mahsa Avenue and The Campus Ampang, among others.”
This year, however, she is taking a more measured approach. “I’m going to pace myself because not every market is my target audience.”
Having participated in numerous bazaars and managing most of the arduous tasks — such as lugging stall decorations and essentials like table cloths, poster stands and fans — herself, she has learned what each gig demands.
She adds that outcomes vary depending on location. “It is to be expected that not everyone would want to buy your products. Some places do better than others.”
The journey is tiring, yet deeply rewarding. “It’s a one-woman show but I don’t complain. The business has its ups and downs, but I enjoy every bit of it. I’m introverted, so this is a good chance for me to meet new people.”
MayLeeLoves is not a full-time venture for Loke, who has spent the past 15 years in business compliance at a local bank.She considers herself fortunate to be able to balance both her job and side hustle. “I’m lucky because I don’t have to work until late or on weekends. When I get home, I can focus on making candles when there are orders.”
While Loke has plans to open a physical shop in the future, she is comfortable with where the label stands for now. Still, she talks about her long-term ambition: “There is definitely a dream to run a full-fledged home décor store someday.”
This article first appeared on May 18, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
