Lighten up your Life!

Candles & new Utulivu Spa

The iced matcha got us – a candle with the scent of the trend tea of the season. We had to find out who is behind such wonderful creations.

Quality scented candles are now available in Zanzibar. Mercy Odhiambo, a talented Kenyan who moved here three years ago, is producing them in beautiful glass jars, bowls and tins at her home in Fumba Town, where she lives with her seven-year-old son.  “My house has become a lab”, she says. The 40-year-old is originally a tech consultant. She visited a candle-making class in Nairobi in 2021 – meanwhile, she is offering her own workshops in Zanzibar. Her advice for smooth candle use in Zanzibar: “Below the AC, away from the fan.”

What’s the secret of a good candle? Mercy uses no synthetic paraffin but natural soy or bees’ wax, even the wicks are eco-friendly and made of bamboo. The glass jars have bamboo lids and can be re-used for other purposes.

We discovered Mercy’s ‘Zanzibar Spice Collection’ at Fumba’s Kwetu Kwetu Communuity market; all her items can be ordered online. Recently she also opened a little spa at the popular Membe Kayak restaurant on the Fumba peninsula’s southern tip, where she sells her candles, offers gel manicures & pedicures, massages and facials.

Wellness is the spark behind both, the candles and the Utulivu Spa (Swahili for calmness). The moment you ignite one of her long-burning aroma candles (40-80 hours), an aura of calm occupies the room. Scented candles have become a global lifestyle phenomenon. The global candle market was valued at around US$ 6.3 billion in 2025, with scented variants making up the majority of sales. The candles are used not just for fragrance but for wellness purposes – lavender is associated with stress relief, Vanilla engages supports restful sleep. No wonder that Mercy has placed her vanilla bestseller on her bedroom table.

“I am inspired by the spices of Zanzibar”, the candle-maker says. The process of making a good, non-flickering candle is lengthy. It takes six months in a dark room for the infusion to acquire an intensive scent. Prices range from TZS15,000 – 35,000 per candle.

To experience the ultimate treat for your senses, visit the new Utulivu spa; guests can also use the new pool.  Try a facial and a massage – and certainly a heavenly candle will be awaiting you.

Information & bookings:

@zanzibar_spice_collection

www.utulivuspa.com