More than 30 women enjoyed a delightful and hands-on experience on Saturday as they crafted their own scented candles during a workshop hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) Women’s Council.

The interactive session guided participants through the process of creating a standard 8oz candle, complete with fragrance blends and decorative embellishments. Workshop facilitator and Union Shop Steward, Menardia Mason, praised the enthusiasm and creativity displayed by participants throughout the session.

“They were very creative with the design and presentation of their candles, and they were extremely proud of their finished products,” Mason said. She also commended participants for quickly grasping the technical aspects of candle-making, including the precise temperatures required for adding dye colours, fragrance oils, and other elements to the wax.

For many attendees, the workshop was both fulfilling and affirming. One participant reflected on what she described as a surreal experience leading up to the event. “I actually wrote down that I wanted to do a candle-making workshop this year and, just a few days later, it popped up on my Instagram. I had a really good time,” she shared.

Another participant described the session as both therapeutic and empowering. “I enjoyed myself tremendously. I needed this; it was the best form of relaxation, and I will definitely be back again.”

Coordinator of the Women’s Council, Sis. Hazel Luke, is encouraging more women within the Union’s membership to become involved in the Council’s activities.

“The Council is our special space where we can develop ideas, activities, and programmes that cater specifically to our interests and needs as women,” Luke explained.

The ABWU re-established its Women’s Council during its 2025 Women’s Conference. The candle-making workshop marks the first major initiative of the revitalised body, with several other engaging and empowering activities planned for the year ahead.