The 24-year-old had been in the airline industry for four years, including a two-year stint with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), when she and her colleagues decided to expand their horizons and apply for jobs with SIA.
In January last year, she received news that she had been accepted.
“Working with MAS felt like home,” Trishan recalls. “I had really mixed feelings about leaving, but it was always my dream to work with SIA.”
Thrishan spent her days looking for accommodation in Singapore while awaiting word of her start date. But Covid cases were on the rise, which led to an email explaining that her job placement was on hold.
“To be honest, I wasn’t affected by the email,” she reflects. “Like many others, I thought Covid-19 would be a temporary issue and the situation would be rectified in a couple of months.”
Sadly, it did not end in a couple of months. Money eventually became an issue, so Thrishan took on a job with Agoda, the travel agency, which didn’t last long as the prolonged pandemic forced the company to retrench its staff.
Unwilling to give up, she began exploring other avenues to earn a living. Unsurprisingly, it was her travels that led her to a new passion and business opportunity.
Thrishan explains to FMT that during her journeys, she would always buy a candle from local stores. This collection inspired her to do some research into candle-making.
“I made one for myself and was so taken aback with how enchanting the smell was!” she exclaims. “It took me months of research and I even invested in candle-making equipment before starting my business.”
She launched De Scent Candles last March with an Instagram store, and it very quickly became a success. Thrishan says the response from her customers has been amazing, with orders from as far as Sabah, Kedah, Penang and Kuantan.
What differentiates Thrishan’s candles from generic ones sold in stores is that hers are 100% soy-based. “Store-bought candles are made from paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum and is not a renewable resource,” she says.
“Unlike soy candles, generic candles emit benzene when burnt, which is a harmful substance. As many of my customers have children, soy candles are the safest option.”
Besides being environmentally friendly, soy candles last 50% longer than store-bought ones as they have a slower burning time and a cooler burning temperature, owing to the incorporation of soybean oil.
De Scent Candles currently has four different fragrances – fresh blossom, white tea, white rose, and coconut vanilla, her bestseller.
Thrishan admits to facing some challenges along the way, including competition from other soy candle-makers.
“The pandemic threw in some learning curves as I had issues getting supplies, but I am fortunate enough that the lockdowns brought more customers my way,” she muses.
As for her airline dream, Thrishan says she might consider rejoining if travel opens up again, but at the same time she is hopeful her candle business will grow.
“I already have in mind the new scents I wish to release,” she reveals.
There is, of course, the possibility that she could be both a flight attendant and candle-maker. With her wits and initiative, the sky’s the limit.
De Scent Candles delivers to the whole of Malaysia. Check out Thrishan’s candles on her Instagram page. To order, send her a WhatsApp message to 012-2286265.