In a world of mass production and neutral tones, Sarah Duck, the owner and maker behind Manara Home, is carving out her own space, one playful candle at a time. From pouring candles in her small home studio to packing orders by hand, Brisbane maker Sarah is proof that a little creativity and a lot of heart can build something truly beautiful.
A Brand That Began With a need for more colour and a Bubble Candle
What began in 2020 as a small creative project quickly grew into a cult-favourite brand known for its bold colour palettes, playful shapes and mood-lifting scents.
“I wanted to create homewares that didn’t just sit quietly on a shelf”, says Sarah. “I wanted every piece to spark something: a memory, a smile, a compliment from a friend. Whether it’s a dreamy scent or a sculptural candle that doubles as art, it should make your home feel unapologetically you“.
Her first launch included just a few shapes, one of them being the now-iconic bubble candle, which quickly gained traction for its playful aesthetic. From there, the range began to grow into what Manara Home is today: a colourful mix of candles, quirky homewares and nostalgic scent blends like Pineapple Brioche and Vanilla Caramel.
The Reality of Running a Small Business – Solo
What makes this brand stand out isn’t just its bold aesthetic, it’s the story behind it. Manara Home isn’t a large team, a slick warehouse or a faceless label. It’s just Sarah, pouring candles by hand in her Brisbane home, packing orders on her dining table and building a brand rooted in creativity, connection and care.
Sarah is not only the candle-maker, but also the product photographer, the social media manager, the customer service team, the order packer and the shipping department, all rolled into one. And like many micro-businesses in Australia, she’s doing it from home, working between school runs, family life and late-night wax pours.
“I think there’s this idea that small business is cute and creative – and yes, it is! – but it’s also hard”, Sarah says. “It’s long days, decision fatigue, running out of wicks at the worst time and questioning everything when sales are quiet. You really have to love it to keep going, and I do”.
Running a one-woman business also means wearing the emotional load: the pride of positive feedback, the anxiety of shipping delays, the vulnerability of putting your work out there daily. But for Sarah, the personal connection with customers makes it all worth it.
“When someone messages me to say my candle made them smile or gave them a moment of peace after a long day, that’s everything. That’s why I keep doing it”.
The Joys and Challenges of Doing It All
Like many solo business owners, Sarah has learned to do everything from scratch: learning to wick test in Brisbane humidity, mastering packaging design and online platforms, navigating product photography and figuring out how to scale slowly and intentionally, while keeping the heart of the brand intact.
But with that comes the challenges familiar to many small business owners:
Time constraints: Every task, from making products to updating the website, takes time and it’s all on one person’s shoulders.
Isolation: Without a team to bounce ideas off, it can be hard to make decisions or celebrate wins.
Burnout risk: When your passion is also your business, it’s hard to switch off and that can take its toll.
And yet, despite the hustle, Sarah wouldn’t trade it.
“I love that I’ve built something that feels like me. There’s no corporate filter. What you see on my website and Instagram is who I really am: playful, messy, colourful and always experimenting”.
