Katy Khurana, Founder of Betsy Jane Fragrance Company

Introducing to the Chicago North Shore Moms community Wilmette mom of two and the founder of Betsy Jane Fragrance Company, a premium clean candle company inspiring moments of peace through beautifully crafted, non-toxic fragrance, Katy Khurana.

There’s something instantly calming about her. Perhaps it’s the early mornings she spends lighting a candle before the rest of the house wakes, or the intentional way she moves through her full days of family life and entrepreneurship. A former corporate leader turned founder, she traded global boardrooms for hand-pouring small-batch candles in her basement, building a wellness-focused brand rooted in memory, nature, and home. Inspired by Lake Michigan walks, backyard ice rinks, and a deep love of family, she’s created a business that helps busy moms (and all of us) slow down, breathe deeply, and savor the season they’re in.

Get to know more about Katy, how her ‘summer of mom’ was the respite she needed to turn those creative juices into clean burning zen we all need in our lives! Welcome, Katy!

Photo credit: Carolyn Soling of Soling Photography

Hi Katy! Give us a quick snapshot of you and your life right now.

I’m a wife, mom of two girls and small business owner who lives in Wilmette. I’m an enthusiast for family, food, wellness and a life of love.

My days start with an early wakeup where I light a candle and practice a few moments of peace with my coffee while everyone else is still asleep. Then some movement, followed by getting everyone out the door. After drop off, I address business and home needs.

My business is still in the startup phase, so I wear a lot of hats and say yes to trying a lot of new things. I design, hand-pour, and package all candles out of my home in Wilmette. I am also responsible for all sales, marketing, research and development, and managing the financials. The skills I’ve gained across my entire life have prepared me for this moment.

Some days are making, packaging and delivering candles, and unloading large shipments of materials (think moving hundreds of pounds of wax and glass to my basement). Others are focused on fulfilling orders, client meetings for collaborations, and marketing, sales, business development and reconciling financials.

Add in a trip to the grocery store or dry cleaners, then it’s my favorite time of the day: school pickup.

Where are you from originally and why did you move to the North Shore?

I grew up in Minnesota and moved to Chicago to live in the big city after studying journalism at Kansas (Rock Chalk!). I fell in love with the trees and natural beauty of the lakefront while getting my master’s from Northwestern University in Evanston.

When we were expecting our first child, my husband and I wanted to be closer to family in Northbrook, and began to explore moving to the North Shore.

I was very hesitant about leaving the city. We were driving around Wilmette looking at houses in January and February, and I was surprised by the number of backyard ice rinks. I grew up in MN and played hockey on an ice rink in our backyard. I turned to my husband and said, “These are my people. Let’s do it.”

We moved here in the spring of 2017.

Tell us about your family. What does motherhood look like in your house these days?

I really love being a wife and mom. I have two daughters, ages six and eight, and have been married for almost 10 years.

Motherhood and marriage have taught me that life is a series of seasons, some are highlights, others not so much. None of it will last forever and nothing is ever perfect. I have to consistently put in a lot of work every day to accommodate others while protecting my peace, and it’s so worth it. My children are still young but old enough to be independent and we have so much fun together. I really savor this time when we are all together.

A great day is a family bike ride along the Green Bay Trail to Hometown in Winnetka, followed by a visit to The Book Stall and a stop at Dwyer Park and/or Village Green Park before returning home to BBQ dinner or make a pizza on the patio.

What’s something about you that might surprise people?

I learned how to ski moguls on the back bowls in Vail at age 39. I was telling a stranger on the chair lift that I was too scared. He looked at me and said, “Just put your pole in the middle, and turn. And don’t go too fast.” And boy was he right! And what a metaphor for life – keep things simple and don’t go too fast. If I can learn at 39, anyone can.

Where are your go-to spots right now?

Daily movement at Shred415 Northfield, Sunday yoga at Yogaview. The tuna salad and cold brew at Hometown in Winnetka and a blueberry lemon muffin and coffee from Tala Coffee in Winnetka. Anything my husband cooks. And any salad from Towne & Oak. These are my favorites.

My family loves to spend time in Colorado. My happy place is skiing in Vail and Beaver Creek, ice skating on the rink in Beaver Creek, hiking Aspen Mountain, fly fishing with my husband, and enjoying its culture and food.

What are you loving lately?

I love podcasts, especially “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler, “Wiser Than Me” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and “Be My Guest” with Ina Garten. Their interview style is so approachable and witty. I love hearing how comfortable they make their guests and the nuggets of wisdom they share.

What’s something you cannot leave home without?

My phone. Technology today and the amount of work it enables me to do from anywhere is incredible.

It’s time to get down to business! Please introduce Betsy Jane!

Betsy Jane is a premium fragrance company that represents the intersection of wellness and home. Founded to create non-toxic products to inspire moments of peace, Betsy Jane uses the highest quality clean ingredients.

Candles are made using all-natural soy wax, cotton wicks and skin-safe fragrance and essential oils that are certified clean. This means they are free from parabens, carcinogens, mutagens, phthalates and acute, organ and reproductive toxins. They are Proposition 65 compliant, vegan and cruelty-free.

Photo credit: Carolyn Soling of Soling Photography

They provide a clean, slow burn and beautiful aroma that envelopes your space and uplifts your mood, be it peace, joy or energy. When you burn our candles, you can feel the difference.

Candles are inspired by my memories and favorite experiences and designed to make you think of being outdoors in nature or in a warm and inviting space. They are designed, hand-poured and packaged in small batches in Wilmette, Illinois.

What did you do prior to launching this business?

I spent 15 years in Corporate America building a career in sales, marketing and talent strategy, at large, global companies, across a variety of industries. I worked with people all over the world to solve problems.

What inspired you to turn your “summer of mom” into the launch of Betsy Jane, and how did your personal journey shape the mission behind your non-toxic, wellness-focused candles?

After more than 15 years working in sales and then HR consulting, I left my corporate role to take a “summer of mom” and spend more time with my family. While taking this time to connect with my family and friends, I realized there was a need for people to feel uplifted, and I began to truly notice the impact that small moments of peace have on well-being.

People want an escape. Aroma has the power to impact your mind and trigger an escape.

Individual preference is my favorite thing about aroma because what each of us likes and dislikes is different based on our genetic makeup and life experience. Scent triggers memory and aspirations. Curating a balanced scent palette across a variety of aromas is very important to meet the needs of individual preference.

My job is to curate the balanced scent palette that offers something for everyone, and use the highest quality ingredients for a difference you can feel.

Photo credit: Carolyn Soling of Soling Photography

I was our first customer. For years, candles have brought me peace. I light one every morning as part of a ritual to welcome the day. I am very sensitive and was fragrance-free for over a decade until I discovered clean beauty and wellness products.

In 2024, I left my corporate job to spend more time with my family and take a “summer of mom.” I knew I’d start a business eventually and was researching business opportunities when the idea for “clean candles” came to me. I asked myself “why would I make candles?” And the answer was to “inspire moments of peace.” I researched the industry and found it has a big upside and demand for my niche (clean, hand-poured candles) is expected to double in the years to come. So I learned how to make them, and I’ve been blown away by the positive response.

There are a lot of candles on the market but what makes your candles superior to most?

People are drawn to our candles because of the aroma and packaging. They return because of how they feel when the candle is burning. This is due to the high quality materials used to make them.

Our candles are free from many of the additives that can disrupt your endocrine system. So you get this slow, clean burn and beautiful aroma that envelops your space. Customers tell us over and over again that they can feel a difference when they burn our candles.

Photo credit: Carolyn Soling of Soling Photography

Each candle is inspired by your memories and favorite experiences. Can you share one meaningful scent story and how you hope it helps busy moms create small moments of peace in their daily lives?

Yes! Coast is one of our best sellers. It smells like sea salt, peony and mint and is very soothing. It is inspired by walks along Gillson Beach on Lake Michigan in Wilmette and the tranquility I experience as the waves crash into the shore. Light it up and deliver a wow factor to calm yourself down.

Photo credit: Carolyn Soling of Soling Photography

What do you want our readers to know that we have not already covered?

We do a lot of custom orders and branding for corporate and personal gifts. Candles for corporate events, client gifts, special event favors (showers, birthday celebrations, baptisms, etc.), all of which can be branded. We love working with other businesses. If you need something or have an idea for a collaboration, please get in touch.

Where can we find Betsy Jane candles?

Candles are available at a variety of locations around the Chicago area and on our website www.shopbetsyjane.com.

What’s next for Betsy Jane?

Public and private candle classes are now available! This is new and totally unexpected. A few friends and local business owners asked me to host classes during the holidays, and I’ve been blown away by the response. It’s such a fun activity to do together. You learn a lot about someone by selecting an aroma.