Adala

September 9, 2024 - Candles – wax, wicks, fragrances, shelf life, candle jars... there are quite a few things to consider when it comes to making candles.

ADALA manages to combine all these elements into one-of-a-kind handmade candles that create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

In our conversation with Edin Delalic and Tarik Hadziavdic, the two founders of the Liechtenstein candle manufacturer, we had the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes and learn more about the challenges they face and their impressive dedication to candle-making.

Although the two of them definitely don’t come from the candle industry and work full-time in completely different fields, it quickly becomes clear that their dedication and creative approach to candle-making are impressive—and inspiring.

Edin Delalic tells us: “About five or six years ago, we had an idea that turned into a little hobby: we collected leftover candles, remelted them, and gave them to family and friends. One day, my wife—who is also Tarik’s sister—asked, ‘Why don’t you do this more professionally?’ That question got us thinking, and so we began to delve deeper into candle making. We considered questions like: How can we make our candles more eco-friendly, longer-lasting, and safer for people with allergies? “How do we ensure that raw materials are sourced sustainably and that our production remains resource-efficient?” That’s how our research and development journey began. We worked on it for over a year to design the product as it is today,” Edin Delalic continues. “It was often exhausting, because you wouldn’t believe how much science goes into making a candle. We wanted our candles to burn cleanly, release no harmful substances, and smell good—there were so many details to consider. At times, we were on the verge of giving up. We had invested time, money, and energy and kept facing new challenges. But we knew: Giving up was not an option.”

Tarik Hadziavdic smiles and adds, “Yes, it was a real challenge—and sometimes a disappointment, from supplier to supplier, from wax to wax. But in the end, we managed to develop a product that delights not only us but also our customers.”

It was very important to us to avoid using paraffin.

Of course, paraffin works great for making candles, but we wanted a healthy product with a good environmental footprint—and paraffin has no place in that.

“Our pioneering work spanned every level: we made candles, distributed them to family and friends, and received valuable feedback in the form of suggestions for improvement.”

Edin Delalic continues: “Because it aligns with our philosophy, we strove to constantly learn and improve.” Two years ago, we finally decided to start a company. The health department was a key partner that gave us valuable guidance on toxin-free production. Our kitchens became our laboratories. Two friends with a shared goal. The setup, testing, and planning—everything was in our hands. We didn’t have any consultants; instead, we learned through the principle of ‘learning by doing.’ In the process, we immersed ourselves in technical literature and acquired a great deal of knowledge by asking experts specific questions. For example: Our candles burn for 50 hours. Conducting the test for this was a challenge. We actually had to let the candles burn for 50 hours—which, of course, my wife wasn’t exactly thrilled about! So we developed a system here as well and set up a safe testing station. There were countless scenarios we ran through. It started with the wick. The market is small, and we wanted to stay true to our vision of “clean” candles here as well. ... After a lot of sweat, energy, and countless hours in our kitchen labs, they were finally here: our candles from Liechtenstein.

ADALA: The innovative name behind the candles

“Ada” – we’re both very tech-savvy people, especially when it comes to cryptocurrencies. That’s why we wanted to choose a name that we like and that connects to our passion for innovation. After a long search for a name, we finally settled on “ADA,” the abbreviation for a cryptocurrency. We added “LA” to complete the name—and so “ADALA” was born. It symbolizes the connection between our affinity for technology and the innovative spirit of our workshop. Our “baby” finally had a name.”

Tarik Hadziavdic and the Fragrances: The Nose Behind ADALA’s Fragrance Creations

“I love scents,” says Tarik Hadziavdic, “I love perfumes, and as soon as I walk into a room, I notice the smell. Scents play a major role in my life. We’ve developed many different scents for our workshop. Here, too, our friends, family, and others had to take part in the testing. It’s extremely difficult to find the right scents. I mixed scents myself, combined them with the wax, and created small samples. In the end, we had something like a scent test kit. It still exists today, and our consultants use it to try out the different scents.

We quickly realized that what I like doesn’t necessarily inspire everyone else. We’ve learned a lot in this area as well, and it took a tremendous amount of effort before we finally had a fragrance collection we could identify with—and that I, as a “fragrance enthusiast,” am satisfied with. But we still see room for improvement, because fragrances have an incredible impact.

A Partnership with Heart: ADALA and the “Product of Liechtenstein” Label
When Liechtenstein Marketing approached us, we were very proud and felt honored to be able to display the “Product of Liechtenstein” label on our candles. It was an emotional moment when the request came. We are proud partners of the Liechtenstein brand, and this brings us full circle with our goals and vision: handmade candles made from 100 percent vegan waxes, produced in an eco-friendly manner from soy and rapeseed wax, featuring unique scents, in candle jars that can be reused in many ways—and all of this made in Liechtenstein.