Aslı Özge: An Entrepreneur Breathing Life into Scents and Hope with Chemist’s Meticulousness

Aslı Özge is a 36-year-old professional chemist who dedicated years to the private sector. When her workplace was destroyed during the earthquake disaster, she decided to use her greatest capital —her knowledge and expertise—to start her own business.  But she not only forged her own path; even before opening her own shop, she helped other women affected by the earthquake to earn their own money through workshops she organized voluntarily.

A New Destination in Iskenderun: A Center for Production and Education

For about six months, Aslı Özge has been operating her shop, Antiochnaturacandlelab, on İnönü Street in the Cumhuriyet Neighborhood—one of Iskenderun’s most vibrant spots. She has positioned this space not just as a retail point but as a center for learning. By merging her chemistry background with candle and perfume production, she creates unique products while teaching the intricacies of the craft to enthusiasts. Her shop has become a special place in post-earthquake Hatay, where solidarity and production are blended with scents.

Equipping Hope: MaviKalem’s “Lifeblood” Support

Like every newly established business, the right equipment meant sustainability for Aslı Özge’s enterprise. The wax melting cauldron and color printer provided by our association propelled the business’s operational strength to its peak. The wax melting cauldron professionalized production while allowing the budget that would have been spent on this equipment to be redirected toward other needs of the shop. The color printer brought all printing requirements—from product labels to workshop materials—in-house, eliminating external dependency and reducing costs.

Social Entrepreneurship: Creating Space for Women

Today, Aslı Özge continues to fill her workshops through a combination of social media presence and local interest. While gaining her own economic independence, she opens new doors for the women around her to engage in production. Combining the meticulousness of a chemist with an entrepreneurial spirit, Aslı Özge does not just produce candles and perfumes in this colorful world she built from scratch in Hatay; she also heals the city’s wounds with scents.

“Seeing the women who attend my workshops earn their own money is a much greater source of pride than filling the shelves of my shop. Every woman supported means this city rising back on its feet.”