Seleta Scents candle, gift shop to leave Woodstock’s Old Courthouse incubator, move to Arlington Heights

Julienne Samuels of Seleta Scents places merchandise on shelves ahead of the store's opening in 2023.

Seleta Scents, one of the original tenants of the Woodstock Old Courthouse business incubator, is relocating to a larger space.

Seleta Scents' move is another success story for the new incubator program inside the Old Courthouse. The shop was one of two businesses in the first class of incubators, along with The Records Department.

Merch with references to the "Drink to World Peace" from the Groundhog Day film inside Seleta Scents in Woodstock Feb. 3, 2024.

But unlike the record shop, which moved to a larger storefront elsewhere in downtown Woodstock over the summer, Seleta Scents is moving out of town and out of McHenry County to Arlington Heights.

Julienne Samuels-Richards, who owns Seleta Scents alongside her husband, Mike Richards, said they were looking for a space in downtown Woodstock, preferably on the Square, but nothing opened up.

Instead, they decided, “let’s expand closer to home,” Samuels-Richards said of their business, which offers candles and other scented items.

Before moving to Woodstock, Seleta Scents was available at the Elk Grove Village farmers market.

Some candles stocked at Seleta Scents in Woodstock ahead of the store's opening on Wednesday.

Samuels-Richards said Seleta Scents' goal is to be open permanently in the Arlington Heights location Jan. 15.

Although Seleta Scents is moving out of McHenry County, Samuels-Richards said the store plans to stay involved in the community. Seleta Scents will be at a Galentine’s Day event in February at Stage Left Cafe in Woodstock and will continue to teach classes through McHenry County College.

Although the last day in Woodstock was Dec. 15, Samuels-Richards said people still can shop Seleta Scents online at seletascents.com.

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