Aura:Bliss opens in downtown Milledgeville

Published 8:00 am Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Nikkia Chavis, a wife and mother of three first and foremost, is a Pennsylvania native who attended Penn State University with a focus in marketing before making the decision to dedicate her time to taking care of her children. She and her family moved to Georgia in 2021, and Chavis is currently working on getting certifications in herbalism. On Oct. 14, she opened the doors of Aura:Bliss, a store that focuses on organic health and holistic beauty among other things.

Chavis discovered over time that she preferred alternative medicine, specifically dealing with herbs, because she not only witnessed the results but also was not a fan of the side effects that come with medication. Losing family members and other events pushed Chavis into researching more and finding other alternative medicines.

That is not to say she is a person who pushes against the medical industry. In fact, Chavis believes that it is necessary (especially in serious cases of illness) but considers it important that people know that other options are out there like plants, herbs and spices.

Located at 140 N. Wayne St. in Milledgeville, Aura:Bliss is rather unique in a number of ways and offers customers skincare products, herbal remedies and organic herbs. They also sell items such as incense, candles and sea moss to name a few. 

“We’re kind of like a spot for people who are looking for a holistic alternative for their care, period, whether it’s internally or externally,” Chavis said.

Aura:Bliss was opened as a space for those seeking medical alternatives. Chavis does not diagnose customers, but recommends things that are traditionally used to treat particular ailments for those that ask. She thought the business could be an “oasis” for people that did not have time to wait for herbs online or needed something, such as ginger, to treat their cough right away rather than waiting three to five days. 

There was a lot to the process of opening Aura:Bliss, so much so that there were points where Chavis was not sure it would even happen. Her husband, who is a truck driver, worked and pretty much funded Aura:Bliss all on his own, although Chavis added that her mother-in-law also helped. The business, she said, was built with her family’s “blood, sweat, and tears” and they hope to be able to expand and have more stores of this kind in hard-to-reach areas. 

Since opening, Chavis says that some within the community expressed surprise that the business was in Milledgeville, and she also heard plenty of “thank-you’s” from those that appreciated that something like this was now closer to them, and they would not have to travel.

Currently, Aura:Bliss is offering a discount of 15% off vegan soap for three bars, and you can save 10% off of scented candles when you buy two. For those who are looking for a wholesale amounts of sea moss, they offer wholesale accounts which allow you to get a bulk amount for a discount. 

What Nikka Chavis enjoys most about running Aura:Bliss is the customers.

“I like that there are many customers, especially women who may have questions that they could feel a little intimidated to ask a health professional or it could be that they don’t really know what things can work best for their body,” Chavis said “They feel relaxed here, to ask questions and get some answers. I like also how many are delighted to see the store. It feels like it’s a really new twist on things in Downtown Milledgeville. Even walking by, a lot of people are like ‘What is that smell?’ They can smell the incense and the candles before they even hit the door.” 

Aura:Bliss is open on Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit their website, https://www.shopaurabliss.com/. You can also check out their Facebook page, which is https://www.facebook.com/shopaurabliss.