Becoming A Candle Maker

Perhaps an update with news?  

I've become a candlemaker.   It's been the most wonderful and rewarding side excursion I've taken so far.  Let's chat and I'll share all the details and include what led me to exploring the world of candle making and how wax and wicks are part of the studio today.  There's so much to share...

For today, I'm sharing the story of wax melting and fragrance oils.  Imagine scents as parts of a palette...waiting for mixing to create beautiful aromas.

It all began as a fun hobby in late 2023.  I had curiosity for learning how to pour my own candles.  So, I need to pause here and help you imagine how I begin my creative practice each time I step into my studio. Part of my art making atmosphere is lighting a candle.  A candle for flicker of the flame and a scent to fill the space.  

As I begin the transition into creating, I walk into the room and I turn on the overhead lights, then the downturned spot lights on the picture ledges.  I turn on the strings of twinkle fairy lights.  I start some inspiring music whether it's a playlist of calming piano, classical music, a contemporary playlist of praise music, or a throwback of the easy listening 70's...and then I light a candle to fill the space with one of my favorite scents.  So, in a way, I incorporate all the senses.  Wait, taste?  There's usually a glass of iced green tea placed on the work table beside me.  Today, my chosen scent is Yuzu Blossom (mandarin, bergamot, passionfruit, yuzu citrus, jasmine, sea salt, cedar, and amber) most regularly.

My hand poured coconut soy wax candle.

In years past, I would go shopping for candles and find the prices were so high, the scents were not to my liking, or repurchasing them was impossible when scents were not available.  I grew curious to know whether it might be an enjoyable hobby to pour my own candles in my own kitchen.

I began reading online, researching and watching YouTube videos, purchased a book.  I became excited to begin and then upon learning how much math plays into this craft, I was hesitant.  Could I correctly manage the math and create candles which would burn properly/safely/successfully?  I asked my husband, Tracy for backup in checking over my calculations as I began this new adventure.

I chose coconut soy wax for ease of use; it comes in a bag of thin wax flakes so easy for me to scoop and not need to tax my hands & wrists.  Artist hands to care for, you know.  I chose cotton wicks which work well with this type of wax.  Then began this wonderful immense palette of scent blending.  As I researched further, I learned why my stash of store bought candles were no longer impressing me.  I would light them to use them up and soon after, I found myself irritated by those candles.

My chosen supplies and wax.

What could be the reason?  And the difference?  The wax doesn't have paraffin but I don't know for sure the extent of the difference this makes because I have been so pleased with the coconut soy wax.  One thing I now know is that the fragrance oils I am using are much better choices.  Higher quality oils without phthalate, formulated to lessen the toxins and hormone disrupters which are common in lower quality fragrance oils.  The candles I pour burn so beautifully.  The flame, the golden color of the wax, the clear melt pool, the wax creates very little soot, and the wick is matched so well that the candle burns down to just a bit of wax at the bottom of the jar.  The hot throw (the scent throw when lit) is delightful!  I find myself enjoying my home spaces so much more, no matter the season.

Freshly poured candles.

So, I began learning in 2023 and not long after, when I was satisfied with my first small batches of candles (still being made on my kitchen counter, wax melted by double boiler method), I gave a few candles to a friend, my mom, and my sister.  It was my sister's response which was really encouraging and gave me a boost for the next part of this adventure.  

Fall of 2025, I posed the question to Tracy... What if I started a small candle company?  With the plan of pouring maybe about 50 candles each month.  A few jars of each scent poured by me in small batches.  Post it online and ask who would like to buy some candles.  When the candles sell out, they are gone.  My candle company launched January of 2026.  Needing a company name, I chose Salt & Light Studio Candle Co.   And now my studio officially has a name!  I've always wanted to give my creative adventure space that name and now it's reality.  

Yuzu Blossom in my studio.

As I started setting myself up for a regular pouring routine in the studio, two flat table tops are now dedicated to this project.  No more kitchen and double boiler method.  I purchased a small wax melter and set it up to be able to use various sizes of pour pitchers.  When I'm preparing to pour, I look the part of scientist with protective eyewear and gloves.  The calculator, sticky notes, and pencil are always ready to plan the next pour.

Work area for pouring candles.

I'm finding my favorite scent blends and creating new blends as well.  Which scents are favorites of my repeat customers?  I'm tuning in and keeping notes.  The most recent candle pouring week, I poured small batches in nine different scent blends.  Candles made with this wax blend need 2 weeks curing time so these will be made available the first week of April which is next week.

Some of the scents offered for Spring Edition 2026.

Because there was interest from my customers, I have now added another wax melter.  Next week, scented wax melts will be available in a variety of scent blends.  The wax for that product is coconut wax.

An assortment of scented coconut wax melts.

I am so thrilled with this new addition to my creative outlets.  It's really rewarding to have friends, family, and neighbors as return shoppers.  The fact that the candles and wax melts are being enjoyed is rewarding.  It's a treat to have my own personal candle stash tucked away but even better to know others are finding these hand made items worth buying.

If you're following me on Instagram and/or Facebook, I do try to share some behind-the-scenes tidbits as I am busy in the studio.  These products are available on the Christy Sheeler website so you can browse my hand poured candles and wax melts.  Thank you to all of you who have supported me in this unbelievable joyful new adventure.  It means so much.  I am enjoying this season of imagining the next beautiful scent blend.  Just this week, I went off script and blended two scents of wax melts inspired by my artistic painter frame of mind:  Plein Air Palette and Shoreline Sketch.  Tracy and I mixed and matched scent blotter strips to combine several for new favorites.  Now, to play around with what I might rename Yuzu Blossom...

Until next time,

Christy

-She must make art.