Have you ever wondered how a candle is made or wanted to make your own?
Local candle company Ollie & Co., known for their creative and unique candles is offering a workshop that gives you a look into their operations. You get to make your very own custom candle from first to last step, from curating your ideal fragrance to folding the branded box it will later go into.
Available as individual sessions, or a workshop you can take as a group. This is done out of their Bentall Centre pop-up that also serves as commercial shop, housing an abbreviated collection of their candles. This includes their cocktail scent collection, one of classic Asian scents like pineapple bun and tiger balm, and even an adult sensual candle line. The latter would inspire me today.
The class began with an introduction on what we will be endeavouring on. However the multitude of steps would be taught and one at a time, as you went along as a group. Each attendee has a preset station with tray and all the necessary tools.
We started by exploring the bottles of essential oils on the table. A curated assortment to weed through, making note of our favourites and what we wanted for the base, middle, and top scent. There was a scent guide and suggestions, but use of your creativity was highly encouraged.
I was inspired by the unusual offering a wine scented oil and decided to build on it with additional vices like tobacco and smoke. It wasn’t balanced so I added chocolate to soften it and then thought all the above made for an interesting night. So naturally then added leather and Egyptian musk. I was left with an erotic-esque sounding night that I aptly named “Two AM Booty Call”. This got the giggles and the reaction I had hoped to evoke. The outlier in a collection of the floral and nature forward candles being made today.
Once we had our scents mixed it was time to add it to liquid wax and pour both into our Ollie & Co. branded candle cup, over a pre-placed waxy wick. Then it was time to wait for it to harden, for a firm surface, to be able to place a secret message within. This would only be visible once the wick has been lit and the wax has been melted down and made translucent.
During this down time we were given a crash course in calligraphy, learning the skills necessary to write the names of our candle on own labels; to later stick one on to the other.
As we got to crafting and mixing, we had the lids of our candles customized by a local artist. Pictures and patterns to either match our scents or our style. I asked for something kinkier and she delivered with ball gag, handcuffs, and lacy bra. Coloured in my chosen red and black motif.
With secret message hidden and wax settled, it was time to put it all together. We cut the extra off the wick, capped the candle, and boxed it to go. We were advised to be gentle, as the wax requires a week to fully cure.
This was such a fulfilling and fun workshop with a great keepsake to take home. I highly recommend this one as a great solo date and/or activity to be mindfully engaged in.
Ollie & Co.
ollieandco.ca
