A Cozy Winter Activity: Candle Making in New Jersey
For anyone looking for a unique activity perfect for wintertime, we got you covered. There are a ton of interactive (and BYOB) candle-making classes located near Montclair and the Essex County area that are just the right vibe for a winter activity. Participants will leave the class with a beautiful candle that not only smells delicious but is also a great gift for the holidays. Candles have become increasingly popular for their ambiance, home decoration, and fragrance. Luckily, the process of making candles is fairly simple — and the method and tools used to construct them are as simple today as they were five thousand years ago. The Montclair Girl has rounded up a list of places to take candle-making classes in and near New Jersey. Keep reading to learn more about the candle-making process and where you can go to make your own poured candles in New Jersey and beyond.
A Brief History
The earliest use of candles is attributed to the Ancient Egyptians in 3,000 B.C., who made torches by soaking the stalk of long woody branches (reed plants) in melted animal fat. However, these torches did not contain a wick as a true candle does. That wasn’t until the Roman Empire that the first documented evidence of a candle made with beeswax. These candles were known to be used in religious ceremonies as well as for lighting homes and assisting in travel.
In colonial America, early settlers obtained a more appealing wax by boiling the berries from the bayberry shrub. Then, in the 18th century, it was discovered that Spermaceti wax could be used as a replacement for tallow, beeswax, and bayberry wax. It wasn’t until the 19th century that candles went from being the main source of light (and a household chore in most houses) to a mass-produced product. Although more efficient, machine-made candles do not have the same luscious shape or vibrant colors as homemade candles do.
Today, candles are used to symbolize a celebration, mark a ceremony, spark romance, soothe the body, or add to home décor. The item has gained much popularity in recent years for its unique scents. Many candle companies now provide classes where you can learn the craft behind it, and take home a new hand-made candle to show off your skills.
The candle market provides candle lovers with a wide variety of candles produced from many different waxes such as paraffin, vegetable waxes, and beeswaxes. Candles are provided in many different colors, shapes, designs, and fragrances. Wax, a wick, and scented oils are the basic ingredients involved in candle making. The steps, which you’ll learn in greater detail during a class, are fairly simple and include measuring the wax, melting the wax, adding fragrance oils, attaching the wick, pouring the wax, securing the wick, and cutting the wick.
Read More: New Coffee Shop + Candle Studio Opens in Montclair
Types of Candles
A few of the most popular types of candles include:
- Container candles are candles that are poured into a heat-safe glass and are frequently used for decoration. They are heavily scented with essential oils and other fragrances and are used to refresh the air of homes and offices.
- Pillar candles are free-standing candles without a container that are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
- Taper candles are slender candlesticks that typically range between six to 20 inches in height. They are used in candle holders.
- Tealight candles are small circular candles that are contained in an aluminum or polycarbonate holder. They are found both scented or unscented and are frequently used in home décor.
- Votive candles are free-standing candles that are white and unscented. They are most often used in religious ceremonies.
- Hurricane candles are uniquely decorated with shells, dried flowers, or other objects on the outer wax shell and are designed to burn down the middle of the candle so the outer shell is illuminated.
Candle-Making Classes
Alchemy Scent Bar | 30 Church Street, Montclair
Alchemy Scent Bar is a custom scent experience in the heart of downtown Montclair. Guests can create their own custom-fragranced candles as well as home and body products from a wall of more than 100 different scents. The candles are natural soy and use pure fragrance oils, burning longer and truer to scent than others in the marketplace.
ARTISANE NYC | New York City
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Students who visit this spot will learn the skills to make naturally-scented candles with online + physical ateliers in New York City. Owner Melanie created ARTISANE natural candles to bring light, comfort, and happiness to others. The fragrances available are inspired by the beauty of nature from her childhood in Provence and her travels around the world.
Chester Candle Company | 76 Main Street, Chester
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Located in historic Chester, New Jersey, guests will experience the candle-making process from beginning to end with one of the master chandlers. You can host private events here, and the team can create custom candle labels for each group. Plus, classes of all sizes are welcome here.
Crystals + Candle | 195 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Located in Upper Montclair, Crystals + Candle hosts many different candle-making classes. At these classes, guests can choose a jar size, mix and match scents, and decorate their creations with energy-infused crystals and gemstones.
The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
With both in-person and online candle-making classes available, The Eclectic Chic Boutique allows guests to learn how to make their candles in dozens of amazing ways. Not only are these classes fun and informational for beginner, intermediate, and advanced candle makers, but they're also a great way to relax your mind, be creative, and then enjoy your own candle creation. Guests will learn everything about using basic tools and equipment for creating your own candles at home.
Midnight Candle Company | 811 Main Street, Belmar
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Guests will learn how to create, blend, and pour two candles that burn for 50 hours each at Midnight Candle Company. Guests can choose from over 30 fragrances and can learn about the materials, the process, and the behavior of scented candles from an experienced candle maker. Guests can also customize their labels and observe wax-related science. This is available as a private event for up to 25 people and food and drinks are welcome (BYOB!). This business also hosts special events like a candle-making movie night and a candlelit dinner, where guests can enjoy a catered dinner after making their own candles.
See More: Where to Buy Locally-Made Ornaments in Hoboken + Jersey City
Oak + Main Candles | 364 North Main Street Suite 2, Manahawkin + 199 New Road Suite 26, Linwood
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In this 90-minute (BYOB) class, guests can learn how to hand-pour candles at Oak + Main. It includes a luxury candle jar of your choice or two standard jars + fragrance oils.
ReWax + UnWine Candle Bar | 2 Division Street, Jersey City
Founded in 2018, ReWax and UnWine is a BYOB candle studio that provides guests with the opportunity to hand-pour their custom candles in an upbeat party atmosphere. It also has curated private-label candle collections for businesses and candle-making experiences for large corporate events. With over 50 fragrances to choose from, guests can blend fragrances to curate a signature scent.
