An Afternoon at Candlefish

One of my most favorite things about Charleston is the fact that there are so many unique things to do in this little city.  Yes, y'all know I love the happy hours and shopping, but who ever thought of a workshop to make your own candles?  Last Friday afternoon (as you might have seen on Instagram), Mike and I did just that at Candlefish, a specialty shop located a few steps off King on Wentworth Street.

Candlefish has been open for almost a year and a half and has a large, airy, and beautifully decorated space.  Not only is the flagship Candlefish location a candle-making workshop, it's also a fantastic gift boutique. They sell tons of different candles (They're also the creators of Rewined and Produce candles!) as well as other fantastic items like stationary, art prints, and local Charleston gifts.

The intimate scented candle class we attended is only one of an array of different offerings from hand-dipping taper candles to therapeutic essential oil candle-making classes.  When we arrived, all of the tools and gadgets were already set up.  All we had to do was pop our cork (yes, it's BYOB!), put on an apron, and find a seat.  After a warm welcome from our professional chandler, Eloise, we all started the class by choosing our scents.

The most unique aspect of Candlefish is their library.  They have 100 different numbered scents from which to choose.  All of the scents aren't just one flavor either, they are mixtures of 3-4 different oils that create everything from floral and fruity to woodsy and masculine fragrances.  The reason each scent is numbered and not named is to keep each amateur chandler's fragrance choice as unbiased as possible.  I didn't know before I smelled the sample candle if the scent would be lemongrass and orange or lavender and elderflower, so I was more open to different aromas than I would be if each composition was listed on the bottle of fragrance oil.  Candlefish even has a card catalog where you can save your preferences on the "library card" below for subsequent trips to the shop.

After choosing our scents (a sweet oil for Mike that smelled just like baking and a musky scent for me), Eloise walked us through each step of candle making: pouring the wax, setting the wic, etc. all while sharing tons of important candle maintenance and care tips with us.

Mike and I had a fantastic time at Candlefish and could not wait to pick up our candles the next day.  They smell just as good as we imagined, and we have already burned each of our scents.  I highly suggest a trip to Candlefish if you're in the area, to browse their fantastic selection of unique scents and to try your hand at candle-making!  Even if you're not planning a trip to Charleston, they have a vast number of collections on their website to shop from, which, right now, include some fantastic winter and Valentine's Day gift ideas!

I was provided with a complimentary candle-making class in exchange for an honest review of their boutique and workshop.  All opinions are my own.