Start the slideshow to find out where to buy artisanal candles in Singapore.
A bad gift of a handmade candle spurred two friends to set up their own candle-making business.
Ms Chelsea Low, 24, had bought a candle-making kit online to make Christmas gifts, including one for her ex-colleague Nicole Su, 27. They had become friends when they worked at a public relations company.
However, the result of Ms Low’s hard work – following instructions from the kit to double-boil the wax mixed with fragrance oils – stank. The candle gave off an “overpowering and artificial” smell, says Ms Su.
It got them talking about the difficulty of finding good and affordable candles, and the conversation set the wheels in motion for them to start their own candle business.
It has been two years since Ms Low’s amateur attempt. The business partners have since honed their craft and launched their label, Hush Candle, and work on it part-time. Their day jobs are in marketing and public relations for a retail company.
Hush Candle uses natural soya wax and essential oils containing aromatherapy properties. They hand-pour the candles in batches in a workspace at Ms Low’s house.
Ms Su says hand-pouring the candles in small batches lets them keep the quality consistent and costs low. Each candle-making session takes about four to five hours and yields about 200 candles.
Their 14-month-old venture, for which they put in a “few thousand dollars” to get started, has taken off.
At least 4,000 of their Lemongrass and Lavender candles have been sold since they were launched. Today, there are eight scents available.
Hush Candle is one of a few Singapore indie candle-makers lighting up the candle market here. The others include Candles Of Light and Artisan’s Garden.
They make “cleaner” candles that use soya wax or beeswax, which are from natural products, instead of paraffin wax, a petroleum by- product. Many also use pure grade essential oils which are said to have health benefits. Lead-free wicks are also an environment-friendly feature.
These indie candle-makers are usually a one-man show. They hand-pour small batches of candles in their homes or small workshops, and market the product themselves. Many get started after taking candle-making classes or getting good responses to their first candle-making attempts.
Ms Daphne Tan, 32, explored candle-making while on a sabbatical and started Candles Of Light. She used to work in public relations. “I took a basic candle-making workshop two years ago and fell in love with it – in particular, the ability to create or recreate a moment using scented raw materials.”
Likewise, Ms Susan Tann, who is in her early 50s, did courses in South Korea and Australia to hone her skills in candle-making. She started Artisan’s Garden about two years ago, after leaving corporate life in 2013.
Diadem Candles’ Ena Briant, 33, decided to sell candles after her wedding favours were a hit. She had hand-poured 150 candles for friends and family and received good feedback about the vanilla, rose and baby powder scented candles.
The former office manager decided to work full-time on Diadem Candles about 11/2 years ago, after launching it in 2013.
To publicise their products, these candle-makers often take part in pop-up flea markets and fairs.
Mr Robert Upton, 44, who started A Dose Of Something Good in 2012, has seen the candle market grow. His candles are now stocked at lifestyle stores Keepers and Naiise in Singapore. He has also branched out overseas, with his candles available at two stores in Taiwan and another in Tokyo, Japan.
He says candle-making is getting popular as people are increasingly interested in craft activities. Candles are also easy to make and raw materials are readily available.
He adds: “Over the past few years in Singapore, there have been a lot of new multi-label stores popping up and they are hungry for locally designed and locally made products.”
Indeed, retailers are taking notice.
Besides retailing at Tangs at Tang Plaza in Orchard Road, Candles Of Light’s Ms Tan made two candles with lifestyle museum store Gallery & Co that are inspired by paintings by artists Chua Ek Kay and Wu Guanzhong, whose works are shown at the National Gallery Singapore.
Lifestyle retailer Naiise has 15 brands that sell candles, among which four are Singapore labels such as Hush Candle and A Dose Of Something Good.
Candle lovers here wax lyrical about the offerings by indie brands. Candles from established brands from America and France can cost about the same or slightly more.
Corporate communications manager Charlene Sng, 28, bought candles from Candles Of Light’s booth at the Public Garden market last year. Besides the natural ingredients, she loves “the way Ms Tan markets her brand through attractive visual merchandising”.
Ms Christine Tan, who does marketing for a shoe company, is another fan. She has collected six scents from Hush Candle.
The 24-year-old, who used to buy candles from mass-market brands, says: “It takes effort and a lot of work to hand-pour candles. I like that they are not mass-produced.”
Even non-candle brands are also putting out their own candles. Furniture and home furnishings Scene Shang added two scented candles, White Pagoda and Jade Courtyard, to their range; while tea company The 1872 Clipper Tea Co launched three tea-scented candles.
Ms Pamela Ting, 32, co-owner of Scene Shang, says: “A certain smell can take you to a different place or remind you of a memory.”
Start the slideshow to find out where to buy artisanal candles in Singapore.
This article was first published in The Straits Times.