So, I gave it a crack. And holy sh*t, what a journey that was.
At first, I teamed up with a candle maker.
But the costs weren’t vibing, so I thought, “How hard can this be?” Famous. Last. Words.
Candles are the neediest little buggers. Too hot. Too cold. Too strong. Too weak. Cracks. Dips. Air bubbles.
And the mess. Oh my god, the mess. Wax everywhere. From arsehole to breakfast.
Unlike salts (which are chill AF, you just blend and bag, thank you very much), candles demand your whole damn life. Stir at this temp, pour at that temp, cure at another temp. Needy bastards.
People loved them. I didn’t.
My mum jumped in to help make them for a while. Then a candlemaker mate tried to rescue me. But eventually? It broke me. I pulled the plug.
But you lot wouldn’t let it go.
The messages rolled in: “When are the candles coming back?” “Can you make them like the salts?”
One legend even emailed after I’d scrapped the whole range, asking if I had any lying around. I did. She bought the lot. Apparently, I’d made a bloody good candle (and yeah, I have to agree).
Plot Twist: Return of the Wax
It’s taken me a couple of years to recover from the trauma these little sh*ts left on my soul. But sometimes, you can’t ignore the call of salty legends. (our Magnesium Spray only exists because of one VERY persistent customer — hi Bron)
So here we are. Round two.
Except this time, instead of me crying into a jug of boiling wax at 2am, I’ve partnered with a South Aussie maker who’s been doing this sh*t for 14 years.
She’s got 65-litre wax melters, a temp-controlled studio, and she loves it. She actually enjoys the drama. Candles are her love language.
So there you have it. Candles are back, baby!
Same salty spirit, way less chaos
- Natural soy wax (longer, cleaner burn, none of the toxic crap)
- Premium fragrance oils (aka salty blends bottled into wax without the chemical headache)
- Cheeky affirmations stamped on reusable amber jars (because you deserve to laugh while you heal)
- Burn time is around 40 hours (longer if you don’t rage-burn them all night).
- The aromas are strong enough to transform a room, subtle enough not to make your nostrils cry.
Here’s what’s back on the shelf, in full salty glory:
WTAF – A bold, spicy floral that feels grounding and lowkey healing. For days where life makes zero sense.
FML – Zesty citrus blend. The hug you need when you’re done with everything.
LEAVE – A earthy fragrance layered with patchouli, cedarwood and musk. Like opening a window and letting the BS drift away.
YOU – Fresh eucalyptus, pine and sandalwood. Like a fresh bunch of flowers delivered daily.
CHILL – Bright citrus, lavender and soft amber. Crisp, clean, fresh laundry flapping in the breeze vibes.
You can buy them individually to match your mood or grab the Hot Mess Candle Kit (all five at 25% off) for those weeks where you burn through FML before Wednesday.
Do we get rich off these? Nope.
Outsourcing to some faceless factory would be cheaper, sure. But that’s not how we roll. Supporting local makers keeps the craft alive, keeps jobs in SA, and keeps the soul in every jar. That matters more than margins do.
A full circle moment (with less crying into wax jugs)
From my stovetop disasters and wax-covered kitchen to partnering with someone who actually knows their sh*t, I’m so bloody proud of these candles.
I hope when you light one, it softens a hard day, elevates your space and reminds you (even in the chaos) that you’re allowed to stop, breathe and chill TF out.
