Editor’s note: This story was originally published on June 10, 2019 and was updated on July 5, 2023 to reflect current pricing.
The Candle Bar, a new hands-on experiential retail concept, is now open in its permanent home at South End’s Design Center.
It’s the fourth location for the pour-your-own candle workshop from Nashville-based Paddywax.
The $45 Candle Bar experience is simple — choose a vessel, select a fragrance and then measure, mix and pour to create your own candle. It lasts one hour. The $45 reservation includes your seat and everything you need to create your candle. You book a spot online.
Here’s how The Candle Bar experience works and what to expect.
Pick a vessel: Vessels are intended to be repurposed as planters, dishes or storage containers after your candle is burned. They’ve got 65 options. So think about that when you’re deciding. If you plan to use one as a dish, check to ensure it’s food safe. They offer one- and three-wick vessel options but they should all have around the same burn time.
Select a fragrance: Choose from 40 scents. You’ll work your way down the wall smelling the gold tins and making notes on your fragrance checklist. Once you find one you love, take the blue bottle back to your work station.
Pour your candle: Your work station is equipped with a kinetic scale, beakers, wick setters and an apron. It’s not rocket science. Following the measurements for your specific vessel, you’ll combine the prescribed quantity of fragrance and wax, a blend of 70 percent soy and 30 percent food-grade paraffin. It’ll take three hours for your candle to set. You can either come back to get it or pay $8 to have it shipped.
Booze: The Candle Bar offers beer and wine. You can also BYOB and they can provide glassware (corking fee of $8). They do not allow food.
Location & hours: The exact location is 1930 Camden Road, suite 130. It’s in the same development at Superica, Hawkers, Jeni’s and Barcelona Wine Bar. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday; closed Monday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Additionally, The Candle Bar now offers candles and other gifts for sale.
OK, here’s a look around The Candle Bar’s new South End space.
As for the fragrance, we went with blue coral and driftwood, a “woody” fragrance that, in my totally unqualified opinion, smells like men’s cologne. It’s inside of their Sonora vessel, a cute little cement bowl that can be repurposed as a planter.
