Looking for a fun, creative, hands-on experience you can do solo or with a group? Consider candle making at a Grand Rapids candle bar! It’s a beginner-friendly, arts-and-crafts-type interactive experience that allows you to disconnect from technology and daily stress while crafting a one-of-a-kind keepsake you can take home with you.
Our candle bars let you select from a dazzling array of fragrances and candle vessels, then walk you through the candle-pouring process to ensure a quality end-product. Great for bachelorette parties, bridal and baby showers, date nights, team-building events and more, candle making is an opportunity to learn a new skill in a comfortable and relaxed environment – often with food and refreshments.
Whether you take a public class or assemble a group for a private workshop, you’ll make fond memories in addition to a beautiful candle. Custom candles make thoughtful gifts, too!
LIMA
Sisters Linsey Jones and Maria Curtis combined their first names to create LIMA, a retail space for their handcrafted candles and other self-care products, in 2019. The LIMA Bar in the shop’s cozy, home-like interior hosts individuals and groups for fun candle-making experiences.
LIMA uses 100% soy wax for its candles, with no added chemicals or dyes, along with phthalate-free fragrances, which provide a safer, cleaner burn and deliver an exceptional hot throw (scent when lit) and cold throw (scent when unlit). They have lots of containers and fragrances for you to choose from, and they will walk you through the candle-making process. You can also create one-of-a-kind body butters and body scrubs at the LIMA Bar.
You can make your own candle, butter or scrub from 10 am-3 pm Wed-Sat. Walk-ins are welcome. If you’d like to book a private event for your group, call 323-513-7476.
LIMA is in Cascade, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids.
Nera Wix Candle Bar
Charming downtown Rockford, an 18-minute drive from downtown GR, is the setting for Nera Wix Candle Bar. You’ll start the candle-making process here by choosing a vessel – prices start at $15 – then select up to three fragrances from the shop’s 100+ options.
The process takes about 60 minutes and the candles need to set for two hours (on average) before you can travel with them. Once the candle is set, you can add color swirls and dried flowers for a truly unique creation.
While you wait, you can browse the shop’s pre-made candles, soaps, bath luxuries and other self-care products. Then check out the many shopping and dining options just steps from Nera Wix, including the legendary Corner Bar, home of the Hot Dog Hall of Fame, right next door. If you can’t wait, just come back another day or arrange to have your candle sent to you.
You can also make your own home diffuser, car diffuser, wax melt, perfume, linen spray and body spray at Nera Wix. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours – 10 am-6 pm Monday, 10 am-8 pm Tuesday-Friday, 9 am-6 pm Saturday and noon-5 pm Sunday – and you can book a spot online to save a spot. Nera Wix can also host private parties in its shop for groups up to 80 people, and will happily come to your location for a mobile DIY party.
Painting with a Twist
While it’s known for its painting classes, Painting with a Twist also offers a broad array of “Pop In & DIY” projects – including the opportunity to create custom-scented candles and paint-and-pour candles whose containers you’ll decorate using special glass paint and step-by-painting guides.
These candle-making experiences are completely self-led, giving you the freedom to create art at your own pace. You can walk in during designated Monday-Saturday “Pop In” hours – 3-8pm Tuesday-Wednesday, noon-8pm Thursday-Saturday and noon-5pm Sunday – or reserve a spot online. The studio will provide everything you need, including materials and written or video instructions to create your masterpiece.
Painting with a Twist candles are made with all-natural soy wax and offer dozens of scent and color options. Fees range from $25 to $37.
Painting with a Twist is about a seven-minute drive from downtown GR on Alpine Avenue, which is lined with name-brand shopping and dining options.
Sable Candle Co.
Sable Candle Co. focuses on the importance of using all-natural ingredients, from its 100% soy wax and wooden wicks to its toxin-free phthalate fragrances and tin, glass and concrete vessels.
This Uptown neighborhood shop about two miles from downtown GR has many fragrance oils you can choose from to create a custom scent. The oils are sorted into base, middle and top-note categories, forming a “scent pyramid” for blending. You’ll choose your oils and select a candle vessel – prices range from $30-$70 each – which covers the entire candle-making process, including all materials and instruction. The staff will help guide you through the selection and pouring process.
Sable candle-making workshops are offered during daily business hours – just book a spot online for you and up to six others. Workshops are 30-45 minutes long but candles needs to set for 3-5 hours. Fortunately, there are many shops and restaurants to keep you occupied within easy walking distance – starting with Wealthy Street Bakery and Rowster Coffee on either side of the store.
Sable Candle Co. can also accommodate groups of 8-24 people and those would like to bring in food and drink to complement the candle-making experience. Fill out this form to get started.
Get creative at Wax Poetic and make your own craft your own personalized candle.
Photo by Rachel Greiner for Experience GR
Wax Poetic Candle Bar
Also in Uptown, Wax Poetic Candle Bar offers more than 100 different scents to choose from at its Fragrance Bar. You can select up to three scents to create a custom blend all your own, then head to the container wall to pick a vessel for your candle. Vessel prices range from $36 to $104, and your choice determines the price of making your candle.
Staff will guide you through the process of mixing your scented oils and pouring your candle. Wax Poetic uses coconut apricot wax, clean-burning fragrance oils and cotton wicks for premium performance and safety. While your candle sets – which typically takes about two hours – you’ll be able to create a custom label using blank stickers and colored markers.
You can make candles any time during business hours, but reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends. Wax Poetic also lets you customize body butters, room sprays, hand sanitizers, wax melts and other self-care products in whichever scent combination you choose. They stock many pre-made products for retail purchase, too.
Explore more on crafting candles at Wax Poetic Candle Bar, including private-party experiences.
Gracewood Candles
Gracewood Candles creates handcrafted soy candles with vibrant and inspirational designs, and sells them online and at various local retailers, including three downtown GR destinations: The Arts Marketplace, Bridge Street Market and Oh, Hello Co. Paper & Gifts.
Owner/founder/candlemaker Alisha Lauche conducts private candle-making experiences for groups of 12 or more, wherever you’re hosting your event. Fill out an inquiry form for details.
Pop-Up Classes
Hammer & Stain West Michigan, The Honeysuckle Co., Spruced Studio and Waken Soul host occasional candle-making classes throughout the year. Blandford Nature Center’s annual October Harvest Festival includes candle dipping, a hands-on historical craft activity where visitors dip wicks into hot wax to create their own tapered candles.
Hours and prices are subject to change. Confirm with your intended destination before you go.
FAQ
Candle-Making in Grand Rapids:
How long does the candle-making experience last?
Generally, between 30 and 60 minutes, after which the candle must “set” for 2-5 hours, depending on the candle bar and its process. You can pick up the candle or arrange to have it shipped to you.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, especially at Sable Candle Co. and Wax Poetic Candle Bar.
Why use plant-based waxes?
Grand Rapids candle bars use plant-based waxes such as soy and coconut because they are derived from renewable resources that are safer for indoor use, as they emit fewer toxins and produce less soot than petroleum-based paraffin wax.
What is the 3-hour candle rule?
The 3-hour candle rule is a guideline that candles should not be burned for more than 3 to 4 hours at a time to prevent overheating and ensure even melting. After burning, you should let the candle cool for at least two hours before re-lighting, which allows the wax structure to reset. Trimming your wick to ¼ inch before each burn will minimize smoke and help ensure a clean, stable flame.
Is candle-making fun for children?
Creative, inquisitive kids will love choosing scents and learning how to pour a candle. Adult supervision is needed for younger children.
