You light a candle perhaps our Sunday Reset, and your room fills with a soft glow, a gentle crackle, and a beautiful scent. It’s a simple moment of magic. But the journey from raw materials to that finished candle is a meticulous process of science, art, and an obsession with quality.
Many people ask us, "How are candles made?" While the basic concept is ancient, the difference between a mass-produced paraffin candle and a handcrafted Mbur candle lies in the quality of the ingredients and the care taken at every single stage.
Today, we’re opening the doors to our New York City studio to show you exactly how your favorite candles come to life.
Step 1: Preparation - The Foundation of Quality
It all starts with a clean slate. We begin with our minimalist, extra-thick glass vessels, which are meticulously cleaned and prepared to ensure the wax adheres perfectly for a beautiful finish.
Next, we secure the heart of the candle: the all-natural wooden wick. Using a special adhesive and a centering tool, we place the wick assembly which already includes our special safety clip at the base, so it is perfectly straight. A centered wick is crucial for a safe and even burn.
Step 2: The Wax - Melting to Perfection
We move to the star ingredient: 100% pure, raw beeswax, sourced for its unparalleled quality. The beeswax is placed in a professional-grade melter and heated gently to a precise temperature. Overheating wax can damage its delicate molecular structure and impact its clean-burning properties, so we monitor this stage closely.
Step 3: The Fragrance - A Delicate Science
Once the molten beeswax reaches the optimal temperature, we introduce our custom-blended, phthalate-free fragrance oils. The fragrance is measured to the gram and incorporated into the wax with a slow, consistent stir. This step is critical for ensuring the scent is evenly distributed throughout the entire candle, so it smells just as beautiful on its last burn as it did on its first.
Step 4: The Pour - A Steady, Handcrafted Touch
This is where craftsmanship truly comes into play. Every Mbur candle is poured by hand. A slow, steady pour is essential to prevent air bubbles and ensure the wax sets with a smooth, flawless surface against the glass.
Step 5: Curing - The Most Important Wait
Patience is a key ingredient in luxury candle making. The poured candles are moved to curing racks in a temperature-controlled room and left to set and cure for several days. This allows the wax and fragrance molecules to fully bind and stabilize. This curing process is what creates a rich, complex scent throw when the candle is finally lit, it's a step that mass-producers often rush, but for us, it's non-negotiable.
Step 6: Finishing - The Final Touches
Once fully cured, each candle undergoes a final inspection. We trim the wooden wick to the perfect height for the first light. The glass is cleaned and polished to a shine. Finally, we apply the durable, waterproof label with its unique, fun name and secure the protective lid. It's now officially a Mbur Candle Co. candle, ready to be sent from our NYC studio to your home.
More Than Just a Candle
As you can see, making a candle is a labor of love. It's a deliberate process of choosing the best ingredients and executing each step with precision and care. The next time you light your favorite Mbur candle, we hope you’ll appreciate the handcrafted journey it tookit's a difference you can see, smell, and feel.
