Door County Candle Company launches new experience

Rachel Sankey

Staff

January 24, 2024

STURGEON BAY — At Door County Candle Company (DCCC), owner Christiana Trapani said customers are now able to do more than just purchase a candle from the shop — they can make their own.

DCCC’s newest addition — a candle bar — is up and running as of the end of this month, Trapani said.

For some customers, the owner said their requests to make a candle themselves have been answered.

“I’ve constantly heard customers asking to make candles here,” she said. “I always try to listen to feedback and what people say. I always loved the idea, too.”

When the shop became busy with making its Ukraine candle, which has raised more than $1 million for Razom for Ukraine — a nonprofit organization that works to better the country — Trapani said the idea for a candle bar was put on hold.

Until now.

At the end of 2023 and the beginning of this year, the DCCC team was able to open up some space to start putting the pieces together for the bar.

“The building process was fun,” she said. “My dad, he’s very handy. He built the bar for us, and the wood on the side of it is from a local sawmill. It’s a cool local table as well. He also used that wood to build shelves for us that I wanted the fragrance bottles to go on.”

Trapani said other items the team needed to prepare for the opening included a measuring device for the fragrances, mini clipboards so people can write down scent notes, pouring devices, spoons for mixing, DCCC-branded aprons and a candle bar sign, which Trapani’s husband was able to make with a laser etch.

So far, Trapani said the store has already received so many reservations that they are looking at making an additional table to accommodate more people.

“We’re already seeing an awesome demand for big groups and whatnot,” she said.

The current table for the bar can seat up to 12 people.

The candle-making process
When customers first enter the candle bar space, Trapani said they will put their aprons on and start by smelling the fragrance options and writing down their favorites.

The soon-to-be candle-makers can then smell how certain scents would be together on scent strips.

“It’s just under 60 fragrances they’ll be able to smell, and they will be able to mix them if they want,” she said. “It’s going to be fun to see what kind of scent they’ll come up with.”

Each participant will receive a sheet describing all the fragrances in DCCC’s collection — which Trapani said the team calls “nose notes.”

“People can read about them and figure out what they’re thinking,” she said. “We are happy to help with recommendations, too.”

Once participants decide on a scent, name their candle and write down their name and date on the label — which will go on the bottom of the candle jar — Trapani said customers will wick their candle with one of DCCC’s wicking devices.

The next step in the process, Trapani said, involves customers deciding on the ratio of their fragrances.

“Let’s say they’re combining Fraser fir and cedarwood- they can decide they want more Fraser or more cedar, as long as they measure it in the cup we give them (and)… it’s full,” she said.

Trapani said DCCC staff will then help participants measure the wax and melt it in the pouring device to the right temperature.

“Then they’ll be able to take their fragrance, put it in the pouring device and mix it up for about two minutes,” she said. “We want them to bind the scent and the wax together so it creates a nice bond for the candle.”

The final steps include pouring the wax into the candle and centering the wick.

Trapani said DCCC uses soy wax to make the candles.

Because the candles take about four hours to set, most customers will either have to pick up the candle the next day or have it shipped to them.

If the candle class is early enough in the day, Trapani said customers can pick it up later that evening.

For the first few months the bar is open, Trapani said she will be the one manning the candle bar to get a better idea of what works well and what changes may need to be made going forward.

A year-round activity
DCCC’s candle bar will be running year-round, and Trapani said she has already received reservations dating out to October.

The candle bar, she said, is also meant to accommodate all different kinds of groups.

“If you want (you can) come with your significant other, friends or a bridal party or a work retreat,” she said. “It’ll be a lot of fun.”

Trapani said people can also schedule private classes or an evening class, and DCCC can make it happen.

“We’re happy to plan out special evenings for smaller groups,” she said.

Making candles and giving back
Last spring, DCCC launched its Candles Creating Change initiative, where a portion of every purchase goes toward a cause.

Trapani said the company’s new candle bar isn’t any different — and a portion of the proceeds made from the bar goes toward the initiative.

“A portion of those sales go back toward our Candles Creating Change mission,” she said. “Which (for the candle bar) is even cooler — you’re not only making something special for yourself, but it’s also impacting great nonprofits.”

Overall, Trapani said she expects the candle bar to be a great addition to the business going forward.

“(And it’s) different — something that isn’t in the area, especially in Door County,” she said.

DCCC is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Each candle bar session, Trapani said, will last about 30 minutes long and starts at $35.

To reserve a spot for the candle bar, visit doorcountycandle.com