New candle business lights up

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This article was published 30/03/2021 (1655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new candle business has lit up more than just a flicker of interest in the community.

Twin Lakes Candles, or TLC, was launched on March 3 by Christine Chudy and her husband Mike. The company offers an assortment of 100 per cent soy candles made with high-quality fragrance oils, natural cotton wicks and no added chemicals or dyes. Currently, the company sells six-ounce candle tins in 12 fragrances.

“I was looking for a new hobby. I have always loved burning candles so I ordered some supplies and gave it a go. I found it so satisfying and I loved having the ability to choose exactly the scents I liked,” Chudy said.

“It was actually my husband’s idea to sell them. He said they were the best he’s ever smelled and I should share them with others. The response has been very positive so far. Everyone has really enjoyed the scents and quality of the candles.”

Her husband jumped on board to create the company’s website, logos and labels, while also focusing on marketing and promotions.

As for Chudy, she discovered that candle-making is quite the science.

“All the components depend on each other. For example, the wick depends on the container size and the amount of fragrance depends on the wax you use. Even if you get everything right, sometimes the scent just doesn’t work in wax. There is so much testing involved, and it was frustrating at times for sure,” she said.

“I found some better YouTube channels and, after hours of research, I finally started getting the results I wanted. The suppliers were also very helpful at suggesting what worked best for the candle tins I wanted to make. I test and sell them at home, but I make the batches in another location where I have more space.”

Soy wax produces a cleaner-burning candle with no harsh chemicals, she added.

“I decided to work with soy wax after learning how bad paraffin candles are for the air and your health. Soy is non-toxic, biodegradable, vegan, and the brand I use is also cruelty-free, which is important to me,” Chudy said.

“It’s much safer for our homes. It cleans up easily with warm water and soap too, and our tins can be reused for small storage after.”

In addition, Chudy points to numerous benefits of burning candles.

“The scent is enjoyable, the flame is eye-pleasing, and it creates a lovely mood for date night or some self-care time. Scent can evoke strong memories and remind us of happy times from our childhood or previous experiences,” she said.

“Customers are mostly buying the candles for themselves but they do make a great inexpensive gift for mostly everybody. I do make fragrance-free candles as well for those with asthma or scent sensitivities.”

The candles cost $15 each, and there’s currently a buy-five-get-one-free special.

For Mother’s Day, Twin Lake Candles will feature a rose gold tin set for $25 with a six-ounce and a three-ounce candle available in a few different fragrance combinations.

“Our spring/summer collection will launch the beginning of April and we will be introducing our signature tea light sample and spring votive sampler as well,” Chudy said.

“These make great gifts and allow you to try out our fragrances in a smaller size. The tea light and votive cups can be recycled too so no waste.”

As a small thank-you gift, Twin Lakes Candles also includes a tea light or votive with each order.

“We can do custom orders for businesses, weddings and other special events,” Chudy said.

“We donate $1 from each tin sold to Cupcakes Pommy and Friends, a local non-profit dog rescue group. Giving back to the community is very important to us and, as animal lovers, we love helping out a rescue.”

Orders can be made on the Twin Lakes Candles website at www.twinlakescandles.com with payment by credit card or e-transfer.

Free curbside pickup is available as well as $5 delivery within Winnipeg or close surrounding areas. Shipping is also available outside the delivery area based on volume and order.