Candles are not only for lighting up a room; some can also be enjoyed as decorative items without being lit.
Personally, I had always thought that candles with simple, stylish shapes were the norm.
However, the candles at “Candle Fairy,” a shop specializing in candle-making that an acquaintance told me about, come in vivid colors and cute, character-like shapes. They were all the kind that completely overturned my image of candles.
As luck would have it, I heard about an event where I could make an original candle from Candle Fairy, so I decided to take part.
I joined the original candle-making workshop wondering whether even someone as clumsy as me could make one.
Here’s what happened that day.
The information provided was current when this article was published in August 2024. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
About the candle-making experience
The candle-making experience was a hands-on workshop held at TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL is a tourist information center in the Bikan Historical Area. In addition to planning sightseeing tours for inbound visitors, it occasionally holds workshops that both tourists and local residents can enjoy.
This time, a hands-on event to make original candles was held in collaboration with “Candle Fairy,” a shop specializing in candle-making experiences in Achi-cho, Kurashiki City.
Achi-cho, where Candle Fairy is located, sees fewer tourists than the Bikan Historical Area. Similarly, the backstreets of the Bikan Historical Area, where TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL is located, are working to attract more visitors. The event was apparently planned with the shared hope that people would “visit not only the Bikan Historical Area, but also Achi-cho and the backstreets.”
The participation fee was 1,000 yen, including the cost of materials and other expenses. The finished candle was wrapped in a small bag for you to take home.
The Candle Fairy staff carefully explained how to make the candles, so even people who had never handled candles before could make one easily. It was an activity that people of all ages, from children to older adults, could enjoy.
What happened on the day
TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL, the venue, is inside “Login Kurashiki” (Login Kurashiki), a tourist facility in the Bikan Historical Area.
I arrived a little earlier than my reservation, and happened to be there just as the previous customers’ candles were being finished.
The girl here had made two kinds of candles: a chick and a red ogre. The candles were charming, with three-dimensional decorations and cute expressions. She told me that both were “easy and fun to make.”
At last, it was my turn.
First, you choose a spherical candle to use as the base. They have a cute, round appearance, and the range of colors makes it hard to decide which one to choose.
It was scorching hot on the day of the event, so I chose a light blue candle that looked like it would feel cool.
Next, I chose a candle from the wide variety of samples to use as a model. Basically, the event offered two candle designs: Momotaro or an ogre. I decided to make an ogre, which seemed like it would let my individuality shine through more.
Looking at the candles lined up, I could see that their expressions varied completely depending on the position of the eyes, the shape of the eyebrows, the size of the mouth, and so on.
I picked out an ogre that looked like a good model, and got started making my candle.
First, making the facial features
On the table were small pieces of candle that had been cut up. I used them to make the facial features and decorations one by one.
There were lots of bright colors, and apparently you could also mix several colors to create your own.
The Candle Fairy staff member carefully showed me how to make the candle one-on-one.
“Pinch a piece of candle between your fingers and wait a little while. The candle will gradually soften from your body heat. Once it’s soft enough to knead, shape it and stick it onto the round candle. If you make a mistake shaping or attaching it, you can warm it up and try again, so don’t worry.”
Knowing I could try again, I felt relieved and got started, despite my clumsiness.
The first thing I made was the eyebrows. I suddenly remembered that I had thick eyebrows as a child, so I decided to make them thick. I thought big, round eyes would be cute, so I went for a pair of bright, innocent-looking eyes.
Attaching the pieces symmetrically was harder than I expected. After I had reattached them several times, the staff member advised me, “If you put the facial features higher up, the expression will be easier to see.”
Following the advice, I kept adding the pieces and making more facial features.
I made the nose high and pointed, wishing that “my nose would become higher.”
As the candle began to take on an expression I liked, I started to feel a connection with it. I had already grown satisfied with it, since I had made a distinctive face that was different from the model ogre.
Adding the Fangs and Horns and Moving on to the Finishing Touches
Once I attached the fangs and horns, it finally started to look like an oni. I thought I’d mix orange and yellow to give the horns a marbled pattern, but I couldn’t get them to blend properly, so I gave up. Personally, I found making the horns symmetrical the hardest part.
Finally, I mixed in the leftover candle pieces and added decorations to the horns.
After wrapping thinly rolled candle wax around the horns for the finishing touch, my original candle was complete.
While I was working, the staff from Candle Fairy and TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL said things like “That’s so cute!” and “What a lovely face!” to me, so I had fun making it while chatting, rather than working away in silence.
The staff coat the candles we make with wax to keep the parts from coming off. After letting it cool a little and dry completely, it’s finished.
When I told a Candle Fairy staff member how much I’d enjoyed making a candle for the first time, they smiled and said, “The happiest moment is when customers tell us they had fun.”
This candle-making experience made me want to visit Achi-cho, which I’d never explored before. Next time, I’d like to try making a candle at the Candle Fairy shop.
From the Writer
When I took the candle I’d made home, it got crushed because I’d tossed it carelessly into my bag. Its nose, which had been sticking out proudly, was bent upward. I thought I’d be upset, but instead I feel like it’s become even more unique, and I’ve grown more attached to it every day.
I was worried that even someone as clumsy as me wouldn’t be able to make one successfully, but there were no difficult steps at all, and it was easy to make.
I attended the event alone, but thanks to the warm atmosphere and the staff who chatted with me, I enjoyed making my candle from start to finish. I’d recommend TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL’s hands-on workshops to people coming on their own, too.
TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL is planning various events in the future, so be sure to check them out as one of your options for a day out.
Candle-Making Experience at TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL: Information
| Name | Candle-Making Experience at TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, July 23, 2024 Registration accepted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. |
| Location | 2-20-9 Achi, Kurashiki City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | 1,000 yen |
| Website | TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL |
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