UpCandles: A Sustainable Small Business
Lorna Dolby-Stevens talks to UpCandles, a sustainable small business that upcycles pre-loved containers to create environmentally responsible candles.
Photograph by UpCandles
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS OF MAKING YOUR WORK AND THE MATERIALS THAT YOU USE?
The concept that my whole business revolves around is using upcycled containers in which to pour my candles. These can be anything from jam pots and food jars, to vintage teacups and ornamental pieces. One of the most exciting parts of making my candles is sourcing the containers. It’s amazing what beautiful things you can find, and how even the most ordinary looking glass jar can be transformed into a stunning candle holder!
The other main factors in my candle-making are sustainability and ethics. I strive to make sure that all of my materials and ingredients are sustainably and ethically sourced, vegan and cruelty-free, non-toxic, eco-friendly and, where possible, produced in the UK. It’s so important to me to be transparent with what I make and hold myself accountable to these ideals. There are too many products nowadays that are labelled as eco-friendly, when in reality half of the supply chain used to make them couldn’t be more opposite. I want to make sure that my claims to making environmentally friendly and ethical candles run more than surface deep.
I really take the ‘small’ in ‘small business’ to its extreme – all of my candles are made in my kitchen, using a normal cooking pot and a jug on the stove. I melt my wax, add in the fragrance and then pour into my containers. On the surface it’s relatively simple, but I had to learn about pouring and fragrance-adding temperatures, pouring techniques, ratios and curing times. Turns out there’s more to candle making than meets the eye! But that’s one thing I love about it – there’s always more to discover and I’m always eager to learn.
Photograph by UpCandles
Photograph by UpCandles
Photograph by UpCandles
WAS THERE A PIVOTAL MOMENT WHEN YOU DECIDED TO FOLLOW YOUR PATH AS AN ARTIST/MAKER?
I’ve always been a very artistic person. I studied art throughout my high school and college education and used to want to be an illustrator. Now I study photography at university and still have my passion for creating things. I’ve also always loved reusing things to make something new, ever since I was a child. So the actual moment I decided to try making candles, as anti-climactic as it sounds, was literally just a glass dessert jar sitting on the counter that I had washed up for recycling. I thought it was a really cute container and, with my already huge love for scented candles, I decided to give it a go myself.
WHAT INSPIRATIONS FROM THE NATURAL WORLD DO YOU TRANSFER TO YOUR CANDLES?
Of course a huge part is making sure that my candles have little to no negative impact on the natural world. This includes everything being sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable, non-toxic and vegan, including 100% of the packaging that I use. The other main inspiration I take from the natural world is the scents I create, such as the forest, flowers and herbs. I am currently switching from fragrance oils to organic and ethically sourced essential oils to make my scents and candles even more eco-friendly. I adore creating my own scents inspired by nature - it’s got to be my favourite part of the process.
Photograph by UpCandles
Photograph by UpCandles
HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOUR WORK?
I want people to look at my candles and know they just did something good for the planet, and I want my candles to be an example of how other companies should hold themselves accountable when it comes to their impact on the Earth. I hope that by buying my candles and learning about my process, people become more aware of how much influence their choices can have, and begin looking for better alternatives to the things that they already buy.
DOES YOUR WORK REFLECT ANYTHING OF YOURSELF?
I feel that my work reflects my personal dedication to making my lifestyle more ethical and eco-friendly. I am vegan, so this is also a big part of my process and final product.
Photograph by UpCandles
Photograph by UpCandles
Photograph by UpCandles
WHAT BRINGS YOU HAPPINESS EVERY DAY?
I know it sounds soppy, but when I’m feeling down or lost, what brings me happiness is knowing that I exist in the world and the world exists around me. I’ve always been prone to sweating over the little things in life, so I like to remind myself that no matter what happens, the flowers still grow, the sun still rises and sets, the moon will always be in the sky and the universe continues to expand. I’ve always been obsessed with science, namely astronomy and space, and this is something that really keeps me grounded - and reminds me that everything is so much bigger than that one thing I did or said all those years ago.
WHAT ARE YOUR ARTISTIC PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I hope to continue to grow my business and start selling my candles at art fairs when I’m back at university. The logistics of business is something that’s very new to me, so my main goal is to not lose money and have to stop making candles! As long as I’m making a profit, even a tiny one, I want to continue doing what I love and raising awareness of our environmental impact on the Earth.
Photograph by UpCandles