SLO County shop lets customers create their own scented candles — and expansion is next
When customers step into Candle Bar by The Mayan Collective in Pismo Beach, they’re met with the rich smells of dozens of scented oils and waxes.
At Candle Bar, customers can use more than 60 different scents to craft their own clean, fragrant candles, business owner Karla Wenger said, with part of the proceeds supporting charitable efforts.
Wenger launched Candle Bar as an online store in 2020.
Wenger was inspired by her desire to find toxin-free gifts for her maternity group when she was pregnant.
“I was kind of concerned about what I was giving to the moms,” Wenger said, so she made her own candles. “I was giving them to people because they were clean and they were not burning black and stuff like that.”
Candle Bar’s brick-and-mortar location opened at 1140 Price St. in Pismo Beach in April.
Customers at Pismo Beach shop can create their own candles
Customers looking for a do-it-yourself candle-making experience have several options to choose from, Wenger said.
Pop In & Pour costs $45 for a half-hour DIY session, she said, while an hour-long class, Sip Melt & Pour, costs $75 per person.
A kids’ version is available for $35 a head, she said.
Customers start by selecting a reusable jar in their choice of color, Wenger said.
From there, customers can pick from a wall of more than 60 scents, which are all phthalate free.
“We try to educate people a lot about different types of waxes, what chemicals are in candles, why they look so beautiful,” Wenger said. “Our candles sometimes have little imperfections, but it’s because we don’t put that any chemicals in them.”
Not all customers know which scents will make for the best combination, Wenger said, so an instructor helps them find the right olfactory balance.
According to Wenger, a total of three scent oils are combined with wax, then poured into a jar with a wick and allowed to cool.
During some candlemaking sessions, customers can bring in their own beverages to enjoy during the pouring and cooling process, or can purchase them from the store’s storefront, Wenger said.
“I love how much (effort) people put in — they dress very well, they bring their own drinks, and sometimes they bring some other snacks,” Wenger said. “That’s why we’re looking forward to expanding, so we can have more room for more people.”
In addition to candles, Candle Bar carries Mayan Collective bath bombs, body lotions, bar soaps and other body care products.
The store also carries locally-made products such as greeting cards, jewelry and food, she said.
Store raises money for kids in Guatemala
When customers shop at Candle Bar, Wenger said, at least 10% of the proceeds go to supporting children in need in her home country of Guatemala.
Wenger’s company, The Mayan Collective LLC, sends money to children in San Francisco de Sales, Guatemala. La Casa de Elías Internacional in Houston works with churches in the Central American country to organize local events and handle how the funds get used.
According to Wenger, funds are used to pay for school supplies, shoes, food and even Christmas parties and gifts.
“It’s been just being amazing,” Wenger said. “We feel so blessed being able to give those gifts to the kids, because most of them ... don’t have shoes, and they’re very low income.”
Wenger described Guatemala as a “third world country,” whose social and economic problems can be traced back to government corruption, poor infrastructure and high rates of poverty.
“My husband and I are Christians, and we always think it’s such more of a blessing to give than receive,” Wenger said. “That’s something that we live for.”
Expansion is next for business
According to Wenger, Candle Bar is in line for an expansion this spring.
Renovations. which will likely begin in May, will include moving the candle-making portion of the business to the back of current space while adding a coffee shop.
“When you make your candle, you have to wait for the candle to set. It takes two hours,” Wenger said. “We want people (who) maybe want to grab a cup of coffee, make their candle and go sit in the back.”
The expansion will grow the amount of customers Candle Bar can host at any one time from about half a dozen to 14, and expand the services the store is able to offer.
“You can get a really cheap candle anywhere else,” Wenger said. “But the quality is different (at Candle Bar).”
Candle Bar is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, call 805-295-6434 or visit pismobeachcandlebar.com
Customers must make reservations ahead of time for candle-making sessions.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
