Make Your Own Scented Candles at This Workshop Series in Cebu

(SPOT.ph) There’s a physicality—a sensuality even—to fragrances. And so, while marketing trends have dictated that these businesses appeal to our senses through a computer screen not just by words and images, but now, also through music, if we’re being real here—and we’re always real here—all those combined can’t actually compare to holding up a candle close to your face before making the final purchase. Pushing that concept to its extreme, we wanted to try our hand at making a candle we’ve designed for ourselves. It’s like blind buying anyway; if you don’t like it, you’ll only have yourself to blame. It’s surprisingly a great way to get to know your tastes—or because it is February, a potentially special someone. 

Also read: 10 Shops to Check Out for Scented Candles in Cebu

Here's where you can join candle-making workshops in Cebu

A first (to our knowledge) in Metro Cebu, Elemento held a fragrance-blending and candle-making workshop on February 11 at Good Juju Hostel where the draw was exactly that. You might have seen the brand around on Instagram since it opened up in 2020, and now from just making their own candles for others to buy, they're letting folks come in and make their own. 

The owner Bryan has created an opportunity where newbies and enthusiasts alike can mix and match from the ingredients he himself uses. It’s like getting a peek into the professional’s process, but in a condensed period of time—no more than three hours to be exact. And that already includes snack time; you’re given coffee and a pastry.

This being an Elemento experience, you can expect the workshop to be thoughtfully planned and prepared. Each of the six participants is given their own workspace that includes pen and paper, a glass vessel, wicks, a wick centering tool, beakers, a digital thermometer, and a stirring rod—all artfully arranged on rustic craft paper for that old-timey apothecary look. Bryan himself guides you through the entire process minus the twee marketing-speak of Emily in Paris’s Laboratoire Lavaux. The process is similar enough though. Using a fragrance wheel, you pick a top, heart, and base note to create a blend you’ll like—except it’s not as straightforward as Netflix has made us believe.

A good guiding principle is perfumer and book author Sarah McCartney’s quote, “Notes are the output of a perfume, not the input.” Don’t just go by the labels on the bottles, but actually take the time to sniff the mix you’ve come up with. You’re free to do whatever you please as long as you end up with the precise measurement of fragrance oils. And if you need even more guidance, you can preview the available scents as the brand has a display table ready at the venue, too. 

After creating your fragrance—the bulk of the work, to be honest—you prep your vessel. Stick your label on it and place the wicks inside. You then get melted wax from a dispenser, mix the fragrance in and stir, stir, stir until it cools down to a certain temp, then you’re free to pour the wax in and you’re done for the day.

P1,800 will get you a nine-ounce candle, which you won’t be able to take home on the day of, by the way. It’ll be sent to you within a week, complete with all the trapping Elemento customers are accustomed to. Then there’s also a discount coupon should you want to buy a candle from their website. All in all, a pretty good price to pay for a different type of workshop experience. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll also have made new friends who are just as picky with fragrances as you are.

Also read: Every Corner of This Local Candle Brand's Studio Is Fit for the 'Gram

Buy tickets for upcoming workshops here online. For more information, follow Elemento’s Instagram page.