A Season in Candlelight: Why the Candles Are Back

There was a time when candles were at the heart of The Fanciful Fox. Before the soap. Before the skincare. Before the shelves in my workshop were filled with jars and bottles and all the things we make today, I was making candles.

Eventually, though, the soap grew. Then came skincare. And as The Fanciful Fox grew along with them, something had to give. The candles quietly disappeared.

Over the years, customers would ask about them. They'd remember old scents and tell me how much they missed having Fanciful Fox candles in their homes. And perhaps no one missed them more than my wife, Barbara. Barbara loves a scented candle.

So this autumn, I decided it was time. The candles are back!

A little piece of Fanciful Fox history

Bringing them back feels a little funny. The workshop has changed quite a bit since those early days, and I've gotten very comfortable making soap and skincare. But there is something familiar about getting back to candle making. It feels a little like finding an old friend.

Of course, I've had to get reacquainted with the process, too. Before I can pour a candle, I have to make the wicks. I have a spool of cotton wick that I thread through the little metal tab and then pinch together with a pair of pliers I've had forever. I couldn't tell you where I got those pliers. They've just always been at the candle-making station, following me from one workshop to the next.

Then I go to the wax melter. Hopefully, I remembered to turn it on. For some reason, forgetting to turn on the melter is probably the silliest mistake I make around the workshop. I'll get everything ready, wonder why nothing is happening, and then realize I've forgotten the most important part.

Once the wax is melted, I mix in the essential oils and start pouring. I carefully fill each jar, making sure I have the right amount. Full enough, but not too full. When every jar is filled, I place a wick holder across the top to keep the wick straight and centered while the wax cools.

And then I wait.

The little details

Once the candles have completely cooled, I check each one. Sometimes a little air bubble forms on the surface of the wax. It doesn't hurt anything. It's purely superficial. But I don't like it. So I take out my heat gun and carefully smooth the top of the candle.

It's an unnecessary step. And I do it anyway. Because I like knowing that every candle that leaves my workshop is just right. That's the Fanciful Fox way. The little details matter.

Then the wicks get trimmed. The lids go on. I cut out every label, one by one, and put them on the jars. The boxes get assembled and labeled. Then each candle goes into its box and gets wrapped with a ribbon.

It's a lot of little steps for something that, at first glance, is simply a candle. But I think that's part of what makes something handcrafted special. You know that someone was paying attention.

Five candles. One autumn story.

When I started thinking about bringing candles back, I knew I didn't want to simply choose five scents that smelled like fall. I wanted them to tell a story.

Autumn has so many different moods. There's the first hint of cool air, the magic of October, the comfort of staying home, the desire to escape into the woods, and finally that quiet moment when the season begins to give way to winter.

So I created five candles to carry you through it.

Leaf & Light

The gentle arrival of autumn

There is a moment when you can feel autumn arriving. The air turns crisp. The light grows golden. You reach for a sweater for the first time in months.

Leaf & Light captures that first beautiful transition with grapefruit, rosemary, and lavender.

Fresh, herbal, and bright, it's the beginning of the story.

Witchy Brew

A little magic for October

Then comes October. The leaves are turning, the evenings grow dark, and everything feels just a little more mysterious.

Witchy Brew blends patchouli and frankincense with a touch of cinnamon. Earthy, warm, and wonderfully moody.

This is the candle for October evenings, candlelight, old books, dried herbs, and perhaps a little magic.

Cozy Spice

Come in and stay awhile

Eventually, the sweaters come out for good. The days get shorter and home starts feeling like exactly where you want to be.

Cozy Spice is warm and comforting, with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla.

It's the scent of something delicious in the kitchen, a favorite blanket, and a fire glowing nearby.

Autumn at its coziest.

Cabin in the Woods

A little escape

Some days, I think we'd all like to disappear into the woods for a while. Cabin in the Woods brings that feeling home with spruce softened by sweet orange and cinnamon.

Think fallen leaves, a quiet walk through the trees, and a little cabin waiting for you at the end of the day.

Exhale

A quiet ending to autumn

And eventually, autumn begins to let go. The leaves have fallen. The last golden days have passed. Winter starts whispering at the door.

Exhale is for that moment.

Frankincense, lavender, and orange come together in a peaceful, softly citrusy blend that invites you to slow down and savor what's left of the season.

Breathe deeply. Let go. Exhale.

And what happens next?

That's the part I don't know yet. I'm not sure whether candles will become a permanent part of The Fanciful Fox again.

As much as I love making them, there are only so many hours in a day, and the soap and skincare aren't going anywhere. I'll have to see what I can reasonably manage.

Maybe the candles will become a permanent part of the Fox family. Maybe they'll return when the season feels right. Only time will tell. But for now, I'm just really happy they're back. I'm happy to have the wax melter humming again. I'm happy to see rows of candles cooling on my worktable. I'm happy to be cutting those little labels and wrapping finished candles with ribbons. And I'm especially happy knowing that something I made is going to become part of someone's autumn.

Maybe it will be lit while you're making dinner. Maybe beside your favorite chair on a chilly evening. Maybe during a quiet morning with a cup of coffee.

Or maybe Barbara will get her wish and there will be a Fanciful Fox candle burning in every room of the house.

I wouldn't be surprised.