Who We Are

, There are basically two types of candles: pillar and container. A pillar candle is one that stands alone without the support of a jar, dish and any other type of container. The wax in the candle is usually harder being that it does not have any type of support structure. A container candle is just that: the wax is held in some sort of container, usually transparent or translucent to some degree or another. The wax is usually softer as it uses the container to provide rigidity and support.

From here, the basic components are basically the same. Since Once Upon A Time Candles only makes container candles, our presentation, for the sake of brevity will be limited to only such candles.
The five basic components of a container are:

Wax - Wick - Color - Fragrance - Container
WAX
Paraffin candle wax, as used today, has its origins in the early 1850’s. It was derived from petroleum and developed as a replacement for whale oil which was becoming scarce as the result of overharvesting of the animal.
In the early 1990’s soy wax was developed. As the name indicates it is derived and processed from soy beans. While a somewhat popular replacement to regular wax, soy wax lacks some of paraffins better traits such as scent throw, excellent color retention, and, in many cases, burn life.
There are also hybrid and combination waxes such as gel, parasoy, beeswax, and palm wax. Once again, these various type lack, to one degree or another, the best attributes of the long standing, old fashion candle wax.
WICK
In todays modern candle, a wick is much more than simply a piece of string. Todays wick comes as fabric wrapped around a piece of wire, often zinc wire, braided or woven cotton or other fabric, and multicomponent wicks such as those with a paper impregnated core surrounded by a fabric outer sleeve. Most of these wicks are available in a wide variety of diameters to be matched with the various diameters of the container in which they are used.
Wick tab stand off
COLOR
Like most things, there are high and low qualities of colorants. A poor quality color will often lack “brilliance” in presentation, and fade rapidly in the presence of light, most often UV light. Depending upon the quality of wax and the quantity and type of color and fragrance used, a degree of liquid will remain in the bottom of the candle after the wax has hardened in poorly formulated candles.

Early in the 1970’s, when we were first married, and with little disposable income, we got the idea to make candles on the stove in our rather sparsely decorated apartment in St Louis County. Our efforts were directed mainly at giving candles to family and friends for birthdays, various holidays, but mainly for the Christmas season.

After a trip to our local Ben Franklin store, and with a pot in hand, we set about pouring what we called candles. Usually they had too little or too much fragrance and/or color, often with the wrong size wick and wrong type of wax. Over the next four or so decades we labored, trying to make that illusive “perfect” candle. Along the way, we picked up a book or two, then three, then four and so forth on the art of candle making. Slowly, as our knowledge of good candle making improved, so did our product. We gradually came to realize that good candle making was more of a science, than simply melting some wax, dripping in some color and smelly stuff and sticking in a piece of string.

Then, as happens with many our age, along came retirement. Soon our lifelong careers abruptly ended, and we found ourselves without jobs, without a mortgage (thank goodness), but with newly discovered time on our hands. “Retirement is great” we were told, “as long as you keep active and busy.” That concept, while easy to understand, was a bit harder to put into practice. It was actually our three grown children who gave us a bit of suggestion and direction. “Why not make candles and sell them at craft fairs and on the internet!” It sounded like a logical idea. We were familiar with the craft, it did not require a great deal of added investment, and it would pro-vide us with a chance to work side by side, get out away from the house occasionally, and allow us to work at our own pace, whatever that was.

As we pondered the idea, it slowly began to take root, but with a curious twist. Separately, each of us came up with one stipulation. “Only the finest, or not at all.” Here we have spent almost forty years dabbling in candle making, so why not use what we have learned, expand our knowledge, and create a product worthy of our efforts. This is not to say what we had made in the past was not decent, it just perhaps was not the finest. So, back to the books, back to the science of what makes the perfect candle. We spent the next six months or so melting scores of different waxes, smelling, along with our children and their families, dozens and dozens of fragrances, burning countless test wicks, in many, many candles. We also designed a 6-station candle factory in our basement to allow for the efficient manufacture of small batches of high-quality candles.

Finally, we created what we sell today. Simply the Finest. We use only the very finest wax, color, fragrance, wicks and containers. Our product is made in small batches to assure the highest quality control. We still continue our policy of test burning sample candles to assure continued exceptional scent throw, melt pool, and burn life.

We will not say that our candles are better than others. We simply say that ours are the finest. Perhaps they can be equaled, but they will never be surpassed.

At present we attend over 25 craft fairs and festivals a year, most in the St. Louis area, but some as far away as 125 miles. All members of our family participate in one or many aspects of the business. From business consulting, product development, candle production, and website creation, to everyday production and management, we are a family owned, managed, and engaged company.

We really do enjoy what we do, especially meeting people and making new friends. We are proud of our product and sincerely hope that our candles bring, not only light, but a bit of joy into the lives of our many customers.