The Origin Story
Hi, I’m Vanessa. I’m the owner, candle maker, and doer of all the things The Light You Give Candle Company. For a very long time I wanted to learn how to make candles. Leading up to Christmas 2020, my fiance had an idea that we should make candles and get chocolates to gift/ porch drop for our loved ones as a way to wish them Happy Holidays and that we were thinking of them during a difficult time. I was instantly into this idea having always wanted to learn how to make candles and having done porch drop offs with the same idea in mind back for Easter in 2020. The one thing my finace and I agreed on from the beginning, if we made candles both of us wanted them to be a “cleaner candle” using 100% soy wax.
February 3rd, 2021 my one grandma unfortunately passed away at home. Even though I had been there when my grandma passed, there was nowhere else I wanted to be then in my grandparents home, with my grandpa and aunt; maybe, to feel connected to my grandma again, the next day. When I walked in my aunt had a candle lit that she had gifted my grandma roughly 16 years earlier. It was a candle from a church in Paris, France, a gift my aunt picked up on her honeymoon for y grandparents. I remember this feeling of comfort, of peace, or something that’s hard to explain when I looked at that flame and knew it was lit in honour of my grandma. This one single candle and this one single flame brought us peace that day; On a day I don’t think any of us knew how to find it.
When I got home, I was beyond grateful that my fiance and I had made candles from that Christmas because I had a good selection still on hand. That night, I lit my first candle in my grandma’s honour and for months, everyday and everynight I’d come home from work and I would light a candle for her and send her a silent hello with a wish and a prayer.
My grandpa, whom was married to said grandma passed 1 year and 9 days after her. Now, I light candles in honour of them both.
During 2021 and through 2022, I kept making candles - it quickly became something my fiance wanted to try doing (that I was on board with), to a hobby of mine only that again we gave as gifts to our loved ones. As time passed I told more and more people about them and shared them. As I shared more of these candles over the last couple years, people began asking if they could buy them. I struggled a lot in my day to day life and job with my grief and needed an outlet; candle making quickly became that.
I’ve always respected and admired festivals, rituals and celebrations around light and using it as a symbol often to honour a loved one or as a metaphor during darker times.
So, with more requests to sell my candles, a positive creative outlet becoming a way to manage a rather difficult time and finding a way to honour my loved ones, The Light You Give Candle Company was born.
Our candles are to honour not just our loved ones but the light we are as individuals and our impact in the lives of those around us. These candles aren’t just candles, they are a reminder of the good life has to offer. They are an ode to our loved ones, they are a recognition of our personal uniqueness and a way of making it through life’s storms - figurative and literal.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story of my journey to our journey as The Light You Give Candle Company. My hope is that these candles bring you and your loved ones joy to burn, peace and comfort as well as confidence knowing they are a healthier candle for you.
"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out."
-J.R. Tolkien
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
-Brene Brown
Why the materials we use...
We believe at The Light You Give Candle Company that being aware of what your body is taking in from the environment around it is just as important as the quality of things (food, water etc) you are putting directly into it.
This is why our candles are made with 100% soy wax, and paraben and phthalate free.
Why is the soy wax important? Paraffin wax was the many material candles were made of for many years and still is a majority of candles out there. The reason many people are beginning to use soy wax for a cleaner candle alternative is because paraffin is made from petroleum. Yup, think oil and gas. Whereas soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil making it a significantly cleaner product to burn in your home. Soy wax also has a longer burn time than paraffin candles.
Why is being paraben and phthalate free important? Parabens are a group of compounds used as preservatives used in many things like cosmetics, foods and pharmaceuticals. Parabens are hormone disruptors - they act like estrogen in the body which can affect both male and female reproduction along with fertility and birth outcomes. Phthalates are a group of compounds made and used to make plastics more durable. These can also be found in personal care products. With over exposure to phthalates they can negatively impact your endocrine system.
What are our wicks made of? The wicks we use are made with unbleached paper fibers. They are lead and zinc free.
Why the amber glass jars? We use the amber glass jars because they help protect the integrity of the soy wax and the candle scent. Soy wax is much more delicate than using paraffin wax and sunlight and other lights can alter the soy wax and the scent through over time. The darkness of the amber glass helps protect this. Also, we believe amber glass has a more sophisticated aesthetic to it making it an easy addition in anyone's home.
Why don't we dye our candles different colours? We don't dye our candles different colours because of the amber glass jars we use. As well, we like to highlight the beauty of the pure soy wax.
