No compromises.
Most candles are focused on price and full of compromises.
We're focused on quality.
We searched for the best wax and found it – 100% soy. We tested countless fragrances over 18 months and use only the most trusted, earth-friendly fragrances and essential oils in the world. We held over a dozen jars in our hands before choosing the beautiful TCCCo jar made from recycled glass. We know you’ll find a way to reuse it.
The way candles are made changes how they burn.
We have fine-tuned our formula. Our ratio of wax to fragrance oil maximizes the quality, burn and fragrance of a soy wax candle
We have fine-tuned our process. Our mixing temperature and our pouring temperature – trade secrets – also maximize fragrance.
We have a secret weapon. The landscapes and people of Traverse City, Michigan inspire us to appreciate the details.
Frequently asked questions.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO BURN TRAVERSE CITY CANDLE COMPANY’S CANDLES?
Our recommended burn time is 3-4 hours. Be sure to trim the wick to 1/4" before each lighting to prevent wick curling. Trim your wick with a simple finger pinch or by using scissors or a proper wick trimmer. As a safety precaution, never leave wick trimmings (matches or other debris, for that matter) in your candle jar!
Always allow the melt pool to reach the edges of the jar before extinguishing - this is especially important with our soy candles. Doing so not only allows for even burning, but prevents "tunneling" and wax from building along the sides of the jar, ensuring product quality and longevity! Never leave a candle unattended or in reach of children, pets or a draft. Allow the jar to cool completely before handling.
HOW SHOULD I EXTINGUISH MY CANDLE?
The best way to extinguish your candle is by gently blowing out the flame. A proper wick snuffer works great, as well. Never attempt to extinguish a candle using fingers or water!
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN TRAVERSE CITY CANDLE COMPANY’S CANDLES?
The formula for soy candles is simple: 100% soy wax, fragrance oil, and a cotton core wick. The fine fragrance oils used in our candles are made of a blend of both naturally and synthetically developed ingredients. We develop our products to meet our highest standards for quality and safety, and to ensure that the price point is also accessible for our customers.
WHY SOY WAX? ARE YOUR CANDLES MADE WITH 100% SOY WAX?
We choose to work with soy wax for a variety of reasons. We love that it's a renewable resource and carbon neutral. We love that it burns more cleanly - and better yet - for a longer period of time than paraffin. We love the way soy wax smells mixed with a good fragrance. And mostly, we love working with soy because it's a natural and non-toxic product that we can touch with our hands every day. TRAVERSE CITY CANDLE COMPANY’S candles use 100% soy wax - we do not blend with paraffin or other soy waxes.
HOW IS SOY WAX MADE?
Soy beans are husked and dried into flake form, then the oil is extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated. The hydrogenation alters the chemical compound so that soy bean oil is a solid at room temperature - soy wax! Leftover bean husks are typically used as animal feed.
DO YOU USE ESSENTIAL OILS IN YOUR CANDLES?
Our soy candles do include fragrance oils that contain components of essential oils, but we do not use straight essential oils. While we love essential oils, fragrance oils are better suited for use in candles, as the scent throw is stronger. Essential oils are volatile compounds, which makes it difficult to maintain consistency during production, as they're likely to change over time. Essential oils also tend to evaporate when they are burned because the flash point is so low.
HOW FRAGRANT ARE TRAVERSE CITY CANDLE COMPANY’S CANDLES?
Because we use natural soy wax, our candles will not have the same scent throw as paraffin candles. We like that our candles are not overwhelming and can be used every day. We find that our 10 oz. standard candles fill small and medium-size rooms nicely.
For larger rooms or rooms with high ceilings, you can always burn two or more candles to achieve a similar scent throw.
CAN THE JAR BE REPURPOSED?
Absolutely! We recommend using it as a tumbler. Or a place to store pens, if that floats your boat. When about 1/2" of wax remains, discontinue use of candle and place your candle in the freezer. Once the wax hardens, it can be chipped out along with the wick. If there is more than a little bit of wax left, we recommend the "oven method" - place your candle in a warm oven and allow the wax to liquefy. Carefully dump the wax out (be sure to use a potholder, as the jar will be hot) and wipe clean. Soap and water can then be used to remove the wax residue.
HOW OFTEN ARE NEW SCENTS/PRODUCTS RELEASED?
We currently release 4 scents each season (spring, summer, fall, winter). Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter on the bottom of our site for exclusive deals and sneak peeks at upcoming products.