Bathwick Candleworks is a small workshop nestled a short walk from the River Avon in Bath. Our candles are poured by hand in limited batches, using steady techniques learned through years of simple trial and error. Each pour begins with a clean jug, unhurried wax melting, and quiet attention to the scent blend. There are no automated lines or conveyor belts here—only a small team with a calm workspace and patience for cooling glass.
The workshop started in a former printroom behind Pierrepont Street. What began as weekend experiments in balancing wax temperatures soon became a regular part of our days. We learned to keep blends minimal: natural soy and rapeseed waxes with traceable sources, cotton wicks, and essential oil compositions that avoid heavy synthetics. Labels list pour dates and fragrance families rather than poetic names. Our approach is closer to notation than branding—simple cues to help you pick what suits your space.
Most candles are made in sets of 24 to 40, each checked for level, scent throw, and wick posture before curing. We reuse tested glassware, cut waste wax into refill blocks, and mark every jar with its batch number. When jars come back for refill, they are washed, checked for micro cracks, and poured again for their second life. This plain system keeps production clear and sustainable without big claims or certifications.
We begin by preparing wax blends in open steel pans at low heat. Temperature control is manual; we use analogue thermometers and visual cues. Once the wax reaches its pour range, fragrance is added slowly to avoid air bubbles. The mix rests briefly before being poured into jars pre-fitted with centered cotton wicks. Cooling happens at room temperature for several hours, sometimes overnight during colder months. After trimming wicks and cleaning the glass rims, each candle is cured for at least three days before labelling.
Our process borrows from traditional English candle making but adjusts for modern materials. We do not use paraffin or palm derivatives. Instead, we choose plant-based waxes that create a mild, even burn. Fragrance oils are sourced from UK suppliers who disclose composition under current REACH and IFRA guidelines. This way, we can tell customers exactly what’s inside without the clutter of trade secrecy.
We divide scents into four families: Herb, Citrus, Wood, and Linen. They are meant to be straightforward, not abstract or overly styled. Herb includes rosemary and bay; Citrus features lemon, bergamot, and petitgrain; Wood carries cedar, birch, and a trace of patchouli; Linen blends light florals with aldehydic notes. Each has its own burn profile and diffusion strength. We note these openly so people can choose by clarity rather than marketing tone.
The goal is not to chase luxury but familiarity. Candles should belong naturally to daily rooms—kitchens, studies, entryways—not just to special tables. A candle that burns cleanly for a week, with steady light and no heavy residue, serves its purpose well enough. We make them so you can light, breathe, and carry on with the day.
There are only three of us in the workshop most days. Clara leads batching and pour temperature notes. Marcus manages supplies and safety records. I, Edwin, handle labelling, communications, and site messages. None of us come from a design background; we learned by repetition and documentation. Over time, those handwritten records turned into this online journal and care section you’re reading.
We do not keep a showroom, but visitors can arrange short pickups or refills by message. The workshop has no fixed retail hours; the door stays closed during pours to avoid dust and drafts. Everything visible online is current: we only list what is physically on the shelves or cooling on racks that week.
Bath’s rhythm affects our work more than any marketing calendar. The change of light between autumn and winter adjusts how wax sets and how scent travels. Rainy weeks mean slower cooling; warm evenings keep blends softer. These small shifts remind us that making by hand depends on weather as much as skill. We often donate small mispours or test jars to local reuse groups or college stalls instead of discarding them.
Our workshop remains open to suggestions from those who burn our candles regularly. Most of the improvements—new jar shapes, better labels, and cleaner pour lines—come from customer notes rather than internal meetings. Bathwick Candleworks grows at a measured pace, valuing precision and local feedback over scale.
If you visit Bath and follow Pierrepont Street down towards the river, you might catch the faint scent of wax and citrus at certain hours. That is us, pouring quietly behind the frosted window, one batch at a time.