Bohemian Candle At Heart

There is something special about experiencing the provenance of things you buy. It makes for a good story, which after all is one of the driving reasons we buy stuff. Beautiful narratives and well crafted things – is just my cuppa tea. 

This is why whenever I visit Nimbin (Australia), I like to pop down to the old candle factory.

Grass Roots Movement & A New Demand For Candles

Nimbin Candles is an enduring local icon and has been making candles for decades. 

It really all started in 1973. This was the year thousands of people flocked to Nimbin for an Aquarius Festival. This turned the once quiet dairy settlement into a sprawling new grass roots commune movement. During this time, the original founder of Nimbin Candles, saw a need for non-toxic, slow burning smoke-less candles that could burn in confined spaces, such as caravans, tents and tepees.

The Aquarius Festival was only short, but thousands of people stayed behind, starting a new life in the lush rolling hills and rejuvenating the local economy. This is where the demand for Nimbin Candles originated. 

Nimbin has evolved since this era, although at heart it is still a flourishing little hippie town. An artistic retreat outside of mainstream society. When the factory was sold in 2004,  the new owners kept the tradition alive, bringing candles to a new generation of customers. 

Nimbin Candles In The Old Butter Factory

Nimbin Candles has been in the old butter factory on the banks of the Mulgum Creek for the past 26 years. This places oozes with earthy, grungy rawness. The grounds are inviting and the simplicity is relaxing.

Walking into the candle factory it feels as though you have entered a medieval cave.  Wax coats the floor and spills down the side of huge hot vats. The process of making candles here is humble and traditional. Hot irons are used to smooth the sides of pyramid candles and excess wax from the tapered candles  is chopped up and re-melted to form all sorts of elaborate shapes. Empty beer cans are even used as moulds. 

The candles are made with food grade paraffin wax and vegetable dyes. I like that the factory has stuck to its roots. It is not fancy, but they make great candles.  

 

Nimbin Candles is famous for its tapered candle. 

These are made using the age-old method of dipping each individual wick continuously to create the perfect taper. You can see this in action when you visit the factory. I love watching the rows of candles slowly form their shape. Apparentlly the design for the dipping deck was adapted from a book of medieval machinery and is similar to what was used by 11th  century monasteries. 

   

When we lived on the road, traveling in our dear little campervan called Sergio, we used Nimbin candles. We love them. Now aways, we keep a jar of them in our emergency cupboard at home. They give off a superior light in black-outs and we use them often during storm season here. 

 

 
I love their bohemian origins and beautiful golden light.   

There is too much mass produced junk in this world and a little bit of hippie love is a rare treat.   

Until next time,   
 xx Isabella