Every Little Inferno candle begins with a simple idea: to create something that genuinely makes your home smell incredible while planting thousands of trees. But between that idea and the finished candle sitting on your shelf, there's a whole process of crafting, testing, and refining that we're proud of. Here's a look behind the scenes at how our candles are made.
It Starts with the Wax
We use natural soy wax in all of our candles. Soy wax is derived from soybean oil, a renewable, biodegradable resource and it burns cleaner and longer than traditional paraffin wax. It also has a lower melting point, which means a more even, gentle burn and better fragrance release.
Choosing soy wax wasn't just a practical decision, it was an ethical one. We wanted a wax that aligned with our commitment to making products that are kinder to the environment. Find out more about why soy wax matters for your home and the planet.
Choosing the Fragrance
This is the part we love most. Developing a new fragrance is a creative process that can take weeks. We work with fragrance oils to build scents that tell a story, which is why our candles have names like Campfire Comfort, Moonlit Meadow, and Forgotten Fields rather than generic descriptors.
Each fragrance is tested extensively in soy wax to ensure it performs well, good cold throw (how it smells unlit), strong hot throw (how it fills a room when burning), and stability over time. Not sure which scent is right for you? Read our guide to choosing the perfect home fragrance.
The Wick
We use wood wicks in our candles, chosen for the warm, crackling ambience they create and their clean burn. Getting the wick size right is one of the most technical parts of candle making, too thin and the flame drowns in the melt pool; too thick and it burns too hot. Each new vessel and fragrance combination is tested with multiple wick sizes before we settle on the right one. Finally we settled on a cross wood wick for a guaranteed healthy stable flame, making sure the entire surface area of the candle has the perfect heat dispersal.
Pouring
Our candles are hand-poured in small batches. The wax is melted, brought to the correct temperature, and the fragrance oil is added at precisely the right moment, too hot and the fragrance burns off; too cool and it doesn't bind properly. The wick is centred, and the wax is poured slowly to minimise air bubbles and surface imperfections.
The candles are then left to cure. Soy wax candles benefit from a curing period of at least 48 hours, this allows the fragrance to fully bind with the wax and results in a much better scent throw when burned.
The Packaging
We're as proud of our packaging as we are of our candles. Each candle comes with a natural cork lid, and we use unbleached kraft sticker paper for our labels. Inside the box you'll find shredded unbleached kraft card to keep everything secure, and the box itself is unbleached corrugated cardboard sealed with unbleached tape.
Every material we use is sourced from FSC-certified companies, ensuring responsible and ethical sourcing throughout. Our packaging is completely plastic-free — and we're always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint without compromising on the unboxing experience.
Quality Checking
Before any candle leaves us, it's checked by hand. We look at the surface finish, the wick position, the label alignment, and the scent. If it doesn't meet our standards, it doesn't go out. Simple as that.
Made with Care
Every candle we make is a small act of craft. We're not a factory — we're a small team who genuinely cares about what we put our name on. When you light a little inferno candle, we hope you can feel that. For tips on getting the very best from your candle, see our guide on how to get the most from your wood wick candle.
Thank you for supporting a small, independent business. It means everything.