A Look Into Candle Making

What started as a Covid project for Joy Alvarado turned into Fresno’s first and only candle bar known as “Joy’s Velitas,” where people can learn, make, and enjoy the process of making candles.

Alvarado said her goal was to make a clean burn for the environment.

“I use 100% soy wax,” Alvarado said. “The fragrance oils that I use are non-toxic. They’re specifically made for candles.”

The wax must be kept hot at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The wax can be poured for use at that temperature but can only be stirred for mixing once it drops to 130 degrees.

At workshops, customers are given all the tools necessary for the process.

“The setup that we have for the workshop is the exact same setup that we had for the very first time I did it, and it worked smoothly so I just never changed it,” Alvarado said.

With all of the scents, decorative flowers, and themed pins to add in, it may be tempting to want to light the candle immediately, but a candle needs five to seven days to fully cure before it can be used.

The candle-making process takes about an hour but is well worth it in the end.

“Being able to educate you on how to make your own candle and take something home,” is just part of the experience, said customer Corey Heyman.