Twisted Lane Candles

My husband - the handsome half of the partnership who lifts the heavy things - smelled a candle he loved in a store in Louisiana. It was a scent he had never come across in a candle before, but the candle was $35. Incredulity struck, and he asked me to make him one that didn't cost that much. That began our candle making journey. It quickly spiraled out of control and here we are, today.

[The scent was Tobacco & Bourbon, by the way]

​The basic tenants we've held to in this venture have been simple. Make no-frills candles that smell good, and that no one else has.

​No colors or dyes, because they increase cost with no increase in quality.

​No cloying fruit, flowers, or food. They all smell like sugar and you can buy them at Walmart, Target, and national candle retailers

​We use wooden wicks that crackle when they burn. They're cool. They also have a larger flame that encourages a full melt pool in your candle. That means no wasted wax.

​The ultimate goal is to make long-lasting candles that burn efficiently and are affordable. We omit standard candle-making gimmicks that offer nothing tangible to the consumer. After all, your purchase should benefit you, not us.

 

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Do you have store?

Yes. We are open by appointment during the week. Please call, text or message us to set up an appointment. We try to have a couple of days every month where we are open for anyone to shop. You can find that information on our Social media accounts.

 

Do you have a place for us to stay?

Yes. We have 2 RV slots. We are a hosts for Harvest Host and RV Overnights. If you are a member of either of those please put your request in there. If you are not a member of either of those please contact us directly and we will see if we can accommodate you.

 

Why don't you make sweet or flowered scents?

Our tag line is No frills. No fuss. We strive to be different. We don't make anything you can find at a major retailer. We don't do floral scents because we don't like them. We don't do bakery scents because everyone does bakery scents. Yes, we know they're popular. We have sweet smelling candles, but they are not cloying. We try and make our scents as realistic as possible.

 

​Why don't you dye your candles?

We don't dye our candles because it costs the customer more and doesn't make the candle better. Candle dye can be expensive, and we would have to pass that cost on to you. We also like the natural look of our candles.

 

​Why are some of your candles yellow or brown?

Not all fragrance oils (FO'S) are clear. Some of them are clear, some are brown, and some of them are yellow. We even have one that looks purple. Because we don't dye our candles, you can see the differences in the natural colors.

 

​Will your candles smell all the way through?

Yes, our candles will smell all the way to your last burning. We scent our wax in small batches, ensuring it will smell all the way through. We also test our candles to make sure you're getting the best scent we can provide.

 

​Why do store bought candles quit smelling after a while?

There are many reasons for that. But, most likely, it's because the candle you bought has extra scent on top. After candles are poured, they must be topped off so they are smooth. Some large companies scent their candles lightly, and when they top them off they scent the top heavily. Not everyone does this, but some do. It can be an efficient to save on manufacturing costs and make a larger profit.

 

​Do they burn like store bought candles?

Like good candles? Yes. One complaint with cheaply made candles is that they have a tendency to tunnel. We extensively test our candles and have yet to have one tunnel. We use a softer wax with a lower melting point, and with the hotter burning wooden wicks, the flame is able to melt the wax to the edges of the container. As with any candle, you still need to treat it properly to achieve proper results.

 

​How long do your candles burn?

The last test we conducted had the candle burning for more than 60 hours. Outside factors like drafts and wick length can change this.

 

​What are your favorite scents?

We like Pipe Tobacco & Bourbon, and Wassail & Whiskey and Ginger & Lime. Our daughter loves Blue Spruce and Cedar & Amber scents. Our son frequently burns Oak Moss. 

 

​What exactly are wood wicks?

There are several different types of wood wicks. The most common type of wood wick is 2 pieces of wood that is either laminated together or crossed together. 

 

​What are the wood wicks made of?

They are most commonly made of oak, cherry or cedar wood. We use cherry wood.

 

​Do you make your own wicks?

No. Could we? Yes, but it is a labor intensive process and would significantly drive up the cost of the candle.

 

​Do the wood wicks burn differently than regular wicks?

Yes. They are made of wood, so they burn a little hotter. They also crackle and pop when they're burning.

 

​Why do you use wood wicks?

We use them because we feel that we get a better smell using them with our particular scents. We also use them because we love them. They make our product different from other candle manufacturers. 

 

​Do you wholesale?

Yes. Please contact us for more information.

 

​Do you do custom orders?

Yes. We have a whole section about custom orders on the website.

 

​Can you do a fundraiser?

Yes. Please contact us so we get additional information from your organization.

 

​Can you host a candle making class or party?

Yes. 

In our shop, we can accommodate up to 6 people. If you have more than 12 people, we're happy to come to you. Our classes are priced at $30.00 per person, which covers all the necessary supplies.

If you're interested in hosting a party, please reach out to us, and we'll iron out the details together.

Regarding the duration of the class, it's a bit variable. Factors like the number of attendees, the speed at which everyone pours their candles, and the drying time (if you choose to wait) all play a role. If you opt for an in-store class, we can offer you a meal, a charcuterie board, and drinks while you wait for your candles to dry. We have several seating areas around the property where your group can relax, eat, and socialize during your visit.

 

Will you come to my wedding/event and do live pouring?

Yes. Please contact us as this requires extra planning on our part and yours. We strive to make your wedding day or event special.

 

Do you use Essential oils in your Candles and Wax Melts/Brittle?

The short answer is no. Long answer?

You've seen tutorials online and other sellers on Etsy/Pinterest and DIY channels making 100% pure essential oil (EO) candles and wax melts. I'm here to give you some information about them and why it's not a good idea.

Essential oils are GREAT for certain products. I have friends who sell vegan and natural bath & body products, and they use nothing but pure essential oils. But they don't heat the oils to the high temperatures that candles reach during manufacturing and during use.

We believe EO's have their place. In approved diffusers and in non-heated products, they are wonderful! I am NOT an EO specialist and will never claim to be. But after research, I made the decision to not use them in my wax products.

Some EO's are toxic when heated. They can also cause adverse side effects if inhaled too long in high concentrations (like in candles). Some EO's are not approved for use when you are pregnant or have small children, and they can harm pets.

I made the choice to use candle approved fragrance oils. No harmful phthalates will be used and I never use "hobby store" brands. We buy skin-safe fragrances from reputable suppliers. If you would like a list of our suppliers to do your own research, we will be happy to provide that for you.

While I do not use pure essential oils in my wax products, I do have some fragrance oils that contain candle-grade essential oils, which are safe for all ages and family members.

We ask that you educate yourself on EO's and make your own decisions regarding their use. We simply have our own reasons why we don't use them.​

 

Do you use soy wax?

No. We use a Paraffin based blend of wax, the blend of which is proprietary.

 

​Why paraffin and not soy? Soy is more natural and burns cleaner, right?

No, soy is not more natural, and no, it does not burn cleaner.

All candles produce smoke and soot. Paraffin soot is black, soy is white.

As a consumer, you can reduce the amount of smoke you have by simply trimming your wick and burning your candle correctly.

Soy candle wax is only produced in the United States. It is used very little in Europe and Asia because it must be imported. There are only a few soy wax suppliers who are refining soy oil into soy wax: Bunge Corporation; Archer, Daniels, Midlands (ADM); and Golden Brands. All four soy wax producers have confirmed that their soy wax is solvent extracted from GMO soy seed commercially farmed with pesticides and insecticides.

The exact steps to produce soy wax are well protected and every soy wax producer (and even every soy wax candle maker) has their own secrets. This is the general process:

After harvesting, the soy beans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. The soy oil is solvent (hexane) extracted from the flakes. The oil is then chilled and the wax settles out from the oil. Color is removed with chlorine bleaching. Deodorization is performed in the final stage of refining by vacuum distillation to remove free fatty acids, odor and color pigments to produce bland oil with a good shelf life. Next, a chemical reaction - hydrogenation - converts some of the fatty acids in the oil from unsaturated to saturated. The main step in making soy wax is hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is the process whereby the poly- and monounsaturated oils are solidified in order to increase the viscosity. This is done by reaction of hydrogen with the oil at elevated temperature (140-225°C) in the presence of a nickel catalyst. This process dramatically alters the melting point of the oil, making it a solid at room temperature. The leftover bean husks are then commonly used as animal feed.

The oil and wax that are produced have a lower melting point than paraffin wax and require additional additives to be added in to get a good burn and a great scent throw. These additives can include stearic acid and Vybar. Many soy candle makers use a blend of soy and paraffin waxes to make the candle burn better. There are pre-made blends on the market, and many candle manufacturers buy them and market their products as all natural soy candles. You have to add more fragrance oils to soy wax than you would with paraffin wax, either increasing the cost of the soy candle or increasing the incentive to save costs elsewhere during manufacturing. 

Paraffin is a by product of oil, and here's how it's made:

The feed-stock for paraffin is slack wax, which is a mixture of oil and wax, a byproduct from the refining of lubricating oil.

The first step in making paraffin wax is to remove the oil (de-oiling or de-waxing) from the slack wax. The oil is separated by crystallization. Most commonly, the slack wax is heated, mixed with one or more such as a ketone and then cooled. As it cools, wax crystallizes out of the solution, leaving only oil. This mixture is filtered into two streams: solid (wax plus some solvent) and liquid (oil and solvent). After the solvent is recovered by distillation, the resulting products are called "product wax" (or "press wax") and "foots oil". The lower the percentage of oil in the wax, the more refined it is considered (semi-refined versus fully refined). The product wax may be further processed to remove colors and odors. The wax may finally be blended together to give certain desired properties such as melt point and penetration. Paraffin wax is sold in either liquid or solid form.

Most consumers use a derivative of paraffin wax everyday. It's in makeup, in wax paper, and even coating fruit in the grocery store. 

We did a lot of research and testing before we made the decision to use paraffin wax. Our candles are made of a soft paraffin that has the consistency of Vaseline and is very sticky.

The only additive we put into our candles is a UV inhibitor. We do this so our candles won't turn yellow under the sun or under florescent lights.

Because paraffin wax holds more fragrance oil, we are able to avoid using additional stabilizers. 

If you'd like to know more about soy wax and paraffin wax, there are links below.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin_wax
https://www.soya.be/soy-wax-production.php

Shipping

We have a processing time of three business days for in-stock items. That being said, we like to be optimistic and aim to have it out within a day or two. Due to USPS, UPS and Fedex no longer guaranteeing shipping times we can not predict how long it will take for your items to get to you. We are eternally optimistic though and hope it's just a few days.

​Custom orders will be worked into the production schedule and may take up to two weeks to be made and shipped. We will keep you informed about the status of your product.

We ship in boxes specially designed for our products. If you order more products than will fit in one of our standard boxes we will ship in a large box.

Return and Exchange Policy

It is our goal to provide you with a great experience.

​If your candle arrives in the mail and you don't like the scent, you can mail the unused/unlit product back to us within 14 days. We will either offer a refund of the purchase price or a swap with another comparable product in-stock. Please include your original order information and reason why you didn't like the purchase.

​Custom orders and used products cannot be returned or refunded.

​In the event your product arrives damaged after shipping, please email us with your order information with a picture of the box and damaged product. Based on the availability of your product, you will be offered a free replacement or a refund of your original purchase price.

​Please reach out to us via the contact tab if you have any questions or concerns. 

 Pricing

• Wholesale 10-ounce candles with two wicks are available for $8.50, with a suggested retail price of $17.00. A minimum order of 12 candles is required, with at least 2 candles of each scent.

• 4 oz. Smelly Jellies are wholesale priced at $2.50, with a suggested retail price of $5.00. The minimum order is 24 units, including 6 of each scent.

• We currently do not offer wholesale pricing on orders for fewer than 12 candles. For orders exceeding 100 candles, customized pricing options are available upon discussion.

• A 50% deposit is required for the initial order, with subsequent orders requiring a 25% deposit. Orders exceeding 50 candles necessitate full payment upfront.

Custom Orders

• We collaborate with clients individually to create customized scents or labels for businesses or events. Depending on the product, this process may take six weeks or longer. A minimum order of 24 candles is required for custom scents, with a $15 surcharge per custom scent blend on the first order. For orders of more than 5 custom scents, pricing negotiations are possible. We cannot guarantee compatibility with Smelly Jellies but are willing to test and discuss further.

• Custom labels featuring logos or special scent names can be created. Logo files must be provided within 24 hours of ordering. There is a $25 set-up fee for custom labels on the first order. If there are more than 5 custom labels we will charge a $15 fee for each design.

Ordering

• Wholesale orders can be placed via email or phone. An invoice, including estimated shipping costs and dates, will be sent approximately 24 hours after order placement. Shipping dates depend on product availability and order quantity.

• Rush orders for more than 75 candles within one week will incur a 10% fee on the total order.

• Orders exceeding 500 candles will require a minimum of 3 weeks for production and shipping.

Processing Time

• We aim to respond to emails within 24 hours during weekdays. Orders submitted after 5 p.m. on Fridays will be processed the following Monday. Customers will be informed of any shortages or delays in their orders.

Shipping

• Buyers are responsible for shipping costs, which will be itemized on the invoice. If shipping costs exceed the original quote, the buyer will be billed for the difference.

• Within 100 miles of our shop, personal delivery is an option upon request at the time of ordering. Alternatively, buyers can arrange pick-up and delivery with another carrier at their own expense.

Display

• Our candles are uncolored and should be displayed naturally. Display options are available upon request, with fees determined on a case-by-case basis.

Defective and Broken Products

• Items damaged during shipping will be replaced or refunded upon submission of photographic evidence within 72 hours of delivery.

Cancellations and Returns

• Order cancellations must be made within 24 hours of placement for a full refund within 48 hours via credit card or within 14 days by check.

• Unsatisfactory scents can be returned within 14 days of receipt at the buyer's expense for a refund or replacement.