Let’s Get LIT: Local Candle Companies

The weather is cooling down QUICK in Pittsburgh which means candle season is in full swing!! Everyone loves that warm fall scent of pumpkin pie or that fresh scent of fallen snow in the winter so it’s time to stock up! While there are hundreds of places around the city to grab some candles, we love supporting small businesses so we have rounded up some of our favorite local candle companies. From those typical seasonal scents to Pittsburgh-specific scents, we have you covered. And hey, it’s not too early to start your holiday shopping! 

Oakmont Candle Works

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First up is Oakmont Candle Works based out of, you guessed it, Oakmont. These candles handmade in Oakmont, are pure soy and full of incredible scents. Currently, they have their always available collection and then their seasonal fall favorites collection. A lot of people think of fall as pumpkin patches and apple orchards, but Thanksgiving is also in fall. Oakmont Candle Works kept that in mind with their collection because some of the sweetest smells are those from Thanksgiving dinner. Blueberry cobbler and going nutty are two of our favorites! If you aren’t sure which scent will be your favorite order a couple of 8oz mason jar candles to test out before committing to the big 2-wick. Their always available collection has the typical scents like eucalyptus, French vanilla, and sandalwood, but also has unique scents like kitchen herbs, a morning brew, and pappy’s pipe. If you’re interested in fundraising, their spring and summer fundraisers will be opening soon so keep an eye on their website. Oakmont Candle Works also offers pour parties! Bring your group down for $20/person which includes choosing an 8oz candle or melt container, gluing the wick, mixing your scent, pouring the wax, and creating a custom label. Perfect for birthdays or a date night!

PGH Candle

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If you’re a local candle lover, chances are you’ve heard of PGH Candle. This popular local brand can be found in stores like Wildcard and Love, Pittsburgh. They can also be found at pop-ups like their kiosk on the lower level of Ross Park Mall next to Starbucks from November 1- December 31! PGH Candle is known for its neighborhood-themed candles and local collaborations. All of their neighborhood candles have the same scent of musky oakmoss and amber. These are the perfect gift for those loved ones that have moved to another state or those that have moved into one of these neighborhoods. It doubles as a homesick gift or a welcome gift! Other collections at PGH Candle are the originals (12oz or 20oz), shine series, palm stone series, wildflowers of PA, and their seasonal collection. Some local collaborations they have done are the Mediterra Cakehouse Banana Bread and Hofbräuhaus Fresh Baked Pretzel. Is it just us or could you just live off of those two scents alone?!

Sweet Aroma

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Sweet Aroma is a local candle company available for online ordering only. They boast that their soy wax candles are completely vegan and eco-friendly with no paraffin wax or dyes. At Sweet Aroma, you can choose from 8oz or 16oz candles or wax melts. Their fall scents are heavenly! From apple cider donut to blueberry pumpkin patch, to the super fun pumpkin coconut latte, there is no shortage of perfectly crafted blends. Stock up on the off-season with their summer candles that are currently on sale. Mango sorbet, watermelon lemonade, and pink shores are just a few of the candles on sale right now! One of our favorite things about these candles (other than the scent) is the adorable labels! Owner Amber creates all of the labels to match each scent’s vibe PERFECTLY. 

We spoke with Amber about Sweet Aroma and asked what her favorite part about her business is and she said “I would say that my favorite thing about owning/running Sweet Aroma is the community that I’ve built around me. I’ve met so many small business owners and customers whether that be virtually or in-person that have supported me, uplifted me, and inspired me. Owning a small business in Pittsburgh is like opening up your own little world of support, especially from female-owned companies! And of course, my house always smells good, so that’s one of the best parts as well!” Keep an eye out for their holiday collection that goes live on November 1st!

Mix Candle Co.

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Previously known as the Candle Lab, Mix Candle Co. is the new name for the fun candle pouring experience on Butler Street in Lawrenceville! Make a reservation for your group to enjoy this fun activity, plus it’s BYOB so don’t forget a beverage if you’re of age. The way the process works at Mix Candle Co. is you’ll begin with sampling from over 120 fragrances. You’ll get a little card to mark down some of your favorite scents so you don’t have to remember them all yourself. After you have a few you like, you’ll speak to one of the Scent Consultants who will help you decide on which 2 or 3 scents to blend based on their expertise. You’ll design a cute label, pour the wax, then wait. It takes about 90 minutes for your candle to cool, so they recommend hitting up a local eatery in Lawrenceville since Mix Candle Co doesn’t allow food, only beverages. Stop back after eating to pick up your candle or pick it up another day if you can’t stick around for 90 minutes. When you go back to purchase, take a look at their premade candles to add to your purchase. All candles range from $20-35 depending on size, but they are all buy 3 get one free!

Soyil Candles by Greta

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If you love the simple minimalist look, Soyil Candles is your jam. These are all-natural, dye-free, scented candles that come in several different shapes and sizes. Depending on your aesthetic, you can decide what the best fit is! The scents come in a variety as well. Macintosh, home sweet home, and almond cake are just a few. All candles are white with a tiny label so if you want to burn a few different scents at once, the look of them will still be clean and chic. Greta has been making candles for 10 years now and is very talented at what she does in her studio located in Mount Washington. She’s almost completely sold out of her fall stock of candles so hurry to her site and order what you can before the holiday release drops!

There are plenty of other local shops and businesses that we love, but we wouldn’t be able to list them all, there are too many! Get your hands on these candles asap, because fall is moving fast and winter will be here sooner than we think. Stock up now with all of your favorite scents from these local businesses!

This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.