About Us
Our Story
Our founder, Jay, is a second generation candlemaker who grew up making candles with his Dad. They spent nearly every winter and summer on the road, attending festivals, markets and malls, selling their beautifully handcrafted paraffin candles. Together they dipped moulded candles in multiple layers of colourful wax, and then carved intricate designs into each candle while it was still warm and pliable. As much as he loved the creative process and the father-son time, Jay knew that the old-school methods of artificially coloured, paraffin-based candle making were not environmentally sustainable. There had to be another way; a way that still felt like an art form, but could be crafted with wholesome ingredients.
After moving to Salt Spring Island with his family, he realized he felt most at home with the other makers and artisans at the vibrant Saturday Market and in 2013 was inspired to finally create a candle company of his own. He taught himself how to blend raw materials into beautiful scents and work with new waxes, was passionate and determined, and has since forged a path that gives him the opportunity to craft something he is truly proud of. He’s never stopped believing that there is a sweet spot between art and science, and that it’s possible to be always learning and evolving while maintaining your artisanal integrity.
With Mishka now onboard full time, we are working hard to become the business we always wanted to be. We’re choosing our ingredients and materials with care. Everything we create or use as packaging can be reused, recycled, or composted. Putting something into the world that’s wasteful and unnecessary doesn’t make sense to us. We believe if our products have thoughtful, intentional components, they will bring that meaning into people’s homes. We love what we do, and we want you to feel that love in every purchase you make.
We live, work and play on the unceded land and traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples. We recognize these communities’ inherent Indigenous rights and title, and stand with them in the fight for decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.
Organizations We've Supported
Each month we donate a percentage of our profits to environmental or social justice causes. As we grow our company, we want to share our success with the people and groups that matter to us.
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Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)
SNIWWOC is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to the empowerment of women with food, art, and education. We address barriers that limit access to healthcare and full reproductive choice. SNIWWOC operates from a holistic and integrated service model that addresses the social, cultural and political realities of women who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC).
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Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)
The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization with a twenty-year history of providing services to Indian Residential School Survivors. IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and those dealing with Intergenerational traumas.
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Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS)
The Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is a non-profit organization composed of civil rights activists, business professionals, community organizations, artists, writers and academics committed to daylighting the presence of Black history in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia. HAS adopts research driven approach to community development that seeks to preserve and promote the historical, cultural, societal and economic contributions made by Black Settlers and their descendants to Vancouver, Greater Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
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BC Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS)
The British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) is a non-profit society that celebrates the achievements of Black people in British Columbia by creating an awareness of the history of Blacks in B.C., stimulating interest in the contributions of persons of African ancestry to B.C. and Canada today, and celebrating historical and current achievements in the arts, education, government, sports, science etc.
We receive more donation requests than we can support, and unfortunately, we cannot accommodate donation requests for financial support, sporting events, religious organizations, political organizations, or individual fundraising at this time.