It started with one stubborn candle that wouldn't burn right.
In 2018, Maya Okafor was tired of buying candles that tunneled down the middle and smelled like nothing after an hour. So she taught herself to pour, ruined a kitchen table, and kept going until the burn was perfect.
Seven years later, Ember & Wax is a 14-person studio in Southeast Portland. We still mix every fragrance by hand, test-burn every new scent for 72 hours, and refuse to ship anything we wouldn't light in our own homes.
Blend & test
We hand-mix small fragrance batches and test-burn each one for three full days before it earns a label.
Pour by hand
Wax is heated to the exact pour temperature, then poured into reusable glass and set with a cotton or wood wick.
Cure & pack
Each candle cures for two weeks for a stronger throw, then ships in plastic-free, fully recycled packaging.
