It’s August 2022 and I’ve just launched this Boody’s Beeswax brand. My goal is to grow the number of products I’m able to hand-make and sell, and to produce more of my own raw materials here on a few acres in rural Ohio. I’ll do this while working toward a more “homestead” lifestyle, striving to produce more than I consume.
How it started?
In 2017 I was reeling. Several major life events hit at once, and my inner voice was telling me I should start getting closer to my food, learning “old ways” and getting away from crowds. It lead me to purchase a few acres outside Chillicothe, Ohio, near a little spot called Londonderry. The village signs at the end of my one lane, dead end road say Lickskillet. I’ve been told it was called that because people were so poor, they licked their skillets. Not a big believer in such things as ghosts, but I’ve also been told that the land around me is haunted - more on that later!
Since moving to this little patch, I’ve raised some cows, some pigs, some chickens, tons of flowers and vegetables. In the middle of all this learning, I started having trouble with my hips, and herniated disks, and hernias etc. So now I know that everything I plan for this place from here out will need to account for decreasing mobility and ability. Can do!
Mission - pay the mortgage, keep the lights on (for now), invest in the property with everything left over. Source as much as possible from the property, increase as time progresses. Reduce, re-use and recycle everything I'm able. Simple
Why Candles, and why make your own vessels?
I absolutely love candles! The ambiance, the fragrance, the calming effect, the elemental sacredness of flame and meditation or prayer…sign me up! I’ve made candles for myself since 2017. As I thought about starting a side-hustle candle business, the supply chain fell apart globally. Candle makers couldn’t get jars as part of the impact. I found a few YouTubers that decided to start making and testing their own cement jars. They looked incredible! So I picked a few of my favorite silicone molds and starting making vessels too. Now I try to match the vessel color and design with the fragrance notes, so that the burn itself remains free of any dyes or other additives. In these custom vessels, all that’s burning is wax, fragrance oil, and a nice crackling wood wick.
Why Beeswax?
It’s the least processed, most natural wax and the oldest know human-used wax. It's a precious resource we've used since antiquity. I believe it offers the best ambiance and most “wellness benefits” of any of the available waxes, all the way down to the part of the light spectrum that a lit beeswax candle produces. Flame from beeswax is a warmer light, closer to the spectrum of sunlight than other waxes. Beeswax candles are also very long burning compared to some other waxes with lower melt point temperatures.
All of that being said, because it's a natural product, it’s a giant pain in the Boody to work with in terms of consistency and jar adhesion. You may notice that the wax pulls away from the vessel, it’s expected with beeswax. These particular candles go through an initial pour at around 165-170 F and allowed to cool for about 24 hours. Once cooled, this candle can have “pits” or sink holes and have to be “gunned” to smooth the tops back out. More on making later too! Beeswax candles are also associated with “negative ions” which are said to improve wellness and mood. Many air purifiers advertise that they produce negative ions as well. I’ll let you do your own research on that and I don’t make any medical claims at all, I just know I love the color and glow of a beeswax candle. It’s just different. So when I do get bees added to this property, I’ll be able to use excess wax for my own products and the idea excites me to no end!
Thank you for reading a little about Boody's Beeswax and what I'm trying to do here. All of the candles I make are hand poured while thinking of my friends and family, so if you believe in things like "intent", or that "putting love in the food while you make for others makes it taste better"...well that's what's happening here. If you're not fully satisfied with the product you've purchased, please reach out to me directly. It's my "Boody" on the line and I will ensure your concerns are resolved.
Peace and Love,
Boody