finding keepers

something wicked Candles ignite an intimate fire at the flick of a match, bringing warmth and cheer, scent and sensation to any room in the house.
Story and photography by Julie Dean

With discount and big box stores coming into New Mexico in droves, “keep the candle burning” becomes a metaphor for the many craftspeople here. Small batch crafts remarkably thrive against all odds. But history plays a role. For centuries, people have been making useful and beautiful objects from natural resources, and others have been buying them up. So when New Mexicans take beeswax, palm, or soy and create lovely candles, it’s really no surprise that shoppers appreciate and support their efforts.

A variety of candle makers call New Mexico home and define themselves by their materials, color palette, and scents, or lack of scent. Like other artisans, candle makers are sensitive to the environment and make an effort to create candles from clean, renewable resources. They tout the health benefits for the user, spreading the word that soy and palm burn clean, without toxins. They take pride in the quality and duration of their products and are passionate about their craft.

Everyone has a place. Unscented, perfectly color-coordinated tapers add the final touch to a beautiful dinner table. A richly scented pillar makes a great companion to a hot bath. Votives become the twinkling accent that brings a room to life, and in lieu of a roaring fire, a grouping of candles visually warms a room.

Quality candles last hours longer than their cheaper counterparts—printing the burning time on the label is a point of pride. Stock up now for winter because on an icy cold night, retrieving a candle from the cupboard can change everything.

Soy wax candles, pillars from $18 each, containers from $15 each.
Sandia Soy Candles 505/350-5330, sandiasoycandles.com.

Sandia Soy Candles are sold at local natural groceries in Santa Fe and Albuquerque and at the following stores:
Blissful Bath 304 San Felipe Street NW, Albuquerque, NM, 505/242-4805.
Annapurna Ayurvedic Cuisine & Chai House 2201 Silver Street SE, Albuquerque, NM, 505/262-2424, themenupage/annapurna.html.
The Ark Bookstore 133 Romero Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/988-3709, arkbooks.com.

Our Lady of Menopause candle, $16 each.
Spiritwerks 533 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM, 505/989-7550, ourladyofmenopause.com.

Palm wax Mary candle, from $14; paraffin wax Frida Kahlo candle, from $12; and paraffin wax Virgin of Guadalupe candle, from $12.
Illumine Arts 7 Avenida Vista Grande #110, Santa Fe, NM, 505/466-1743, illuminearts.com.
Illumine Arts candles are sold at the following stores:
La Montañita Co-op Food Market 913 West Alameda Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/984-2852, lamontanita.coop
The Ark Bookstore 133 Romero Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/988-3709, arkbooks.com.
The Monk’s Corner 235 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM, 505/982-1915.
Jackalope 2820 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM, 505/471-8539, jackalope.com.

3 x 3-inch flat-topped beeswax pillar candles, $14.45 each.
Santa Fe Beeswax Candle Co. DeVargas Center, 173 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM, 505/983-1548, santafecandle.com.
Santa Fe Beeswax Candle Co. candles are available at local natural groceries in Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque.

Paraffin wax religious container candles, approximately $2 each. Bright Glow Candle Co. candles are available in the Mexican food aisle at many grocery stores throughout New Mexico.

4½-inch beeswax Thai Buddha candle, approximately $9.
Buckin’ Bee Honey 2376 Santa Barbara Drive, Santa Fe, NM, 505/989-1197, stevewall@newmexico.com.

Buckin’ Bee Honey candles are sold at the following locations:
Santa Fe Farmers Market Santa Fe, NM, 505/983-4098, santafefarmersmarket.com.

The Ark Bookstore 133 Romero Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/988-3709, arkbooks.com.

The Floating World at Ten Thousand Waves 3451 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM, 505/982-9304, tenthousandwaves.com.

La Montañita Co-op Food Market 913 West Alameda Street, Santa Fe, NM, 505/984-2852, lamontanita.coop.