Charleston Candle Co.

Charleston Candle Co. is a candle store in Charleston, SC. The family-owned and operated business hand-pours all of its candles in small batches locally in its downtown Charleston shop, creating scents inspired by the Lowcountry's architectural heritage, horticulture, and coastal memories. Beyond candles, the company offers candle making classes at its flagship store, where participants mix and create their own custom scented soy candles to take home.

Founded in 2016, Charleston Candle Co. began when Kristen Schwiers started making candles for fun in the kitchen of the couple's small apartment. Inspired by Charleston's charm, she created candles that captured the essence of different places and experiences in the city. After launching an Etsy shop, the hobby grew into a full-time business, and today the products are sold in stores across the U.S. Chaz Schwiers, a College of Charleston alumnus, works full-time handling production, logistics, and warehouse management, while Kristen oversees communications, marketing, branding, and product development. The couple settled in Charleston after their wedding in 2013, drawing inspiration from downtown strolls and weekends on Sullivan's Island.

The candles are made with 100% natural soy wax from U.S.-grown soybeans, natural cotton and paper wicks free of lead and zinc, and certified Clean Scents fragrance oils free from phthalates, carcinogens, and toxins. The company emphasizes eco-friendly materials that burn cleanly and last longer than traditional paraffin wax. Candle classes are offered for small groups, accommodating parties of six to twelve people, with each participant creating two custom scented candles. Classes are held Monday through Saturday, with a 20% deposit required to hold a date, and are popular for bachelorette parties, team building activities, and friendly gatherings. The flagship store is located just one block from King Street in historic downtown Charleston.

The business holds a rating of 4.80 based on 37 reviews, reflecting a strong local reputation and a steady record of repeat and referred customers.

Services:

• Custom Candle Making
• Scent Development
• Wholesale Services