P.F. Candle Co. / A Review
I don’t know when it started, but since before I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with scents and candles. I remember taking a lilac candle from my family’s living room into my own room when I was pretty young just to have it in there (not sure if it was even lit). One year, I requested we have Thanksgiving by candlelight much to my sister’s dismay. Don’t get me started on the shrine I had in middle school, complete with candles and incense I’d light before my middle school basketball games.
Something about lighting candles really calms me down. It’s not even as much the smell as the act of lighting a candle and being in its presence. I don’t light candles for a quick five minutes— if I’m lighting a candle, I’m around for the long haul. I’ve likely cleaned my apartment and am introducing a fresh, yummy smell to fill the clean air. I’m also likely in a comfortable chair or my bed, always relaxing. Lighting a candle is a little treat or a reward after a long day.
I love a home or apartment with a signature scent and always seek out new candles. Purchasing candles I like is now a nervous tick. Not every candle sparks joy for me, but when I smell one I bond with, I have to take it home. This happened unexpectedly after going to Flourish, a very cute candle, plant and jewelry store on North Loop in Austin, Texas.
I was initially drawn to the packaging of P.F. Candle Co’s Sunset candle collection. While the brand’s most popular candles are set in glass jars. the muted natural colors of the new collection’s tin cans are beautiful. I smelled all 3 scents Flourish had in stock (Swell, Golden Hour, Moonrise) but after doing a bit of research, think I would really love Dusk. I ended up purchasing Swell, a combination of Tuberose, Sea Moss and Black Currant.
The Brand
P.F. Candle Co. is an LA-based company owned and operated by Kristen Pumphrey and Thomas Neuberger. Kristen lived in Austin for a bit before moving to LA in 2012. P.F. produces candles, incense, diffusers, room sprays, perfumes as well as other home goods.
Overall, the brand feels carefully thought out. I appreciate the simplicity behind each scent and the feel of the newest line in particular— based off of California in the 1970s. I think they also do a great job of pulling back the curtain on their production process and team, whether it’s their assembly line or how their packaging lacks bubble wrap or other non-recyclable materials (bubble wrap is recyclable, but must be taken where plastic bags are recycled instead of your standard recycling bin).
On Impact
As of a few years ago, when I started living in my own spaces, I have paid much closer attention to the candles I purchase and their ingredients. Soy candles are always preferable to anything paraffin, and P.F.’s candles are made with soy wax and cotton wicks, all ingredients of which are grown in the US. For context, soy is a renewable resource, burns longer and also burns cleaner than wax made from petro. However, given what I’ve studied about Big Agriculture, I’m not totally sold that soy is the way to go. However, it’s the lesser of two evils when it comes to candles. The fragrance oils are made of both natural and man-made materials; while synthetic fragrances are used (which the brand claims are more sustainable to produce), the Terra line is made of 100% plant-derived ingredients. All candles are vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and not tested on animals.
I personally love the jars and containers, and foresee reusing and repurposing these more than other candle vessels I’ve come across.
P.F. Candle Co. donates a portion of their yearly earnings to charities and causes they support (Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Downtown Women’s Shelter to name a few).
Final Thoughts
I love this new option for a soy candle that I can purchase in Austin. I really hope to try Dusk on my next go around. While there isn’t a super strong scent upon burning, I do notice a subtle smell in the room after burning Swell. I wanted to highlight Flourish as an adorable local shop promoting independent makers and I love that P.F. has a place there as well. What’s your favorite soy candle, and how important are candle ingredients to your decision to purchase? Please share, fellow candle hoarders!