The Candle Lab

I honestly can’t believe how easy and convenient this is. You can bring in your own container (even if it wasn’t purchased there) and pour your own candle for half the price of a decent candle anywhere else.

My friend had the OUTSTANDING idea to have a candle-​making party to celebrate her birthday. This place is so much fun! They have all the candle scents displayed for you to smell and you make a list of the scents you like. Once you’re done, the candle lab staff helps you pair scents that go well together. Then you mix the oils together in a shot glass type thing and mix your oils with the wax.
It takes about an hour and a half for the candles to cool; The staff were so gracious and accommodating that they even wrapped our candles up in charming little gift bags and walk them down to us at a nearby restaurant where we were having brunch. Truly outstanding customer service move right there! The staff’s special consideration means a lot to me :)

I received two different candles from The Candle Lab as house warming gifts, which prompted me to take my future mother in law there for early mother’s day gift shopping. Really, this place is a great option for gifts! They have so many scents that I’m sure one could find a smell that they enjoyed, i.e. something for everyone! There is also the option to build your own candle by combining the different scents that they offer, which could make for a unique event with friends. Their prices are great for a soy candle, and especially one that has a true scent. It smells exactly the same when its burning as it does when you first smelled it.
They also have options to add your own scents to wax melts, and even a goats milk soap! I’m happy to support this local company, and really glad that I finally had the chance to check it out in person.

Oh my god, a leather-​scented candle? YES PLEASE. This place has the most amazing, on-​point scents I’ve ever smelled out of a candle. They last a decent amount as well! Because they are soy-​based, you can use a touch on your hands as a moisturizer if you feel so inclined.
So far, I’ve used the Leather (best), Dad’s Den (also good), and Rosemary (very fresh) scents. I like the Leather and Dad’s Den ones for chill nights listening to records or reading. Can’t recommend this place enough especially for gifts.

The storefront of candle lab is quite unassuming, but the Candle Lab itself boasts of innovation and local pride. Not only are the candle scents original– hops being one of my favorites, as well as cabin and bonsai– but lasting as well. Hint: they’re also more affordable than Yankee candle ;)
Not even realizing this was an option at first, the associate coaxed me into designing my own candle scent. I did all the easy work – selecting the scents, mixing the scents, designing the label, picking out the perfect mason jar– and the associate helped me choose complementary scents. I was trying to replicate what Restoration Hardware smells like when you first walk in and I don’t think I was too far off. My boyfriend designed a candle that smells like man cave. Not in the BO, stuffy sense, but in expensive-​cologne-​Armani suit-​cunning-​seduction sense. He hit the nail on the effing head.
This is a great addition to a birthday party, a bachelorette party, a Saturday afternoon, or a Columbus inspired exploration. Allegedly, some partnerships with local businesses are underway to design candles aligned with the business’ mission. Maybe Candle Lab will
Be the Jenis of the candle world?

I absolutely love The Candle Lab! It’s a fantastic concept and they pull it off spectacularly.
I’ve been to this location twice and both times were so much fun. The first was a family girls’ day out, with ladies ranging from young 20s to early 80s — This really is an activity for everyone to enjoy.
I think we all spent about 30 – 40 minutes just smelling all the different scents and giggling with each other over the not so normal ones, like Dirt and Cannabis. After MUCH deliberation, we all found some interesting combinations and were ready to mix. The super friendly worker (s) will prep your jars, wicks, wax and scented oils while you make fun labels (so you don’t forget what you’ve made). When it’s ready, you can control the scented oils and pour as much of each scent in as you’d like to even further customize your candle.
The Candle Lab offers jars to pour in (which I did the first time), but once I found out you could bring your own jars to fill I could not pass that up. I ended up filling some cool glassware finds from garage sales and flea markets. I couldn’t have been happier with the result! Not only do the jars reflect my preferences but the scent is 100% personalized as well!
You have to wait for about an hour for your candles to set but luckily they are right on Grandview Ave so there are plenty of places to stop by for lunch, window shop or enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee.
Couldn’t recommend this place more!
Also, in case you’re wondering — Basil + Sea Salt + Olive Flower & Wasabi + Ginger are both awesome combinations!

Stopped in one evening last week to buy a gift for someone. I was promptly greeted and asked if I needed help. I was looking for an apple scent so she suggested Apple Orchard or Mulled Apple Cider. I went with the Apple Orchard.
She made a point of letting me know if I brought the container back in for recycling it would give me $ 1 off my next purchase. (It was $ 16.) She trimmed the wick and packed it in a gift bag.
I will definitely return.

I went here with a couple of out-​of-​town guests, and it was a great experience. I wasn’t expecting much, I’ll admit. But the experience of making your own candles is really a lot of fun, any age you might be. You start by smelling all the candles they have out and writing down the scents that you really like. This is harder than it sounds, because there are so many scents, and they all smell fantastic! Many different types of scents too, from coffee to bacon to awapuhi to clean laundry. After you’re done writing down your scents you either choose two or three to combine, or they will help you choose a couple that go well together. The staff was very friendly and very patient as we were all pretty indecisive about what we wanted our candles to smell like :)
After that, you combine the essential oils yourself so you can decide how much of each scent will go in the candle. Then you simply blend and come back in an hour!
$ 15 for a candle of this quality is not that expensive, and if you plan on using a lot of candles or gifting a lot, I would go ahead and get the $ 10 lifetime membership to get that $ 4 discount (more than pays for itself with 3 candles, plus you get to bring any container you want to in the store and make your own candle for $ 1.30/oz).
Friendly staff, great product, pretty comparative pricing. ⁵⁄₅

I don’t buy candles that often, but for some reason my boyfriend likes a lavendar candle buring while he plays computer games. Isn’t that sweet? So, I had this great lavendar candle I got as a gift, but when I googled it, it was way too expensive for me to actually buy. So, I remembered I had a card for a free candle lab candle for a Unilocal event with Ms. Christina C. (THANKS!)
I dropped by the Grandview locale as it’s closest to my work. I walked in and was immediately helped. I asked the girl if I could use my free card for a premade candle. She said «Sure!» and continued to help me like I was a paying customer. That is priceless! So often, you have a coupon, and get treated like dirt. So she helped me pick a lavendar (they have 2 types) and I turned in my card and left.
The candle smells great and is really powerful. I could smell it all the way downstairs from the ustairs office. It’s really pleasant and clean burning. In my book. That is worth $ 15 for some local quality.
I also saw some kids and moms doing pour your own candles. What a great gift idea to have your kids do for grandma or grandpa!
Candle Lab is cool in my book. When this candle runs out, I’ll be buying a replacement here!

Such a wonderful store! Helpful staff, wonderful scents. And they burn clean and long – 60 hours each, I think – so they are actually cheaper than a Yankee Candle that burns for the same amount of time. Plus, they burn cleaner, which helps keep the walls clean of soot. The scents are incredible. They have special seasonal scents as well as year-​round ones, so there’s usually something new to piqué your interest. Sign up for their emails in-​store, and get notices of specials! It’s great to support a local business that does such a great job with customer service and product.

The fragrances are great, and there’s plenty of variety, but OUCH on the price.
$ 15 per candle, (granted sometimes with buy 3 get 1 free), is steep. They apparently have their best pricing after the holidays, so maybe stock up then and save them for later?
They do last a long time, and the fragrances are quality. The candles are soy based, and soy wax is cheaper and I guess more eco-​friendly than beeswax. Guess there is a lot of overhead though having a storefront in grandview and the short north.

We had to buy multiple gifts for co-​workers, so we decided to call ahead to see how much the mini candle/​multi-​packs would be and if it would be economical to buy our holiday gifts at The Candle Lab. They were buy three get one free, so that worked out to be eight mini candles for $ 32. A hand made, great smelling, locally produced gift at a great price — Makes it easy to support local business.

I’m usually not into smelly things (even good smelling smelly things) but the scents offered in this store are incredible!
All of the flowers are delightful, as are the more herbal scents. I also really liked the rain and dirt scents. they were bizarrely accurate. I don’t even know what dirt smells like, but this candle smelled like whatever that is. The «dad’s den» tobacco-​y scent was also quite interesting.
I think it would be really fun to do a party here, for little girls or full-​grown women. The mix-​and-​match might seem risky, but the clerk in the store was super helpful in narrowing down my long list of favorite scents.
forget yankee candle. seriously.

Just wanted to update and sadly report the candle I made had no throw at all. Not even after burning an hour. Looks like I will be sticking with my tried and true Slatkin candles.

Shopping local has never smelled so good!
As a fan of the nicer smelling things in life, I visit The Candle Lab Grandview location for all my candle needs. This is a local company that I really admire for their involvement in the community and their excellent customer service. Their products are top-​of-​the-​line too. The scents are fresh and so incredibly realistic but never overpowering.
I purchased the Chai Tea and Lilac candles for Christmas gifts this year. I also admit to hoarding way too many of the Sea Breeze scents in my bedroom (that sounded way more creepier than intended). My only gripe about the Grandview shop is that they only offer the larger sizes to purchase singularly. The smaller sizes come in a pack. I don’t know if they offer a better size variety at their other stores but it would be nice to by the smaller sized candles as well.
I beg the Candle Gods to hear my one prayer for a «Movie Theater Popcorn» scented candle. Now that would just send my nose over the edge of ecstasy

I don’t know why no one has thought of this before? A place to mix and match different scented oils to create your very own personalized candle?! It’s a genius idea! And with 120 scents for you to experiment with, The Candle Lab will have your head spinning!
The Candle Lab is perfect for gifts. Guys can really impress their moms or wives or girlfriends by walking in and throwing together a couple of scents. It adds the perfect personal touch. And girls can do the same for guys… everyone likes things to smell good! You can go the flowery route (lavender, sunflower, magnolia, etc.), sugary-​desserty route (graham cracker, marshmallow, whipped cream, etc.), fruity route (yuzu, fig, grapefruit, etc.), spicy route (rosemary, basil, clove, etc.) or the bizarre route (cannibis, campfire, tomato leaf).
After picking your candle shape/​size, you pick up to three oils for a candle, and divvy up each one at the «lab» for however intense you want each scent to be. Then, you stir it together and the clerk will take it from there. It will be heated, which takes about an hour to an hour and a half. You can also bring in empty glass bowls/​dishes/​vases/​jars to use and they will charge you by the ounce (great added feature).
While waiting, you make the label for the candle as well. They have a collection of crayons, markers and art supplies to get creative with. If you’re candle isn’t done by then, you can leave and explore Grandview a bit before coming back.
I got two candles (rosemary, orange zest and yuzu; pine needle, clove and wild currant) and I plan to make some more for Christmas gifts.
While there is a $ 10 lifetime membership fee, the $ 10 fee does have a few perks! If you want to just come in and buy a candle (not make a candle), they are normally $ 15. As a member, they are $ 11. There seems to be a couple of perks along these lines.
The only two thing that I would suggest for the Candle Lab is for there to be color candles. The candles are all white. You’d think you’d be able to add dye to choose what color you want the wax?
Other than that, GREAT staff, GREAT concept, GREAT scents, and GREAT fun!
PS: 20% off if you have a SBB Card!

Being a candle freak with no where else to turn, I hit-​up the Candle Lab for my monthly fix. Candles are akin to comfort food for me… cravings come during the cooler months (I suppose it has to do with seasonal depression) or whenever I need a pick-​me-​up, which seems to be quite often.
The Candle Lab is a locally owned business who does well for themselves through word-​of-​mouth advertising which just happens to be how I became obsessed with them. After a friend invited me to visit the Worthington location one cold, winter day, I’ve made it a ritual to frequent the Grandview location (closer to home & hip to my tastes — Staufs is Right Down The Street) as often as possible, burning through my candles at lightning speed.
The candles stand out high above the rest because the scents are more realistic than any other candles I’ve come across (I usually hoard Swan Creek Candles from T-​Town when I go back home during the holidays) & they actually seem to burn longer, cleaner & create a lingering air-​freshner-​like scent in each room I burn them in (even days after they’ve been burnt-​out).
Whether you want to purchase a one-​of-​a-​kind gift or you just need a girls (or guys) day out, The Candle Lab will delight your senses with over 120 scents to choose from or create your own candle, mixing as many scents as your little heart desires.
Happy contemporary candle-​making!

Candle lovers rejoice! Yet another candle store exists and it’s a Columbus local.
The Candle Lab has been in Columbus for about two years, first opening a shop in Olde Worthington and then in Grandview and even one in Gahanna. When I visited the one in Grandview I was immediately greeted by Katesha Freeman, the owner. Miss Freeman owns the store along with her fiancée and she warmly invited me to smell all the candles if I wished. It was a real temptation. I would have been there all evening and so chose the ones that I hadn’t heard of before, or just couldn’t resist smelling. The first one was Dad’s Den, which had a woody smell with a hint of cologne and maybe tobacco (it did have a pipe in the picture). I was really impressed with the Campfire because it smelled pretty close to a campfire. Other candles, like Yankee, have a Campfire but it smelled like something awful. And if you are one of those people who loves going into a leather shop partly for the smell (like me), there is a candle called Leather and it smells just like a leather shop! Like any good candle store, they have coffee beans in a jar placed about the store to clear your senses and being Columbus locals, they are courtesy of Stauf’s. The candles are also made of soy and as the signs say, they «Burn clean and true to scent».
You can pour your own candle or pick one already made off the shelf. Membership is available in the Pour Your Own Candle program — and it’s a lifetime membership. The first candle will cost you the average price, $ 15 for an 8oz candle, and after that it’s $ 11. They can instruct you individually or you can have a party at the store or brought to your home.
On the back wall on the right side is Candle Lab’s line of bath and body products. I tried one of their lotions, which are made with goat’s milk and honey to give it a crème consistency and infused with other scents. Overall, the scent was subtle and pleasant.
The store itself has a chic contemporary look with dark wood and leather seating. Lighting is somewhat low and with the cool, mute colored walls and jazz music playing in the background, gives it a relaxing feel. Colorful abstract artwork adds a little livelihood, keeping it from being sleepy. Personally, I really liked the place. And the owner having been friendly, attentive and so enthusiastic about her work really made for a good experience.

If only they were edible! The flavors (not scents) as they are called are unique and exactly what they are labeled as. All are hand poured with soy wax which makes for a clean burn.
Once you smell one, you’ll smell two, three, then all of them! It’s amazing the memories that come back with the Dad’s Den, Campfire and Cake Batter-​not edible, darn it! The have seasonal flavors too. Like right now, in the fall, they have Autumn Leaves (burning right next to me), Pumpkin Pie, Mulberry, Mulled Cider, Snickerdoodle and Spiced Cranberry.
If you hurry, you could catch the sale: buy 3 get the 4^th free. They aren’t cheap thought. $ 15.00/candle, unless you get a mystery candle. Those are the leftovers from the candle pouring parties. They’re sort of a mix of the random waxes used. I’ve purchased a few, not bad! I think they were $ 9 or $ 10 each.
By Appointment Only on Sunday and Monday

Heather A. has great tastes in shops, and The Candle Lab is no exception!
I had the distinct scented pleasure of visiting The Candle Lab during Grandview Hop and was blown away by how many scents they had to offer. 120! What Jeni’s does for Ice Cream, The Candle Lab does for Candles. Let me show you:
Pineapple
Cotton Candy
Dad’s Den
Baby Powder
Basil
Malabar Peppercorn
Champagne
New Car
I thought about buying the Campfire for my boyfriend since it smells just like him when he comes back from camping. They have a Cannabis scented candle that smells incredibly earthy and nothing like Weed, not like I would know. The Toasted Marshmallow smells good enough to eat.
Not only does The Candle Lab have candles, but they also sell some bath goods as well, including a delicious Triple Berry Bath Bomb. Watch it fizz!
They host parties where you get to create your own scents and pour your own candles. I think this would be a pretty fun place for a Unilocal Event!