Much more than a Candle-Making Workshop: Why I created Melbourne's first Candle Bar — a place to slow down, create and connect.

Why Melbourne Needed a Candle Bar

Melbourne has never struggled to find things to do.

We have laneway bars, neighbourhood bakeries, galleries, markets and some of the best hospitality experiences in the country. What makes Melbourne special isn't just what we buy — it's how we spend our time.

We gather. We linger. We celebrate small rituals.

That's what inspired me to create Wick-Zen's Candle Bar.

I wasn't interested in opening another candle-making workshop. I wanted to create something that felt distinctly Melbourne — and distinctly Brunswick — where creativity, hospitality and good company could exist in the same space.

An experience as much as a destination. One designed to be experiential as much as immersive.

Part making, part gathering, part afternoon out

A place where people put their phones away and make something with their hands. Where pouring a candle feels less like a class and more like meeting friends at your favourite neighbourhood bar.

Today, guests join us in Brunswick to pour a bespoke candle from a curated fragrance menu while enjoying exquisite cake and something delicious to drink — carving out some time for themselves. It's social. It's hands on. And it's designed to be fun.

Why Brunswick?

Brunswick felt like the natural home for a concept like this. It's a suburb that's home to gutsy makers, artists, florists, ceramicists, musicians and small business owners. Walk down Sydney Road and you'll see creativity and craftsmanship are woven into everyday life here.

The Candle Bar sits inside Olive & Eve's studio space in the historic tram depot precinct, looking out onto Sydney Road where trams roll past and Brunswick goes about its day. The space itself is filled with eclectic vintage finds and repurposed pieces — the kind of treasures Brunswick does so well. Nothing feels overly polished or manufactured. It's creative, character-filled and designed to feel welcoming from the moment you walk in. For me, Brunswick isn't simply where the experience takes place, it's part of Wick-Zen's brand story.

The difference

Most candle-making workshops use standard jars. I wanted to create something different.

Every vessel at the Candle Bar is inspired by the rituals of drinking and dining. Guests can pour into cocktail coupes, latte cups, stemware and other unexpected vessels that feel more at home in a bar or café than a workshop.

The vessel is a keeper, it continues to serve a purpose after the candle has burned.

The keeper philosophy

The candle industry has a waste problem. Many candle vessels are designed for a single purpose and discarded once the wax is gone. I wanted to challenge that idea.

Every vessel at the Candle Bar is selected with its second life in mind. A cocktail coupe becomes your favourite evening glass. A latte cup returns to your morning coffee ritual. A soda can glass becomes a juice glass or vase. Each piece is chosen because it's both beautiful and practical. I call it our "keeper philosophy".

Rather than creating something destined for landfill, I wanted to create objects people genuinely want to keep, reuse and enjoy long after the candle has burned.

More experiences. Less stuff.

One of the things I've noticed in recent years is that people are increasingly choosing experiences over possessions. A recent study found that 55% of Australians would rather spend money on experiences than material goods, and honestly, I get it. We don't always remember what we bought, but we remember who we were with, the conversations we had, the cake we shared or the place we discovered. Those are the moments that stay with us. That's the thinking behind Melbourne's first Candle Bar. The candle comes home with you but the experience of making, connecting and slowing down, that's a memory you'll return to.

References

Mediahub, The Paradox of Purchase Decisions (2025), survey of 1,000 Australians. Reported by Mediaweek. Key finding: 55% of Australians prioritise experiences over material possessions.