We get asked a lot about how our candles are made. It's one of our favourite questions, honestly, because we're really proud of the process. So here's a proper look at what goes into every Harvey & Co. Sydney® candle before it reaches your home.
We use soy wax, and only soy wax
Every candle we make is poured with natural soy wax. It's plant-based, it burns cleaner than paraffin, and it gives our candles that soft, creamy finish you'll notice when you first open the box. It also burns more slowly, which means you get more hours of fragrance from every candle.
Our fragrance oils are Australian-made
This one matters a lot to us. Every fragrance oil we use is made right here in Australia. We work with local fragrance houses, not overseas suppliers, and we think you can tell the difference. The scents feel grounded in something real, whether that's the smell of a bush walk after rain, warm baked bread on a Sunday morning, or the bright tartness of Kakadu Plum.
Before any fragrance makes it into a candle, we test it thoroughly. Scent throw, burn performance, how it changes over time. If it doesn't meet the mark, it doesn't make the cut.
Every candle is poured by hand
We melt the wax to the right temperature, blend in the fragrance oil, and pour each candle individually. Temperature matters here. Too hot and the fragrance is affected. Too cool and the wax won't set properly. It's one of those things that sounds simple but takes practice to get consistently right.
After pouring, each candle goes through a curing period. This is the step a lot of people don't know about. Soy candles need time for the fragrance to fully bind with the wax. We don't skip this. A well-cured candle smells noticeably better than one that's been rushed.
The wick makes more difference than you'd think
A candle with the wrong wick will tunnel, throw poor scent, or burn with a flame that's too big or too small. We use cotton wicks with no zinc or lead cores, and we test different wick sizes for every new fragrance and vessel combination. It's a small detail that makes a big difference to your experience.
Made in Sydney, one candle at a time
Every Harvey & Co. Sydney® candle is poured, wicked, labelled and checked by hand. It's slower than factory production, but it's the only way we know how to make something we're genuinely happy to put our name on.
When you light one of our candles, you're not just getting a nice scent for your home. You're supporting a small Australian maker who cares about every single one.
(We currently made everything in Sydney or on the Central Coast)
Find your scent
If you'd like to explore the range, we'd love to help you find something you'll really love. Whether you're after something warm and comforting, fresh and light, or distinctly Australian, there's something in our collection for you.