Autumn has finally fallen upon Northwest Indiana (NWI), which means crisp air, bright leaves, and early evenings. It’s the season of sweaters, flannels, coffee, cider, blankets, bonfires, and all things cozy. Perhaps one of the best ways to complement chilly days and dark nights is by lighting a candle to bring warmth and make your home feel extra cozy and inviting.
As you stock up on candles this season, be sure to check out local options in addition to your store-bought favorites. To help you in your search, here is a list of six NWI-based candle companies and where to find them.
Candlemen Candle Company - Hobart, IN
After suffering an injury during his career as an automotive technician, Keith Kaminski decided it was time for a career shift and found the change he was looking for in a hobby: candlemaking. Kaminski had initially gotten into candlemaking as a way to create homemade gifts for loved ones, but following his work injury, he decided to share his craft with the community at large and founded Candlemen Candle Company. Kaminski and his dog Goose – the company’s vice president – have proudly built a company based on quality, eco-friendly candles and packaging so customers can shop locally and care for the environment simultaneously.
As the name suggests, Candlemen Candle Company produces a large selection of masculine scents available as candles and even beard oils. With novelty candles such as “Dirt” and “Dad’s Garage,” Kaminski’s candles make for fun gifts that are sure to be conversation starters. While Candlemen Candle Company is notorious for its manly candles, it sells candles with a variety of scent profiles and releases seasonal specials each year.
To find your ideal manly candle, you can order from the Candlemen Candle Company website and follow its Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up with the company’s involvement in local markets such as Chesterton’s European Market.
Amber & Wood Co. - Valparaiso, IN
As an avid candle lover, Amber & Wood Co. Owner Michaela Payne decided to try her hand at candlemaking and bought a starter kit in 2016. This ultimately led to the creation of her candle company in 2017, which she initially called Evergreen Candles before settling on the name Amber & Wood Co. From the start, Payne knew she wanted her candles to be a healthier alternative to store-bought candles so people could still enjoy the cozy refreshment of candles and the boost they can give your mental health without exposing themselves to toxic chemicals.
Payne takes pride in creating unique scent blends that you can’t find anywhere else and is always trying new combinations to deliver refined blends of subtle scent notes with each candle. A self-proclaimed nerd, Payne offers a variety of both general and fandom-specific bookish candles along with her signature and seasonal candles.
Amber & Wood Co. candles are available in NWI and beyond. Locally, you can find them at Ella Jayms in Valparaiso, IN, and Bloom Boutique Salon in Crown Point, IN. To order online or discover where else you can find Amber & Wood Co. candles across the country, visit amberandwoodco.com and follow the Instagram page.
Sand Piper Creative - Crown Point, IN
With a name befitting of the company’s proximity to The Dunes, Sand Piper Creative has brought homemade goods ranging from candles to graphic-print flannels to Crown Point and surrounding areas since 2021. Incorporating humor and personal interests into the company’s products – as evidenced by the “Rage Cleaning” candle and Pokémon-themed candles – Sand Piper Creative makes products that not only smell good but bring a smile to your face.
Featuring crackling wooden wicks, clean-burning coconut apricot wax, and complex, invigorating fragrance profiles that fill the room, Sand Piper Creative curates well-rounded candles that will keep you feeling cozy all year.
Sand Piper Creative candles, flannels, scented car freshies, and more can be found at Alley Kat’s Curiosity Shoppe in Valparaiso, IN, and The Wildflower Boutique in Highland, IN. Follow The Sand Piper Creative’s Facebook and Instagram pages to keep an eye out for new candle releases and upcoming market appearances.
204 Candle Co. - Michigan City, IN
Whether you prefer traditional glass jar candles or its notorious dough bowl candles, 204 Candle Co. has a variety of scents, containers, and sizes to choose for your next candle. Consisting of a blend of soy wax, fragrance oils, and essential oils, these candles provide many hours of burn time and scents that will fill the room.
With frequent involvement in local markets, 204 Candle Co. has been known to curate locally inspired candles such as the “Garwood Apple Orchard” and “Garwood Apple Cider Donut” candles created for the Apple Fest Arts and Craft Show at Garwood Orchard. 204 Candle Co. has also worked directly with customers to make custom commissions that serve as unique wedding mementos, thoughtful housewarming gifts, and more.
To try your very first 204 Candle Co. candle or reorder a favorite, visit 204candleco.com. Follow the 204 Candle Co. Facebook and Instagram pages for funny posts, market announcements, and the latest scent drops.
Creme de la Crop - Valparaiso, IN
Featuring a 70-acre farm, fresh produce, and goat walking, Creme de la Crop in Valparaiso, Indiana is not your typical candle company. While running a farm takes plenty of work on its own, Creme de la Crop owner Leann Sego takes the time to craft candles, skincare items, and various bath products on top of all her regular farming duties.
Her hand-poured soy candles sport richly colored wax that matches the overall mood of each candle, taking into account each candle’s various fragrance notes. Sego lists the main fragrance notes on each candle label so customers can know what to expect even before doing a sniff test.
You can purchase your Creme de la Crop candle on-site at 208 N 250 W, Valparaiso, IN 46385, and schedule a goat walking session in advance for a fun-filled day on the farm. Creme de la Crop candles are also available to order online on the company website: cremedelacrop.com. Check out the Creme de la Crop Facebook page for more information about all things candles, fresh produce, and goat walking.
Happy Frog Soap Company - La Porte, IN
Offering ample fragrance products like soy candles, handmade bar soap, whipped sugar scrubs, car diffusers, and more, Happy Frog Soap Company is packed with good scents to be enjoyed in many forms. Priced at $16 per 10 oz. candle, Happy Frog Soap Company allows you to shop locally and affordably when on the hunt for your next favorite candle.
As the name might suggest, Happy Frog Soap Company creates fun fragrances inspired by everything from food to Harry Potter. A few such candles include “Fruity Pebbles,” “Dr. Pepper,” “Butterbeer,” “Luna,” “Forbidden Forest,” and “Luke’s Diner.” Happy Frog Soap Company doesn’t limit the fun to its fragrances; it also offers sculpted candles depicting different shapes and scenes such as “Succulent Garden,” which features multicolored succulents, and “Melty The Snowman,” which features a melting snowman.
Happy Frog Soap Company has a storefront located at 508 State St, La Porte, IN 46350, and an official website where you can purchase candles and other fragrance products. The Willow Shop in Chesterton, IN, and Alley Kat's Curiosity Shoppe in Valparaiso, IN are also proud vendors of Happy Frog Soap Company products. Keep up with all of Happy Frog Soap Company’s hop-penings on its Facebook page.