Making a candle with us is a fun and seamless 90-minute to 2-hour experience designed to eliminate the hassle of awkward downtime or needing to return another day.

It begins with 40 to 60 minutes of hands-on candle-making, where you’ll create your scent, prep your vessel, and pour the wax. For a detailed look at the candle-making process, check it out here.

While your candle cools during the next 40 to 60 minutes, we keep the energy alive with engaging social activities like games, trivia, karaoke, or other fun options tailored to the season. You can explore the full range of activities on the class experiences page. Prefer to step out? Our vibrant neighborhood offers plenty of places to visit or grab a bite to eat.

Yes! The reservation cost for all our daily classes includes creating your own custom 11 oz candle. While we do offer options to upgrade to larger or more intricate vessels for $5 to $10 once you’re here, there are no hidden or additional costs for your reservation. Everything you need to make your candle is included.

Our candle-making classes are offered Wednesday through Sunday, typically between 12 pm and 9:30 pm, with hours adjusting seasonally.

We always recommend reserving in advance since space can fill quickly. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability from 12 pm to 8 pm, and may be able to join a scheduled class, start an on-demand session, or enjoy a shorter mini experience starting at $25.

Private group bookings for 8+ people are available daily and typically booked 2 weeks to 4 months in advance.

We look forward to welcoming you for a creative candle-pouring experience!

We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel, please notify us at least 48 hours before your scheduled class. Refunds are available for timely cancellations; however, the 3.5% credit card processing fee collected by the payment provider at checkout is non-refundable, as this fee isn’t returned to us when a payment is canceled.

If you’d prefer, you’re welcome to reschedule your class at no charge, based on availability. Unfortunately, no refunds can be issued for no-shows or cancellations within 48 hours of your reservation.

Basically, anything that involves 8 or more people! We love helping our guests arrange private candle making experiences with family, friends, coworkers or clients. From celebrating special life moments like birthdays, weddings, bachelorette parties, and anniversaries to non-traditional corporate events designed for wellness, networking, or team building, we're well-versed in helping design almost any type of event and want to assist you. Check out our group reservation pages to get started.

We don’t have a minimum number of guests. We offer two private booking formats depending on group size:

• Small Group Private Party (7 or fewer guests): A flat-rate private booking that includes up to 7 candles total. Your group can make all 7 during the class or make a few and choose the remaining ones from our pre-made candle collection.

• Large Group Reservation (8 or more guests): A per-person private booking where each guest creates their own custom candle.

Please see our group reservations section (here) for more details on booking.

We understand that plans can change, and we aim to be as flexible as possible. To ensure we can provide the best service and manage our resources effectively, we have established the following rescheduling and cancellation policies for private parties.

Rescheduling

• 14+ Days: No additional fees. Deposit and payments will be applied to the new date.

• Between 7 to 14 Days: A rescheduling fee of 25% of the deposit will apply.

• Between 4 to 6 Days: A rescheduling fee of 50% of the deposit will apply.

• 3 Days or Less: A rescheduling fee of 50% of the total reservation cost will apply.

Cancellation

• 21+ Days: Refunds for payment made, including the deposit, will be issued with deductions for any non-refundable costs we incur, such as the 3.5% credit card processing fee (if applicable) and custom requests.

• Between 7 to 20 Days: Refunds for payments made will be issued, excluding the non-refundable deposit and deductions for any non-refundable costs we incur, such as the 3.5% credit card processing fee (if applicable) and special orders like food or custom requests."

• 6 Days or Less: Payments are non-refundable.

More Details On Custom Orders & Credit Card Payments

• Custom Orders: For custom experiences or food orders, we partner with trusted vendors to create something special for your event. While we try our best, sometimes, these costs may not be refundable or transferable due to the vendor partner policies.

• Credit Card Payments: When it comes to payments, we aim to give you flexibility. Credit card payments include a 3.5% processing fee that is non-refundable, even in cases where refunds are issued. However, Zelle and wire transfer payment options are available directly in your invoice, offering an easy way to avoid this fee if changes to your plans are a concern.

Yes! Getting to us is convenient through various public transportation options. The Dearborn & Polk bus stop, servicing #22 and #62 bus routes, is directly across the street. Additionally, we are a 3-minute walk from the Red Line Harrison/Polk station, a 6-minute walk from the Green and Orange Lines via the Roosevelt station, and a 7-minute walk from the Blue Line LaSalle Street station

We are situated at 724 S Dearborn St in Printers Row, the north end of Chicago's South Loop Neighborhood. Metered parking is available directly in front of our shop and on the surrounding streets. Additionally, there is an open-air pay parking lot located at the end of the block (601 S. Dearborn), and several covered parking garages are conveniently accessible through SpotHero and ParkWhiz in the vicinity

Yes! We’re BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite non-alcoholic beverages, beer, or wine to enjoy during both our daily classes and private parties.

Please note that food is only allowed for private party bookings. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks or meals for private events, though a small cleaning fee applies. Alternatively, we offer convenient food packages, ranging from full meals to charcuterie, dessert trays, and light snacks.

For more details, visit our Private Reservations section or email us at Hello@embersandapothecary.com.

When burning your candle for the first time, allow enough time for a full wax pool to form on the top to prevent tunneling in future burns. Keep burn sessions under 4 hours to avoid carbon buildup on the wick. For safety, always burn your candle away from drafts. When extinguishing, use a candle snuffer to minimize smoke and wax splatter. To maintain the integrity of the container, it's advisable to leave a 1/4-inch layer of wax at the bottom. Store your candle in a cool, dark area for optimal preservation.

Curing is an important step to allow the fragrance oil to "spread out" into the wax evenly and provide the best scent throw possible. We recommend waiting 1 to 2 weeks before burning your candle to get the most out of your custom scent.

We take pride in using a top-tier wax blend often referred to as the "Cadillac of waxes." Our choice is a plant-based blend consisting of coconut and apricot waxes, meticulously crafted to achieve a bright white appearance. This blend is selected for its outstanding fragrance throw (both hot and cold), consistent burn and wax consumption, and exceptional container adhesion, ensuring a superior candle-making experience.

To provide a straightforward, easy-to-follow process that prioritizes the most optimal custom scent and limits toxins, we currently do not include dyes in our experience.

Yes-ish. Let us explain. We're concerned about the landfill impact from container candles, so we've created an exchange program, accepting back containers purchased in our studio for credit toward classes or for use in our retail space.

For containers not purchased in our space, we charge a $10 fee for measuring and calculating the details associated with creating a properly burning candle in a new vessel. For a little context, crafting the perfect candle involves pre-work—a clean vessel, determining wick size based on dimensions, vessel capacity by weight and fragrance/wax ratios. This process cannot be completed at the start of large classes, so we require 3 days lead time in advance of your reservation to complete this process.

Our selection includes a wide array of fragrance oils, and we prioritize offering phthalate-free and cruelty-free products. We are happy to share The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) fact sheet on any scent in our collection to give you peace of mind.

Our candles are crafted using a plant-based blend of coconut-apricot wax and we have a wide selection of phthalate-free fragrance oils to give you a cleaner and safer burn. Unlike traditional paraffin wax candles, which may release harmful toxins when burned, our plant-based candles provide a healthier alternative. We prioritize well-being and have worked hard to offer products free of harmful substances. For additional peace of mind, we're happy to share the wax manufacturer's product fact sheet and the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) fact sheet on any scent in our collection.

We’re genuinely honored that so many people think of Embers + Apothecary for their fundraising events. As a locally owned business rooted in Printer’s Row and the broader South Loop, we care deeply about supporting our community and the people who make this neighborhood what it is. Because we receive more donation requests than we can fulfill, we give priority to organizations here in our area and to groups our team members are personally connected to.

If you’d like to submit a request, please email hello@embersandapothecary.com and share a bit about your organization, as well as how you’re connected to our studio. We review every inquiry with care and truly appreciate the important work you’re doing.