Frequently Asked Questions

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 walk around instead of doing an activity with us? Our vibrant neighborhood offers plenty of places to visit or grab a bite to eat. Explore your options here.

Yes! The reservation cost for all our daily classes includes creating your own custom candle in a 12 oz vessel. 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 get it — life happens. If you need to cancel, let us know at least 2 days before your class and we'll be happy to reschedule you within 30 days, based on availability. Cancellations within 2 days and no-shows aren't eligible for rescheduling.

Some classes have specific cancellation policies due to special supplies or vendor arrangements. You'll find those details on the individual class booking page.

This general policy applies to daily classes booked online. For private party reservations, see the Private Party Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy below.

Our Daily Classes booked directly through our website are open, shared experiences designed for smaller groups so everyone can comfortably enjoy the candle-making process. For that reason, the maximum group size for classes booked online is 7 guests.

If 8 or more guests attend one of these classes, even if reservations were made through multiple smaller bookings, the experience effectively becomes a private-style event. In those situations, an 18% private-party gratuity will be applied on the day of the experience to ensure our team is properly supported.

Private experiences are structured differently and can accommodate up to 28 guests, with dedicated staffing and space reserved just for your group.

If you’re planning for a group of 8 or more, we encourage you to reach out ahead of time. You can explore private booking options on our Group Bookings page or email us at hello@embersandapothecary.com and we’ll be happy to help you find the best fit.

Yes to drinks! 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.

Maybe for food. Food, including light snacks 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.

There is metered street parking along our block and on the surrounding streets. There is an open air paid parking lot at the end of our street (601 S Dearborn) as well as multiple covered garage options through SpotHero and ParkWhiz.

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