Candle Making Workshop in Istanbul: Şile, School or Office

Hello dear friends. 🕯️ Today I would like to tell you a little about what we do in our candle making workshops. At one workshop with our youngest participants, we first melted the wax and then set our intentions. The children put on their aprons and picked up their brushes. In a small basket in the middle of the table, the scents were waiting their turn. By the time the tins were painted, the table had turned red, green, every colour you can think of.

It was such a joyful day. Each child chose their own colours, and no two tins looked alike. I wish you could have seen their faces as they carried their candles home. We can do a workshop like this with you too: everyone makes their own candle with their own hands and takes it home. We can plan it at Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul, or at your school or office.

What do we do in the workshop?

• We start with a short breathing practice; it helps to slow down a little before the hands get busy.
• Once the wax has melted, it is time to choose the colour and the scent. This is where everyone lingers longest.
• The wax goes into the container and the wick is placed. Meanwhile the children paint their tins.
• While the candle sets, we talk about why we will light it: a wish, a thank you, an intention.
• Everyone goes home with their own candle.

Who is it for?

We adapt the workshop to each group. With little ones we do a more playful version with paints and small containers, and we plan the hot wax steps according to age. With older students and adults the workshop flows more calmly.

• Kindergarten and primary school classes
• Middle school, high school and university students
• Birthdays and groups of friends
• A creative break for company teams, a simple team building idea in Istanbul

How do we plan the materials?

We talk about materials together. Based on the size of the group, we decide what is needed in wax, wicks, containers and scents. Sometimes the school or company provides paints or brushes themselves. As a space, a table and a tidy work area are enough. At Şifa Köyü we spend the day in nature.

How to book a group

We mostly plan these workshops for groups. When you write to us, mention the number of people, the age group, the date you have in mind and where you would like the workshop; we will get back to you and plan it together. If it is a special day, such as a birthday or a team gathering, tell us that too. The length, the fee and the size of the candle you take home change with the size and age of the group, so we share these with you personally. The workshop can be held in English as well as in Turkish; just let us know the language of your group.

Looking for a ready-made candle instead? You can browse the handmade soy wax candles in the Şifa Köyü shop through the link below. The shop is in Turkish and delivers within Turkey. The meanings given to candles are a cultural tradition. I see a candle as a small light that reminds us of an intention.

With what intention would you light the candle you made with your own hands? I would love to hear it. May your home never lack light. ✨

Candle Making Workshop page →

Şifa Köyü shop: handmade candles (in Turkish) →

Write to us about a workshop →

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