Bayberry, Pine, Cypress

In 2020, my dear friend and film maker Terence Nance asked me to make some black, square, ceramic jars for candles. At the time, it seemed like such a bizarre request, but eventually I brought it up to my friend Sarah. She is the craftswoman behind LivebyLSR and an amazing ceramicist. She thought it was a great idea and conceived these vessels. They include unique markings and imperfections that give them charm. I also poured them in several small batches. They are definitely handmade all around with love.

Bayberry, Pine, Cypress

What does it smell like?

Like a warm, relaxing and stylish home for the holidays. But also, like a herb based woody scent with both deep and light notes of bayberry and fresh pine.

The surface design includes an imprint of a cowry shell on the clay and then it is glazed over.

It is available in both MATTE BLACK and HIGH GLOSS BLACK

I’m in love with them both!

They are available HERE in the shop!

*limited edition

Instagram Guide

On Instagram, we created a GUIDE to all 14 of the Pontie Wax scents. Check it out!

You can also find it HERE if you aren’t on Instagram!

MINI MEDITATION

I always say that Jasmine isn’t for everyone…but it could be!

I get it, it’s very strong, and florally pungent, and honestly may remind you of an elder’s old perfume. But there is a specialness about it that I think is so lovely. This jasmine candle, in my opinion, is very sexy! And very sophisticated! When I first set out to create this candle in 2016, I thought about how I wanted it to last in a room and how I wanted it to ‘feel’. It took a while in the testing phase, but eventually I decided that it needed “softness”. The current scent design therefore includes a little Orange Blossom. A small surprise when the flame hits the wick!

As for the Lemongrass candle, it’s pretty damn good— lemon seedy with that ginger based scent we love. The scent doesn’t fall away as it’s burning. It’s very consistent and truly ideal for meditation.

The two candles make a great pair. I love the idea of having a different option to light every evening, alongside your meditative practice. Also, it was important to me that I can offer two small candles for under $20. They make great gifts for family and friends, and they are perfect as “thank you” sentiments.

You can always purchase them HERE.

Thanks always for your support!

Shante’

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Have You Checked Out The Double Wick Candles?!

In June 2020, I launched these 3 new double wick candles. I had been working on the scent combinations for an entire year. They also feature a new branding, a spin on Pontie Wax’s visual aesthetic. As a candle maker and artist, I am always trying to push myself in the way of excitement. And I was excited to launch something different— unexpected scents with an unexpected triangle label!

The Scents:
Rosewater, Oak, Santal is a fun and flavorful blend of rosewater, an extract of sandalwood, and base notes of oak wood. Notes of black current and anise are amid the combination. With its hint of sweet fruit and warm spices, this candle is versatile, and smooth.

Ginger Root, Bay Leaf, White Tea is a beautiful blend of botanical herbs with a smooth ginger core of essence from the aromatic bay flowering plant. It includes a strong middle note of white tea leaf and natural ginger root aromas which add warmth to this light and fresh scent.

Sandalwood, Rum, Mahogany is a skillful blend of fragrances that create a deep earthy candle. Inspired by the finest Bajan rums, this candle is strong with the tropical hardwood of mahogany. It includes top notes of tonka & vanilla bean, middle notes of rum and mahogany, and a bottom note of sandalwood.

I continue to have so much fun making them. The scents are incredible and fill my candle studio from wall to wall! Purchase them while I still have the energy to make them!

— Shante’

House Beautiful Feature!

Check out THIS ARTICLE on House Beautiful featuring Pontie Wax!

Did you know you could shop Pontie Wax on Etsy?

If you have an etsy account and it’s easier for you, feel free to shop Etsy!

Plus, sometimes I release limited edition candles only on Etsy. Don’t miss out!

pontiewax.etsy.com

Black Friday Weekend...Let's be conscious of our spending...Give Thanks!

I thought about whether I should run a sale this weekend because my emails were already so crowded with sale announcements. But I was encouraged to do so for those that love and want to support small black businesses.

But honestly, don’t feel pressured to buy this weekend. Think about what you want. Don’t let impulses drive your decision making. Treat yourself if you have the means. Prioritize yourself, your commitments and your financial freedom.

Pontie Wax Candles will be here.
I give thanks for you all.

Wash Day Candles

In 2018, my good friend of 13 years, Jamila Rowser, wrote her first comic book called Wash Day.  So many people bought it and many research libraries and institutions have already acquired it for their permanent collections. It was named one of the best comics of 2018 by The Comic Journal. In short, it is amazing!

We therefore collaborated to create limited-edition hand-poured, soy wax candles inspired by the characters of this wonderful comic!  And we did so via a special “Make 100” campaign on Kickstarter. We are happy to announce that it was fully funded + some!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It is hard work doing a Kickstarter campaign but these candles are going to be bomb! For those who backed the campaign, please check your emails for a survey with details on how to claim your rewards.

SAGE + LAVENDER + SEA SALT

“Kim’s Detangler” features the refreshing fragrances of Sage Leaf, Sea Salt and the relaxing aromatherapy-darling, Lavender. This candle fills the room with a rejuvenating floral-like fragrance that will help ease tension and create a calming atmosphere.

LEMONGRASS + VERBENA

“Cookie’s Root Stimulator” is made with the invigorating Lemongrass and Verbena fragrances. This blend releases an energizing citrus aroma that will gently uplift the senses and help brighten your mood.

Rich Earth & All Of Its Goodness!

In the summer of 2016, I visited a plantation in Barbados where Sea Island cotton is harvested.  It was truly an incredible experience as I reflected on those that came before us.  Those that toiled against their will to provide the world with the commodity of cotton.  Those that were enslaved and forced to work that very same plantation.  I was humbled.  

The luxury that is Sea Island cotton, was new information to me.  I had known that it was arguably the finest cotton in the world, but I did not know that it was still in such high demand amongst luxury brands.  I decided to use this cotton to make my wicks because of its durability.  Traditional, manufactured wicks are not remotely as firm.  And they burn quicker.  I therefore knew that a candle made with this special wick would make a wonderful household item.

I quite literally hand braid the woven cotton myself.  This is why making this candle takes me so long.  I bought the cotton in Barbados in a loose woven spool, and transported it back to Brooklyn.  Braiding the cotton and preparing it to be a wick requires two days of prep before the wax can be poured into the vessel.  It is truly a labor of love.  But this is also why this candle is limited edition!

Rich Earth is a luxury concoction of woods and spices that create a tantalizingly warm aroma.  With top notes of Amber and Mahogany and bottom notes of Coriander and Sandalwood, this is a fragrance for all candle lovers.  

The silky extra long fibers of the Sea Island cotton are perfect to enhance the scent of the candle in any room!

Photo by @seedandconjure

Due to the long fibers of the wicks, please be sure to clip them before every relight. We know Pontie Wax customers love to burn our candles for hours at a time, however, this candle should not be burned for more than 2 hours at any given time. The reason is to prevent the wick from beginning to slump over into the pool of wax. This may force the flame to out on its own, or disallow you from having a nice, clean and continuous burn. 

Channeling Your Inner Wild!

Wild Orange is my dads favorite candle.  He loves the sweet citrusy scents.  He prefers to light this in his kitchen, than any of my other candles.  But I will not complain because the man’s got good taste!  I also love Wild Orange.  I created this candle when I first launched in 2015 and it is still one of my favorites.  It is a classically rich fragrance, that burns really well in rooms.  Last year I tweaked the formula a little bit by adding in a splash of clove and sweet orange essential oil.  And now it is even more of a wild and infectious scent!

My dear friend Tasha over at SeedandConjure photographed this candle all the way over in Dubai.  She is an amazing writer, cook, seamstress, all around creative and photographer.  It’s hard to smell a candle through a computer screen.  But she made it possible.  Her photo styling is incredible--- it makes me want to eat the candle!

@seedandconjure

Our Wild Orange candle can be purchased as a duo in our Medley Pack named ENERGY!  It is paired with Lemon Ginger, another amazingly scented candle.

The combination---

Top notes:  Fresh Mandarin

Mid notes:  Clove, Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Bottom notes:  Wildness!

Channel your inner wild!

Fig + Olive | Candle of the Month!

For three months straight, Fig + Olive has been the top seller in our Etsy shop!  HURRAY!

This candle was created for the tender nose--- our friends that don't like the sweet, or floral or the "masculine".  This candle is a delicate mix of Fig plus the sweet essence from the Olive Leaf.  It is a surprisingly fresh scent and the aroma lingers in rooms for a long time after the candle has been blown out. 

In July of 2017, this candle was featured in VellaBox's subscription box where it hit the homes of thousands of candle lovers!

Thank you all for your purchases.  And continue to enjoy this amazing candle!

Photo by @vellabox

Photography by VellaBox