Circular Objects

My business started as a project exploring my curiosities with circularity and circular futures. As people, we have already created many material objects beyond what we need, the result being perfectly good objects that have been discarded and eventually end up in landfills, where it takes many years for them to decompose (if they do!). Creating beeswax-blend candles out of found vessels, my hope is to reduce waste by reintroducing these objects and welcoming them back into circulation. I chose a beeswax and coconut wax blend for my candles because they are natural materials that burn clean!

Circular Objects is a Canadian small business operating in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-waututh. We create small batch beeswax and beeswax-blend candles in found vessels, sourcing beeswax from local Vancouver beekeepers and coconut wax from Mexico. There are no added fragrance, chemicals, paraffins, or other additives used in our candles, and customers can expect a clean burning experience in their homes. Since most of the vessels we source were originally intended for dining or kitchen use, once candles are finished burning, the vessels can be cleaned and reused again.

Beeswax and coconut wax are natural materials; not only are they both clean burning waxes, beeswax actually helps to clean the air! By releasing negative ions that bind to and remove indoor air pollutants like dust, pollen and smoke, beeswax improves the quality of air indoors. It’s a great choice for those with scent sensitivities, respiratory allergies, and pets. Our candles utilize coconut wax in our blend to ensure the candles burn evenly. Coconut wax has a great scent throw, which elevates the natural aroma of beeswax, and as a renewable resource, it burns slower and cleaner than soy and paraffin. We’ve chosen coconut wax over all other waxes because it is a renewable resource, burns slower and cleaner than soy and paraffin, and is generally less processed than soy (coconut wax farming is more environmentally friendly, as coconut trees require fewer resources and less pesticide use in comparison to the pesticide-reliant farming often associated with soy). The olfactory experience of using beeswax is intentional; the natural aroma of beeswax compliments the smells from the kitchen and on the dining table. It is a pure, simple smell that highlights what is already there instead of masking it, calling us to be in tune with the present.

Circular Objects often uses found porcelain vessels made in China or Japan. The eclectic nature of our product line is reflected in the diversity of art and design found on these vessels. Not only do these vessels have a high heat tolerance, making them safe for candle use, our intention in keeping these vessels out of landfills is to ensure their longevity and continued use in the future. As a racialized business owner and in talking about circular futures, I am curious about the intersections of making, memory and material in candle-making. I’m exploring candle-making as a practice, not just for upcycling these vessels, but for reflecting our actions and values in working toward more equitable, sustainable futures.