The Hudson Valley is filled with talented craftspeople across a multitude of mediums. Our first blog of this series, Hudson Valley Craftspeople: Textiles spotlighted a few textile makers in the area. In this post, we are excited to highlight some of our favorite candle and soap makers. In addition to being able to support these small businesses directly through their website, they also sell their products in other small business shops which we will share as well. Candles and soaps make the perfect gifts and are often zero waste products. They make any space cozy and unique in scent. I love lighting a candle whenever I get home to relax and ground myself. Here are a few of our favorite small businesses:
Cave Glow Studio
During my recent trip to New Paltz, I visited Ritualist where they’re stocked with these fun twisted candles from Cave Glow (pictured in the featured image). Cave Glow is based in High Falls, NY and uses small batches of responsibly sourced beeswax and soy wax. Their studio’s mission is to “hold space for curiosity, experimentation, failure, and growth–and we hope to share with and encourage others who are out there exploring their personal journeys as well”. I personally love the look of twisted candles, they are a sculptural piece all on their own! You can find Cave Glow all over the US, but in upstate New York you can support The Parcel Flower Co in Cold Spring and Nonneta and Friends Creative in Eldred.
Hudson Valley Skin Care
Hudson Valley Skin Care has a large range of products from soaps and shaving creams, to face masks to add into your daily skincare routine. They “incorporate locally grown organic ingredients to bring you high quality skincare embodied by the Hudson Valley”. They’re stocked all over the Hudson Valley – click here for a link of where to purchase in person. Be sure to follow their Instagram, they have fun and satisfying videos of the bar soap making process!
Candlestock
Candlestock, based in Woodstock, specializes in beeswax candle making and encourages it’s supporters to create their own drip candles just like the massive mountain drip candle displayed in their storefront (it’s been collecting wax since 1969!). Drip candles are created using a wine bottle and fast burning colorful candles. They also sell candles of all different shapes and sizes- some shaped as plants, hands, and animals. Be sure to check out their store at 16 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock!
Heart & Arrow Handcrafted
Heart & Arrow Handcrafted, based in Accord and founded by Lindsey Rose Arnold, has a mission “to empower women & girls around the world. Whether economically, emotionally, educationally or environmentally, Heart & Arrow is committed to supporting women and female entrepreneurs around in both our local & global communities”. Heart & Arrow Handcrafted specializes in luxury soaps and candles. Click here to find the nearest stockist!
Phoenicia Soap
Phoenicia Soap creates plant based products sourced from the Catskills and came about from a desire for gentle soaps for families with extremely sensitive skin. You can find Phoenicia Soap at Woodstock Bring Your Own and Lexington’s Farmers Market.
Hill Valley Candles
Based in Kingston, this candle shop not only sells unique candles, but also offers candle making classes! With small classes of 6-8 people, it’s a perfect weekend activity for your friends and/or family. Run by a father and son duo, you’ll be able to see either of them making candles right in front of you!
Damn Good Honey Farm
Based in Kerhonkson, “Damn Good Honey Farm’s mission is to help new beekeeper’s on their journey into apiculture”. They sell a range of skincare products in addition to their honey and beeswax soap. We recently picked up some bars of their soap after a farmers market run.
We hope you enjoyed reading about some of our favorite candle and soap makers. Candles and soaps are just two simple things that can activate your senses in your everyday. There are so many talented people across the Hudson Valley and we hope you support them in purchasing their goods. We look forward to continuing this series – in the future we’ll be featuring ceramicists, glass artists, and florists!
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