Sue Collis began making candles as a passion project, then created Piha Candle Co.
Now her full-time pursuit is making small batches of candles, hand poured to order, from her home in Piha, her influences being natural history, the intrigue of the natural world, and all the discoverers and pioneers of the past.
Sue tells Verve how she sources ingredients like coconut wax that have no chemicals or synthetics to ensure environmentally conscious, quality products.
Piha Candle Co began as a part time passion, tell us how you learnt chandlery?
I started making candles using leftover wax from commercially bought candles that my environmental conscience could not bear throwing away, and trial and error with a couple of secondhand pots! I set up my chandlery in Piha during lockdown in 2021, so there was plenty of time to hone my skills by watching YouTube videos, reading up on how to fix my mistakes, and developing my brand.
How did you discover coconut wax?
Upon discovering that many candles are made from blends of paraffin, palm wax, petroleum, and all sorts of carcinogenic nasties, I went in search for the most eco-friendly, plant-based products I could find. After much research, I discovered coconut wax. Coconuts are a very sustainable crop due to high yields and crop renewal – it resonated with me due to previous volunteer work in Borneo, seeing first-hand the effects on orangutan caused by deforestation for palm oil.
In what ways does the environment of Piha inspire your fragrances and the aesthetic of your brand?
The labels for the botanical collection were inspired by botanical illustrations of sketched botanicals in old books with yellowing pages. I choose my favourite native plants then choose the fragrances to resemble them. The nature collection labels are photos of Piha and the surrounding Waitākeres, taken by me and made to look like aged black and white photos depicting landscapes standing the test of time. The black bevel jars used in this range depict the strength of the natural environment, the silver lids with the rippled pattern match the changing form of the iron sand of the west coast.
Tell us about your own daily candle rituals, do you have a favourite scent that you use every day, or do you vary it depending on your mood?
In the morning, I love to light a fresh fragrance to start the day like the green leafy notes of Waitākere or the citrus notes of Kōwhai. I burn a candle at my desk while I work. This depends on the weather and the seasons mostly, but my daytime go-to is Kitekite, a fresh and sweet fragrance with waterfall notes of seaspray and honeysuckle. As the sun goes down this is when the magic happens. I light candles throughout the home, all my favourite fragrances, meaning I enjoy a variety of scents as I move around the house! In winter by the fireplace, I love the spicy, earthy, ozone notes of Pōhutukawa and Piha, while Renga Renga is lovely and floral for the bedroom. Every day is a great day with a candle!
