When Gord Mitchell retired from the mill in 2007, he spent five years renovating a cabin on Savary Island. Then his wife Pam left work at Vancouver Island University in 2012 and wondered how she would spend her retirement years.
It was that Savary cabin that sparked an idea that would turn into a hobby they both enjoyed.
“Savary is off-grid,” Gord explained, “and we found we were burning a lot of candles so we started making our own.”
They made a variety of candles from tapers, tealight and two types of pillars, using both metal and plastic moulds.
Some candles are natural and some have a vanilla scent.
It’s fitting that they chose the name Savary Candles for their branding as they attach clam shells or sand dollars to the wrapped candles.
“We dig up the clams and eat them,” Pam laughed, “and then we have the shells.”
They also make lip balm with beeswax, jojoba oil and honey.
“It gives a sweet taste of honey to your lips,” said Gord.
While working at the mill, Gord was in charge of creating specification pages for different types of paper and he has incorporated that aspect of his previous job into candle making. He has a page of complete specifications for each candle and the lip balm, including ingredients and production processes.
“It’s a multistage process,” explained Pam. “You need to marry the wick types and wax to the various types of candles to ensure they burn properly; it’s a labour of love.”
Wax temperature is critical as slabs are melted in a double-boiler filled with water.
“Wax can’t touch the direct heat,” said Gord, who adds wax to the water where it sits on top to impede evaporation.
When their candle production expanded past their personal use at their island retreat, they went to craft fairs for a number of years and “it turned out people liked them,” said Gord.
During the time they have been making candles, they have had a few instances where there was a problem.
Pam remembers being at a craft fair and seeing there was a defect in a tealight candle. It was early in the day and she was able to recall who she had sold some to so they could be retrieved.
“Just like making paper, you don’t know about a defect until it is running on a press,” said Gord.
Last year the couple did not make any candles as they were travelling to different places in the world.
“Thank goodness, we did our travelling then,” said Pam.
With the restrictions around COVID-19, like many others the Mitchells have been home for months.
“So, we decided to get back to making candles,” said Pam, “and we are thoroughly enjoying it again.”
Whether that happens again next year when COVID restrictions could disappear and travel becomes an option again, “that remains to be seen.”
