What to Bring to a BYOB Candle Making Session
You booked a BYOB candle making session. You're excited. Then, three hours before you're supposed to leave, you realize you have no idea what to actually bring. A bottle of wine, obviously, but what else? Do you need tools? An apron? A notepad to write down your scent choices? And what kind of wine even pairs with pouring hot wax?
Here's what you need to know before you walk into Cork & Candles, so you can show up prepared and spend the full 90 minutes enjoying yourself.
The Wine (or Beer)
Start here: you're allowed to bring wine or beer. No spirits. That means no vodka sodas, no bourbon, no tequila shots. Wine and beer only. King of Prussia and Ardmore are BYOB-only. Center City sells wine on-site, but you're also welcome to bring your own bottle if you'd rather.
How much to bring: Most guests bring enough wine to split a bottle between two or three people, or a six-pack of beer for a small group. If you're coming with a group of four, a couple of bottles is plenty. The session is 90 minutes, which sounds like a long time but goes fast once you're blending scents and pouring.
Red, white, or rosé? Honestly, whatever you like. There's no "correct" pairing for candle making the way there is for food. Some people bring a crisp white because the atmosphere feels summery and light. Others bring a bold red because it's cozy and the whole experience has a Napa-style warmth to it. Rosé works. A dry cider works. Bring what you'd want to drink on a Friday evening with a friend.
Don't worry about the corkscrew. We've got you covered. Our Chandlers will open your bottle for you when you arrive, the way a waiter would. It's a small touch, but it sets the tone for the next 90 minutes: you came to relax, not wrestle with a wine key.
What Cork & Candles Provides
Everything you need to make two 8 oz. candles is already at your table when you arrive. That includes the vessels, the wax, the wicks, the Scent Library with 60 fragrances arranged by family, and your Chandler, the trained candle maker who walks you through the whole process.
You also get cups for your drinks. We're a scent bar, not a restaurant, so we're not pouring your wine for you or bringing it to the table in stemware. You pour your own drink into the cups we provide. It's casual. Think wine bar, not fine dining.
You get a physical scent-tracking card to write down which two fragrances you chose for each candle. Keep it. If you come back for a second session and want to recreate a blend you loved, you'll have the names written down. Scent is memory, and sometimes the best part of a candle is knowing you can make it again.
What You Should Bring
Wine or beer. Covered above. Bring what you like. Bring enough for your group. We'll handle opening it.
Your phone. You're going to want photos. The Scent Library is photogenic. The candles mid-pour are photogenic. Your finished candles sitting on the table with your wine glass in the background are photogenic. Bring your phone. Use it. Post it. Tag us.
A light jacket (maybe). The stores are climate-controlled, but if you run cold, bring a sweater. You're sitting still for 90 minutes, and some people get chilly. King of Prussia and Ardmore can feel cooler in winter. Center City holds temperature well year-round, but a cardigan never hurt anyone.
A small purse or bag for your scent card. You'll get a printed label affixed to each candle before you leave, but the scent card is loose. Tuck it in your purse or your coat pocket so you don't leave it on the table.
What You Don't Need to Bring
Snacks. We're not a restaurant. There's no kitchen. Some guests bring a small charcuterie box or a bag of pretzels to nibble while they work, and that's fine, but it's not expected and you won't be hungry. This is a 90-minute session, not a four-hour dinner. If you're starving before you arrive, eat something first.
An apron. You're not going to ruin your clothes. The wax is hot when it's poured, but your Chandler is managing the pour, and you're working at a clean table. Wear whatever you'd wear to a wine bar. Jeans and a nice top. A sundress. A button-down. You're sitting across from the person you came with, having a conversation, blending scents. It's not messy.
Tools, notebooks, or craft supplies. This isn't a workshop where you're expected to bring your own kit. Everything is provided. You're not taking notes on fragrance chemistry or learning advanced candle-making techniques. You're choosing two scents you like, pouring them into vessels, and walking out with two candles that cure for seven days before you burn them.
Your own candle vessels. You can't bring a jar from home and ask us to fill it. The vessels are part of the experience and they're included in the session fee. For the Signature Experience, that's a standard 8 oz. vessel. For Novelty experiences, it might be a margarita glass, a cereal bowl, or something seasonal. Either way, it's provided.
What Happens When You Arrive
You check in at the front. Your Chandler shows you to your table. You pour your wine or crack open your beer. Then you start smelling. The Scent Library has 60 fragrances grouped into five categories: Signature, Earthy, Fresh & Floral, Sweet & Fruity, and Exotic. You'll pick two scents for each of your two candles. Not three, not five. Exactly two per candle. That's the blend.
Your Chandler walks you through the pour. You're not doing it alone, and you're not guessing. They're at your table the entire time, the way a waiter is at your table in a restaurant. When the candles are poured, you write down your scent choices on the tracking card, your Chandler affixes the printed labels, and you're done. The candles go home with you that night in a bag. They cure for seven days before you light them.
Most people come back for a second session. The first time, you're figuring out what you like. The second time, you know. You try a scent you passed over the first time, or you recreate a blend you loved and give it to someone as a gift. Espresso Latte and Crisp Champagne. Lavender Thyme and Sea Salt and Cotton Lily. Rose Bubbly and Vanilla. Whatever calls to you.
Bring a bottle of wine and a good mood. That's the list. The rest is already here.
Book your session at King of Prussia, Center City Philadelphia, or Ardmore.