Candle Making Workshops in Sydney: What to Expect

Written by Karen Platt, Co-Founder, CandleXchange

If you've searched "candle making workshop Sydney" and landed on a page that's more sales pitch than substance, this is the other kind of post — a straight walkthrough of what actually happens in a CandleXchange candle making workshop, from bump-in to collection, so you know exactly what you're booking.

We run workshops across Sydney — on-site at your own workplace or venue, or at our warehouse in Brookvale on the Northern Beaches — for teams, friend groups, families, and community organisations. Here's what to expect.

What Happens in the Workshop

It's a one-hour, hands-on group class using natural soy wax and reusable glass containers. Our facilitators — usually CandleXchange co-founders Hayley and Karen — open with a short talk on the history of candles and the circular economy model behind the business, before walking the group through pouring their own candle: choosing a fragrance from four options, preparing the wax, and pouring it themselves.

Each guest makes two candles in the session — one to take home, and a second that's donated to survivors of domestic violence and refugees setting up a new home. It's the detail that turns a craft activity into something people talk about afterwards.

The Timeline: What to Expect on the Day

For an on-site session, our team typically arrives to bump in and set up the wax warmer, fragrance stations, and drying tables about 30–45 minutes before the workshop starts. The workshop itself runs for one hour: a short talk on sustainability and candle history, a quick demonstration on how to make your candle, then time to pour your own candle and the one you're donating.

After the hour, candles need time to set. Our team stays on site to clean, trim the wicks, and bag each candle with the maker's name, ready for collection around four hours after the workshop — and we ask that new candles aren't burned for the first 48 hours. Candles can be collected on the day or, depending on the venue, arranged for delivery or distribution afterwards.

Where Workshops Are Held

You've got two options. We can come to you — on-site at your workplace, venue, or event space anywhere in Sydney, for groups of up to 50 people per session. Or you can come to us: our Brookvale warehouse on the Northern Beaches, which suits smaller groups of 8 to 30 guests and gives you a look at where the candles are actually made.

If you're searching for a candle making class on the Northern Beaches specifically, the Brookvale warehouse session is the one to ask about — it's our home base, and where most of our smaller group and community bookings happen.

Who Books a CandleXchange Workshop

It's not just a corporate offsite activity, though that's a big part of what we do — teams from organisations like Lendlease and Canva have run workshops as staff engagement days and client events. We've also hosted school groups, retirement villages, hens' parties, book clubs, family celebrations, and fundraisers for charities.

It suits any group that wants a hands-on, feel-good experience rather than a standard trivia night or morning tea — particularly if a social or environmental angle matters to the people in the room. Because sessions run for groups rather than individuals (a minimum of 8 people at our Brookvale warehouse), it works best as a group booking for a team, celebration, or gathering rather than a solo or two-person date night — though plenty of couples have booked in as part of a larger friend group.

Pricing and Group Size

Workshops are priced at $80 per head plus GST, for groups of 15 to 50 people for an on-site session, or a minimum of 8 people at our Brookvale warehouse. That covers materials, facilitation by CandleXchange team members, and the full circular story behind the candles you're making.

A Workshop With Real Impact Attached

The donated candle from every session goes toward our UpCandle program, which refills and redistributes candles to people rebuilding a home after crisis. It's the same circular model that runs through the rest of our business — nothing about the workshop is a one-off feel-good add-on, it's the same loop we run every day. You can read more about the impact behind it on our social impact page.

If you're planning a workshop for a workplace, client event, or community group, our candle making workshop page has everything you need to enquire, or you can get in touch directly through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a candle making workshop in Sydney cost?

CandleXchange workshops are $80 per head plus GST. On-site sessions at your workplace or venue need 15 to 50 people; sessions at our Brookvale warehouse on the Northern Beaches need a minimum of 8 people, up to 30 guests.

How long does the workshop take, and how long until I get my candle?

The hands-on workshop itself runs for one hour. Candles need time to set afterwards, so our team stays on site to clean, trim, and bag them — they're usually ready for collection around four hours after the session. We recommend not burning a new candle for the first 48 hours.

Is there a candle making class on the Northern Beaches?

Yes — our Brookvale warehouse on Sydney's Northern Beaches hosts smaller group sessions of 8 to 30 people. It's the same workshop we run on-site across Sydney, just at our home base.

Can I book a candle making workshop for a small group or as a couple's activity?

Our sessions are designed for groups rather than individuals or pairs — a minimum of 8 people at Brookvale, or 15 at an on-site venue. If you'd like a smaller, more personal experience, the best approach is to bring together a group of friends to reach the minimum, which is how many of our hens' parties, book club, and family bookings come together.

What happens to the second candle I make?

It's donated through our UpCandle program to survivors of domestic violence and refugees setting up a new home — part of the broader circular model that also lets you return your own candle containers for 30% off your next purchase.