This custom candle making workshop in Berkeley is one of the most relaxing creative team building activities in the Bay Area, hosted at a women-owned candle studio where you slow down and make something that smells like a memory. Your group explores fragrance, blends a custom scent and pours a hand-poured soy candle for each guest to take home.
The workshop runs about an hour and a half and is priced at $80 per guest for private groups of 8 to 24 guests. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Because hot wax and fragrance oils are used, every guest must be 18 or older.
What's Included
- A custom 8 oz hand-poured scented soy candle for every guest to take home
- All materials needed for candle making
- St
This custom candle making workshop in Berkeley is one of the most relaxing creative team building activities in the Bay Area, hosted at a women-owned candle studio where you slow down and make something that smells like a memory. Your group explores fragrance, blends a custom scent and pours a hand-poured soy candle for each guest to take home.
The workshop runs about an hour and a half and is priced at $80 per guest for private groups of 8 to 24 guests. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Because hot wax and fragrance oils are used, every guest must be 18 or older.
What's Included
- A custom 8 oz hand-poured scented soy candle for every guest to take home
- All materials needed for candle making
- Step-by-step guidance designed for beginners
- A curated sensory experience and discussion about fragrance before you blend
- Custom scent blending, so each candle carries a fragrance of your own design
- A private workshop for your group in the studio's private event space, which accommodates 8 to 24 guests
How the Workshop Runs
The session opens with a guided exploration of fragrance. Guests smell a range of scents and talk through what each one brings to mind. Past guests loved that the scents are presented unlabeled, so there is no preconceived idea of what you like or do not like, which makes it an eye-opening start. From there, each guest builds a custom scent blend, then pours their own soy candle with guidance at every step. Workshops typically run 75 to 90 minutes, and guests describe a comfortable pace with everything explained clearly.
Candles take about an hour to set. They can be picked up the same day when timing allows, and the studio will hold your candle for the week or ship it to you for a $10 flat fee if you cannot come back in time. Same-day pickup is not available for workshops that start after 4pm.
Why It Works for Groups
Scent is personal, which makes it a natural way to get people talking. Guests compare favorite notes, swap stories about the smells they grew up with and help each other land on a blend. With room for 8 to 24 guests, it is one of the easiest team building activities for small groups and mid-sized teams, and the quiet, focused pace suits colleagues who would rather create than compete.
The workshop is a strong pick for a team building activity, a Christmas party, a birthday or a bachelorette party. As holiday team building activities go, a candle each guest scented themselves doubles as a thoughtful gift. Among hands on team building activities, few end with something this useful to bring home.
About Your Host
Your host is a women-owned candle studio in Berkeley. It was founded at the intersection of a career in the wine industry, a lifelong passion for candle making and the cultural upbringing of an AAPI woman. The brand name comes from the Chinese word for home and family, and the whole collection is built around nostalgic home fragrances designed to tell a story with every burn, celebrating AAPI roots and a cultural narrative that is often missing from the fragrance world.
The studio hand-pours its candles in California using all-natural soy wax, eco-friendly materials and clean fragrances free from phthalates, carcinogens and toxins, down to lead- and zinc-free cotton wicks. The same care goes into every workshop. The business holds a 5.0-star rating across 13 reviews, and guests mention a calm, relaxing environment, quality materials and a host who is friendly, informed about candle making and good at making the session interactive.
Good to Know
- Guests must be 18 or older because hot wax and fragrance oils are used
- All skill levels are welcome; bring your creativity and enthusiasm to learn
- Candles need about an hour to set; holding for the week or shipping for a $10 flat fee is available
- Metered street parking is available near the studio
- Bookings are not cancellable, but you can reschedule for free up to 7 days before the workshop
Plan Your Workshop
Share your preferred date and group size to check availability. At $80 per guest with materials, guidance and a custom soy candle included, this is a unique team building outing that leaves every guest with a keepsake.
