In the studio of the Japan Candle Association built inside Kameyama Candle House Aoyama in Minami-Aoyama, Minato Ward, Tokyo, you can experience original aroma candle making in a 2-hour lesson. You don't need to have to gather any equipment. Aroma candle making is getting more popular as an easy hobby to start. Here we will introduce to you a great lesson for beginners with videos and photos.

Kameyama Candle House Aoyama, where the Japan Candle Association studio is built next door, is a 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station Exit A4. The building has an impact that is on par with the grandiose buildings surrounding it. The reason is... don't you think this cylindrical building resembles something?

Yes, the building itself is shaped like a candle!

Going inside, on the left hand is the Kameyama Candle House Shop, and on the right is the studio of the Japan Candle Association, where the lessons are held.

This candle lesson is a full-scale lesson for many people, from beginners to artists, and even people who are aiming to be a teacher. In today's lesson, we create an original candle in 2 hours, getting lectures from the teacher (1 lesson from 4200 yen, reservations necessary).

The fascinating thing about aroma candles is the relaxation effect it has from the aroma and the "1/f fluctuation" of the fire. Also, not only does it have its original role as a light source, but it also is a great interior item, using colorful decorations and gel wax in glass candles. Also, you can even make "message candles" in this lesson, where a message appears after lighting the candle. It is a popular gift for people you love.

Today, out of the many aroma candles you can create, I chose to make a soy aroma candle, where you can also experience the "fireside".

Soy aroma candles are made using "medicine bottles", which blend in perfectly as a decorative item. On top of dried flowers and herbs trapped in gel wax, two layers of fragrance-infused soy wax are applied. You can rent all the equipment and materials, so you don't have to bring anything. Also, the candle uses a wooden core, which creates crackling sounds. This makes the atmosphere as if you're next to a fireplace.

First, we choose which flowers to use. There are many choices to choose from, but the teacher gave us some advice. "Think of the whole candle and decide on the main color, and then combine 3~4 colors." This is important to make the candle look beautiful.

After choosing your favorite flowers, we get into the creative work. First, you warm the gel wax and put the flowers inside the medicine bottle. After adjusting the placements of the flowers using tweezers, pour the warm gel wax into the bottle slowly.

Then, while the wax cools down and hardens, we make the fragrant soy wax. There are more than 30 fragrances, both natural and artificial.

Add the fragrance into the yellow, liquified soy wax and mix. Then, slowly pour the 60 degrees soy wax onto the gel wax, and fix the wooden core as we wait for it to solidify again. And it's done!

While we wait for completion, we took a look at the Kameyama Candle House Shop. There are many popular candles by Kameyama inside the shop.

There are floating candles that float on water, candles you place in lanterns, wine candles and sweets candles that look just like food, and other unique items.

With the soy wax solidified, the completed candle looks like this. Looks more artistic and good than I expected!

After going home excited, I lit the candle in a quiet room… The fire sways, the wooden core crackles. If you look at it in a dark room, it seems as if you're looking at a small fireplace. Feeling some luxury out of the noisy streets, my first candle-making was a pleasure indeed.

Candle-making can be enjoyed by adults, whether it's friends or couples. You can make your own in only 2 hours, so why not give it a try when you visit Omotesando or Minami-Aoyama?

For more details on the courses and fees, please check out the website of "JCA Candle Studio Tokyo Main Campus" by the Japan Candle Association

https://candle-studio.jp