Everything you’d want to know before burning a candle named after a dying ecosystem.
Because the climate is a strange and specific thing to ignore while lighting a candle named after it.
The brand started on a drive up Route 395 in California. Somewhere near Tuolumne, we smelled wildfire smoke drifting off the ridge. A passenger said "mmm, smells like Burning California Pine." We laughed. Then we didn't.
Our candles smell like the places that are changing. Every candle sends a dollar to climate work. Read the longer version here if you want the full story.
A little. We think the people who want a candle called "Freshly Logged Rainforest" already know what's happening. We're not here to shock anyone. We're here to name it, in a format small enough to fit on a shelf.
Each candle directs $1 to a climate organization aligned with its series:
We only donate to organizations with a program expense ratio of 75% or higher — so at least 75¢ of every dollar actually reaches the work, not overhead. Once the first drop ships, we publish a public donation tracker at the URL on every label. Every dollar accounted for, by name.
Each 11 oz candle burns 60–75 hours — if you treat it right. That means trimming the wick to 1/4" before every burn and letting the first burn melt all the way to the edge of the glass.
If you don't do that first-burn trick, the wax "tunnels" — burns a shaft straight down the middle and leaves the edges untouched. That halves your burn time. Read the How to Burn This Candle answer below before you light it.
A coconut-soy blend. It's vegan, paraffin-free, clean-burning, and holds scent better than pure soy. Made in the United States. No petroleum wax. No animal products.
A blend of essential oils and high-quality fragrance oils, all phthalate-free. Most "clean" candles on the market use fragrance oils too — pure essential oils rarely throw enough scent in a large vessel to fill a room. Ours meet the strictest California Prop 65 standards.
Coconut-soy wax is non-toxic and our fragrances are phthalate-free — no known pet toxicity in any of our scent notes.
That said: candles are open flames. Keep them out of reach of curious paws, tails, and whiskers. Never leave a lit candle unattended around pets. The bigger danger is the flame, not the scent.
The short version:
Do all that and you'll get your full 60–75 hours.
The lid is sustainably sourced and fully compostable. Replace it after each burn to keep dust out and preserve the scent between sessions. When you're done with the candle, the lid composts, the glass recycles, and the label is made of recycled stock.
Yes, and we encourage it. Once the wax is fully spent, freeze the jar for 30 minutes, pop out the last bit of wax with a butter knife, and wash with warm soapy water. Good for plant pots, catch-alls, small cocktails if you're into that. Don't use it as a coffee mug.
Because we don't pre-pour 10,000 candles and hope for the best.
Your order tells our maker how many to pour. That means no overproduction, no landfill, and no clearance racks. Production runs 2–5 weeks, then shipping. We'd rather take longer and make the right amount.
September orders can take up to a week longer because candle-makers are swamped with holiday production. You'll get a specific ship date in your order confirmation.
Yes — anytime before your order ships, for a full refund. Just email hello@2candleco.com with your order number. We'll process within 5–7 business days.
Every scent in Drop 1 has a minimum production threshold. In the unlikely case a scent doesn't reach it, we'll fully refund those pre-orders and let you know by email. You don't have to do anything.
$8 flat rate, domestic US. Glass candles are heavy — we can't make this free without raising the candle price itself, which feels worse. We're not shipping internationally yet.
Not at launch. Shipping glass candles internationally is expensive and fragile. We'll add Canada and the UK once we have the production volume to do it right. Email hello@2candleco.com to get on that list.
Unused candles in original condition can be returned within 30 days. Return shipping is on you unless the candle arrived damaged. If it arrived damaged, don't send it back — send us a photo and we'll replace it or refund you, your choice.
Full policy on the Refund Policy page.
24-hour early access to every new drop, a 15% off code on your first order, and founding member status — which is mostly symbolic but still nice. Drops are small (100 units per scent) and our waitlist goes first. No spam, no nonsense, no daily emails. Just the drops.
Each candle is named after a real ecosystem that’s measurably changing. Names are part signal, part statement — "Bleached Coral Reef" isn't abstract; it's what's happening to a specific reef right now. Read the full stories here.
We're online-only for now. Pop-ups and retail partnerships are on the roadmap — follow us on Instagram for announcements.
Email hello@2candleco.com — we reply within one business day, usually same day.
Drop 1 pre-orders are open. 100 units per scent. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Pre-Order Drop 1