Why Handmade costs what it does

Why handmade costs what it does

I get asked this occasionally, and I'd rather just tell you honestly than have you wonder.

When I started Nani & Co., I wanted to make candles I'd actually be comfortable having around the people (and pets) I love, which meant being fairly particular about what went into them. That particularity costs more than the alternative.

The wax 
I use soy and pure coconut wax rather than cheaper paraffin blends because they burn cleaner and hold fragrance properly, right to the bottom of the jar. Coconut wax especially isn't cheap; it costs more than most alternatives – but it's genuinely the better wax for your long-burning candle.

The fragrance
Every fragrance I use is IFRA-certified, with no parabens and none of the nastier stuff some cheaper fragrance oils contain. That's a real cost difference, and it's not one I'm willing to cut.

The sourcing
My wax and supplies come from a small New Zealand supplier who employs people with Down syndrome – so before the wax even reaches my table, it has already come from work that matters. I could source it cheaper elsewhere. I choose not to.

The time 
Every candle here is still poured, and often hand-painted, by me. Sculptural pieces can take multiple pours and a full cure before they're ready. There's no factory line shortcut for that.

None of this is a complaint – I love making things this way, slowly and intentionally. But I also think you deserve to know what you're actually paying for, rather than just being told to trust me.