How candle-making lit up our weekend
My 9-year-old daughter Juno gets creative kits up the wazoo, thanks to my online shopping-obsessed mom who has always been her biggest cheerleader in all things artsy. One particularly memorable kit was for candle-making, which caught the interest of not just Juno but also her 14-year-old kuya, Jack.
They burned through the supplies (figuratively, thank goodness), but their experiments? Absolutely tragic. I’m all for stoking their creativity, but I was really hoping our house wouldn’t go up in actual flames. I can be all sorts of crafty, but candle-making is not in my repertoire. So when I saw Mia Lauchengco’s post about her final soy candle-making class, I took it as a cosmic nudge.
Lauchengco is the passionate force behind So True Naturals, a local brand known for its handmade soaps and commitment to clean, natural ingredients.
In her post, Lauchengco wrote: “After a year of reflection, I am gently closing this beloved chapter with deep gratitude and a full heart. What began in 2011 as a simple wish to make gentle, handmade soap for others grew into a decade of scent, care, and connection.
“One Last Pour is our farewell series of open-call workshops—a final chance to pour, scent, and create together. These gatherings are for anyone who wants to step away for a while and reconnect with the joy of making. Perfect for the curious, the returning, the creatively restless—or those who just want to unwind and enjoy something different.”
The sessions were held at Kopita, a cozy coffee shop in Alabang Hills that served snacks and drinks included with the workshop fee. Having coffee beans on hand to sniff between choosing fragrances was the icing on the cake.
Other workshops on offer included Castile soap-making and scent mixology. I secretly hoped the kids would choose different classes so we’d at least walk away with a couple of new skills between them. But nope, they both insisted on candle-making. I suspected they just wanted an excuse to burn stuff and play scientist.
Jack and Juno ended up being the only students that afternoon, and Lauchengco graciously allowed me to sit in and observe.
Legit lesson
To my surprise, the first part of the session was a legit lesson complete with formulas, figures, and a pretty workbook. If I worried they’d lose interest, I needn’t have. They stayed locked in, scribbling down percentages, temperatures, and ratios like budding chemists. Who knew candle-making involved so much math?
They calculated how much wax and fragrance each container could hold, and learned concepts like “scent throw,” how strongly a candle smells when lit (hot throw) versus unlit (cold throw), and “fragrance load,” or how much scent the wax can handle without turning into a puddle of regret.
It was also our first time encountering wood wicks. The kids distinguished between hard and soft waxes, learned how to melt them safely, which containers are safe, and why we should steer clear of phthalates. They even touched on the difference between fragrance oils and essential oils, and why temperature control is a big deal.
Lauchengco covered wick sizing, burn time, and safety tips (the whole shebang!) before letting the kids make three candles each—and even threw in one for me to make, too! She was generous with her knowledge and sprinkled in the kind of insider tips that only come from years of hands-on experience.
By the end, it felt less like a class and more like a mini retreat. No distractions, just the quiet rhythm of melting, mixing, and pouring. A rare and much-needed digital detox.
So yes, the kids came home with handmade candles and actual skills. Even better? They had a rare moment of synergy as they excitedly talked about launching a candle business together. “Ooh, we can make pumpkin spice-themed candles for Halloween!” one said.
And me? I came away with a reminder: Some messes are worth making, especially if they lead to moments like this.
While So True Naturals’ product line is coming to a close, Lauchengco says the art of gathering remains close to her heart. She continues to offer private and corporate workshops. Message her at hello@sotruenaturals.com.
