04 Mar My Visit to Proper Wax
Nothing sets the mood in my office like a great scent. Depending on my mood, the weather and the nature of work I need to tackle, I’ll usually burn incense or a candle, other times I love my aromatherapy essential oils (rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus and thieves are faves). So, needless to say I was excited when I was out on one of my recent expeditions and discovered Proper Wax. Located in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, and next to one of my favorite stationery stores (and sister company, Archer Paper Goods), it was hard to miss!
My initial visit to the store was the day after we’d experienced a three-day ice storm here in Dallas. So I, like others, were either anxious or excited to get out and get some sun and fresh air! Fortunately, I had a pre-storm happy hour date with a coworker already lined up at a local restaurant across the street. So, afterwards I of course couldn’t resist visiting my usual stationery stops in the area before heading back home. As a creature of habit, I of course went to Archer Paper first (post coming soon!) and then walked next door.
While the name made it fairly obvious what was in store, the indigo entryway (blue is my favorite color) and Beyonce’ (we’ll get to that later, LOL) drew me in. Once inside, the smells, displays and decor immediately reminded me of an inviting and comfy room that’d be perfect for curling up with your favorite blanket and never leaving. The warmth of the indigo paint, wood displays and beautiful plants was striking, not to mention the sheer collection of candles to choose from.
The first collection I smelled was Linnea’s two wick soy candles…and OMG! When I tell you I literally wanted to buy every one! Not a single candle disappointed, from the Botanik Collection to the Clean and Natural line. My favorite, and the one I finally purchased from this line after much angst, was Passiflora Pulp. Ooh la la! When I tell you I can’t wait to burn this beauty! The notes are passion fruit, pineapple and lily of the valley and it smells so clean and refreshing. It screams…calmly of course…take me away to paradise. LOL I have this one currently sitting in my office and without even burning it the room smells incredible. Linnea was founded in 2009 and is based in Indianapolis. Their candles are made using all-natural soy wax, 100% cotton wicks, and the highest quality fragrances.
Sea Salt was a really close second place and will be the next one I try. Its notes are fresh citrus, ocean mist and kelp. I have to say that Linnea was the line that made me want to spend all my money, and it doesn’t help that after discovering their website I learned they sell many of the same scents in lotions, oil, soaps and more. Excuse me while I go hide my debit card… 🙂
Up next was Brooklyn Candle Studio! I love a good minimalist design and this line fits the bill when it comes to their packaging, but definitely not the smell! My faves from this collection were the Catskills Escapist Candle and the Cassis Noir Candle. Catskills, as you may have already guessed is entitled after its mountain namesake, and definitely reminded me of a long and calming walk through the woods. Its notes include fir basalm, cypress, pine, eucalyptus, juniper, cedar and sandalwood.
Cassis is a limited edition soy candle, with hints of black currants, red berries and wild rose petals. If you like floral and sweet, you’ll likely enjoy this scent. And just a heads up that it’s no longer available on the website, so Proper Wax would be a great place to pick it up. it’s definitely on my “next” list! Also, a fun fact I learned while researching this post is that cassis is another name for blackcurrants. 🙂 Brooklyn Candle Studio is located in Brooklyn, New York and uses 100% soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks and premium fragrance oils infused with essential oils.
I love the design of the Boehme Wanderlust candle collection. Inspired by “the modern bohemian woman—adventurous, spirited, and always true to herself,” these candles and their boxes really stand out on the shelf and in a room. Their earthy tones and beautiful artwork are striking. Notting Hill and Joshua Tree were my picks from this collection. In store, I was informed Notting Hill is a best seller and I can see why. With notes of Earl Grey Tea, bergamot, black current, honeysuckle, rose, carnation, peony, vetiver, moss, amber and cedarwood it really hit all the right feels for me. Joshua Tree was my second choice. This one has notes of bergamot, agave, tuberose, cactus blossom, desert sands accord, amber, patchouli, and incense. As a nature lover, both of these candles resonated with my natural sensibilities and were soothing. I also really like the narratives they have on their site about each candle. I love a great (brand) story!
Kobo Candles was another line that I really, really enjoyed. So much so that I took a Cultured Sake’ home with me! A sweet blend of “saké and fresh lotus drawn together with a juicy peach note that intertwines gracefully with white tea” this one screamed sweet decadence to me! I couldn’t put it down once I smelled it. Next runner up in this line was their Vetiver and Shaved Vanilla Coterie Pure Soy Candle. It was another wonderful smelling candle with hints of “earthy patchouli, smooth sandalwood, golden amber and sweet musk.”
Their plant inspired scents were just as impressive and hard to resist. The accuracy and potency of each candle was off the smell charts. Each of them smelled exquisitely as they were described and I’ll definitely be picking one up soon, likely Fresh Grass. Kobo Candles is based in Chicago, IL and their candles are created using sustainably sourced 100% soy wax.
When it comes to packaging and design, Apothecary Guild, Voluspa, and Saint were the hands down winners. They gave the store a real luxury feel and made me struggle to imagine actually burning any of them in order to preserve their beauty. I look forward to exploring these lines more on my next visits.
Now back to Beyonce’…So as you’re perusing the store you’ll notice that all of the plants have names on their pots and inside the center of the store is a beautiful and huge Bird of Paradise. It has to be at least 12+ ft tall! And this plant is named? You guessed it…Beyonce’! LOL
Now as a plant lover myself I know that many plant people name their plants and even talk to them as part of their care regimen, so this didn’t take me by surprise. But what did was the fact that Juan, the associate working there on my second visit, let me know that he’d initially grown it in his home as a starter plant, and that it’d grown to that size in just two years! Now that’s a green thumb for you!
In conclusion, in case you can’t tell, I really liked this store and will definitely be back. The selection is really nice and the customer service even nicer. Special shout out to Jose for his great customer service and recommendations! If you’re ever in need of a premium candle for yourself or as a gift, I highly recommend Proper Wax. In addition to candles, they also have wick cutters, matches, lotions, diffusers, prints, and even some postcards.
For more inside looks of the store visit my Tik Tok and IG pages and subscribe while you’re there! Until the next time…take care!