
You love candles—we all do. Whether it’s the scent or the relaxing glow of the lit flame, candles bring a sense of peace to any space. And now, you can fall in love with the process of creating candles too at Paddywax Candle Bar, a new shop at Reston Town Center.
This post originally appeared in our January 2020 issue. Want more home content sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our weekly newsletters.

Opened in late fall, Paddywax invites guests to hand-pour their own custom-made candles during one-hour sessions. Customers choose a repurposable vessel for the wax (designs include traditional, colored glass to modern ceramics and concrete pots), as well as a fragrance for the candle, and then place the wicks, mix the fragrance and pour the wax. In total, there are over 40 fragrances and 65 vessels to choose from, resulting in more than 2,000 available combinations to make at the pouring sessions.

In addition to the DIY workshops, Paddywax also offers curated gifts to shop, ranging from pre-made candles and greeting cards to textiles, personal care items, hair accessories and more.
And, there’s a reason the word “bar” is included in the brand’s moniker. Paddywax’s Reston location also features a beer and wine bar in-store, with drinks available for purchase during the workshops. Pour (the candles and the drinks), sip, sniff, repeat. // 1816 Library St., Reston; $40 per workshop