There is something intrinsically comforting about an open flame on a chilly night. The warming ambience of a candle makes the home feel instantly cozier with a calming flicker and welcoming scent.
“It creates an atmosphere,” said In the Attic co-owner Sue McCallister, who began handcrafting soy wax candles for the business in 2016. “It makes a first impression.”
Sue launched the candle line when her daughter Heather took over day-to-day operations at the family reclaim and salvage business in Laurel. Sue and husband Dan opened the Franklinville Road storefront in 2009 selling repurposed materials along with vintage and custom furniture based on clients’ designs.
The coupled added its sister location Red Salvage Barn in Jamesport six years later. Dan and Heather oversee the reclaiming and furniture — the building aspects of the business — and Sue has turned her attention to the 100 percent cruelty-free vegan candle line made from soy wax.
Sue uses a phthalate-free formula that is scented with all natural fragrance oil to give the candles a richer scent that burns for up to 120 hours. She has about nine varieties on hand at the Laurel store or online at any given time. She typically jars 36 candles at a time — making roughly 100 a month. The scents change seasonally. There is a fall/winter line currently available that includes vanilla hazelnut and Frasier fir.
The small batch candles begin as solid all-natural soy wax that is melted and poured into pitchers, where the scent is added. The mixture is then poured once more into individual mason jars for an extra dose of rustic charm. Each of the jars is adorned with a special In the Attic touch ,such as a reclaimed jewel or a charm.
“It gives it an extra personal touch,” she said. “In this business we come across a lot of buttons and crystals, so right now we have a crystal chandelier collection because we had a chandelier with a lot of crystal come in. I broke it up and put them on the jars.”
The candles are available in 16-ounce jars at the Laurel store or on the shop’s website. Custom orders are also available.
North Fork Cozy is a series of articles we’ll be publishing about the ways we get cozy on the North Fork each winter. Check back each Wednesday into March to see what we’ll highlight next. Have a tip, email [email protected].
