My Bukas - Homemade Soywax Candles
A small local candle business with scents inspired by various cultures throughout Southeast Asia, primarily the Philippines.
It is our goal to spread and help facilitate healthy positive-thinking, assist in prioritizing your health -no matter what form it may be, and to create a cozy and comfortable-smelling environment that just hugs your nose!
MORE than just Smelly!
There had to be a better way to jumpstart positive thinking, offer inspiration, and to motivate than just lighting a candle and filling your lungs with aromatics.
I've come to experience that we can only radiate to others what we are truly feeling ourselves so I thought, "Let's start with the self" -meaning, let's try to make time for a healthy perspective of ourselves, our own health, and overall state of being before fully investing in a problem we are not directly invovled with. Below, you'll find a description of everything from scents, to the wax and material used, to how exactly My Bukas intends to make a positive impact on your perspective!
The Scents: What usually never fails to bring us comfort and make us happy? Good memories and food. Each scent is derivative of scents I grew up around, learned about and experienced through my friends and various communities, and yes, of course food I've never hesitated to scarf down. Each essential oil used is considered safe for candle and skin use!
*Something to keep in mind: the scent from candles using essential oils are usually either subtle or just not as strong as leading known commercial brands, BUT they provide a healthy dose of aromatherapy and are overall better for you to be around!
The Candle: Each candle is made from all-natural soy wax beads by American Soy Organics. These wax beads have a lower moisture content and provide a consistent melt, making sure each fragrance is perfectly mixed into the wax. In using wax beads, we are reducing the amount of overall waste produced behind the scenes while also making the raw product easier to work with and transport.
Wooden Wick: Did you know that wooden wicks can increase your scent throw (how well/much your candle distributes the scent when lit) by at least 35% compared to cotton wicks? It's partly because the flame covers more surface area than the flame on a cotton wick! Also, they are a more sustainably attained material than cotton, which requires more labor and potentially more chemicals in production. Hey, you might even hear a sizzling crackle when you light the wooden wicks -how relaxing.
Why Soywax?: Soywax is made from….soybeans! This is an eco-friendly alternative to paraffin wax which is actually petroleum-based. Soywax has what is known as a “clean burn” which means that it won’t produce that black residue you may have seen when burning a paraffin candle. That grime can burn into the air and cling to nearby surfaces -yuck!
What comes with each purchase?
Every purchase comes with two things besides the candle(s):
1) A small message card with a handwritten positive note, reminder, or quote. Who doesn't love a little pick-me-up to remind us of how awesome we are? Who knows, it might be the light lift of a nice message combined with a relaxing scented candle that takes you through the rest of the day.
2) A My Bukas 1.5" round sticker: Not because the logo is cute and needs to be placed everywhere for everyone to see *wink wink* but the intended purpose of the sticker is actually for you to try putting it on one day of the week on your calendar where you will make time to prioritize yourself and do whatever you need or whatever YOU want! Use the sticker to save a day for yourself on your calendar, give your phone pop-socket a face-lift, decorate a folder, stick on your laptop, phone, or tablet, decorate your water bottle -the possibilities are endless.
The Beginning of "My Bukas"
Raymond Bondad,
Store Owner
We all need access to a source of healthy and positive reinforcement -whether it's coming from within ourselves, a familiar face offering a safety net, a passersby reaching out with courage, or an object/event/thought that reminds us what we stand for. We also require some time to ourselves, to really prioritize our own mental, emotional, physical, social, and any other type of health that relevant to us. It almost seems like the magic of all the little things gets lost in the mentality of staying busy and always having something to do or somewhere to be. This was something I saw while working my job as someone who mentors new hires. I saw a pattern develop in the individual employees over the time I spent with them, teaching them the job and its functions. When I came to think of it, it was something I noticed in other parts of my life too: friend groups, community events, my family, and even complete strangers. So then I thought, how can we manifest this spark of positive energy? The answer took the form of candles -to offer some light in the dark with scents inspired by culture and nostalgia. Secondly, a message card to offer some quiet and assurance that there's more to life than whatever negativity is currently clouding one's thoughts. Lastly, a sticker to help remind someone of their power of decision -to prioritize themselves and their needs. There's still tomorrow. Make it YOURS.
There are two ways to read My Bukas:
“My Bukas” = My tomorrow The driving vision behind this translation is that one should claim their tomorrow by prioritizing their health -in any form that may be. By putting time aside for yourself, you make room for balance. Even if it’s one day to get laundry done, clean the kitchen, repot some plants, organize and clean through your email, color-code your wardrobe, run around and get some grocery shopping done -you get it, right? Make time for yourself, make tomorrow for you.
“May Bukas” = There’s still tomorrow Just as a candle offers light in a dark room, this translation offers a reminder of the possibility of a better tomorrow. If today was not your day, try again tomorrow, or another day you can spare to make time for achieving your goals! While you’re waiting, you might as well light your space with a little light and some good smells right?
