I needed something to do on the Memorial Day holiday and decided to make it a day of solo creativity. Wick and Pour has been on my radar since I noticed them on Instagram. I had wanted to visit in the past but the commute to their Queens location was too much for me. I was so glad to see they have moved into Manhattan. Lower Manhattan, close to Chinatown, to be exact. I simply purchased my ticket online about 4 days ahead and showed up for class. This was a solo venture. Tickets include the instruction of 1 large candle. Upon arriving, I was greeted by 1 host who assigned my seating. The space is small and a bit tight, but beautifully decorated. Includes great photo-ops like flower wall and lighted signs. We waited a bit for late comers but they do have a late policy. After a specific time, they no longer let anyone into that class. Seems fair in my opinion as the class moves at a good pace, so if you arrive too late, it would be hard to catch up.
Upon beginning the class, our host (my apologies as I don't remember her name) gave us a rundown of what the experience would entail. Each table was nicely set up with all of the materials to make our candles including measuring devices, a wick, and hazard sticker. Step-by-step the host guided us toward creating the perfect candle. We had an opportunity to pick our vessels which include glass and I think ceramic style containers. We also chose out scents from a pretty display of bottled oils on the wall. You can mix and match them to create the perfect scent. Honestly, I did not like the majority of the scents. I prefer floral and aromatherapeutic scents. There weren't many and the few available were overpowering or underwhelming. Something like "fresh linen" was far from that. I ended up mixing two scents for a decent blend. After choosing the scent, we chose colors which I opted for red which actually shows up as pink; intensity of the color depends on how much you add to your candle. After the candles were poured, we had the option of adding flowers and some glitter for some extra pizazz. The whole process took about an hour. The host then took them away to allow them time to set. During that time, you could step out or stay around to wait for the candles. It was about 15-20 minutes wait, if I recall. Finally, the host did not let us leave without educating us on safety and care of our candles.
The host was kind, attentive, and engaging. I also appreciated her attention to time and order throughout the event. They do sell a number of premade candles and supplies for purchase. Not sure if there is any discount for class participants. I took my candle home and used it about 3 days later. The scent isn't powerful but its long lasting, burns clean, and it's visually pretty. As the candle burns, the glitter looks like a rolling wave and the flame shines brightly. I wish I could give 4.5 stars as I was disappointed with the scents. I chose to give 5 stars over 4 because overall, the experience was great and I did walk away with a good quality candle. I think it was a good value, I just wish the scent options were better. I would definitely return and I recommend to others. It's a great experience for date night, catching up with friends, or a simply a solo adventure. read more