About Vandal Candle Co.

I used to not like candles. Most of them smelled synthetic or overpowering to me. But I’ve always loved real, natural scents — birch and pine trees, quiet lakes, and burning logs in the fireplace in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

In 2019, I started Vandal Candle Co. to make candles that smell natural, fresh, and outdoorsy without being overwhelming. Every candle is hand-poured in small batches in Gostyn, Illinois, inspired by the Northwoods and built with a clean, rugged simplicity.

The Birth of Hockey Puck Candles

Growing up, I spent every winter playing pond hockey — some of my earliest memories are of skating on frozen lakes.

By combining my love of hockey with candle-making, I created Hockey Puck Candles: rugged, outdoorsy scents poured into hockey-puck-shaped tins that celebrate where it all began.

The Birth of Upcycled Bottle Candles

I play on a men’s league hockey team every Friday night. After games, we often finish off a good bottle of bourbon. Instead of tossing the empty bottles, I started upcycling them into candles — giving them a second life with the same rugged character as the game that brought them together.

The Birth of Black Soy Wax Candles

Along the way, I realized I was doing something a little different from most candlemakers: pouring black soy wax candles with a distinctly utilitarian look and feel.

I loved the simplicity, durability, and no-nonsense approach of the Black Soy Wax Candles line so much that I decided to make it the core focus of Vandal Candle Co. in early 2026.

For those who prefer simple candles and natural, outdoors-inspired scents.

Thank you for supporting my small business!

— Jon Wilson
Vandal Candle Co.