Swazi Handmade African Candles

The Swazi Candle Workshop

The highly decorative Swazi Candles are hand-made in the Swazi Candle Workshop in The Kingdom of Swaziland. In 1981, the company was started in an old cowshed by two South African art graduates and a designer. It now employs over 200 local people, including the skilled craftspeople who make each decorative candle by hand. Taking inspiration from the mountainous landscape of the Malkerns valley, traditional textiles and the wildlife of Africa, the skilled artisans of Swazi Candles have developed a distinctly Swazi flavour and a unique style of candle.

Millefiore - from glass beads to candles

Millefiore is remarkable glassmaking technique that has inspired the unique veneer method used in Swazi Candles. Millefiore means 'a thousand flowers' and is a complex technique that originated in ancient Alexandria. It was perfected in the great glassmaking cities of Murano and Venice, where artisans produced intricate glass beads using the technique.

Instead of glass, the gifted candle makers of Swaziland use a special hard wax to create colourful millefiore-inspired candles. This hard wax veneer forms the outer shell of the candle. As the inside of the candle burns, this technique creates the rich, romantic glow of Swazi Candles. This beautiful glowing exterior can be enjoyed again and again by placing a tea light inside the empty hard wax shell.

Swazi Reusable Candles

Swazi Candles are unique because each large candle can be reused, thanks to a clever wax structure that lets you enjoy the colourful patterns again and again. Each candle has a soft wax interior covered by a hard wax veneer which contains the vibrant handcrafted design. When you light the candle, this patterned veneer is illuminated and the wonderful patterns really come to life!

The outer shell of the candle doesn't melt and remains intact even after the inside of the candle has burned down. You can then reuse the candle by placing a tea light or votive candle inside the outer shell - effectively using it as a candle holder. The colourful shell can be used again and again, giving you a lasting wax work of art for your home. Because each Swazi Candle is reusable in this way, they make wonderful gifts that your loved ones can enjoy long after the original candle has burned down.

How to get the most from your Swazi Reusable Candle

Swazi Reusable Candles are easy to use and can be reused again and again. To enjoy your candle for years to come, follow our simple candle burning tips:

• You can reuse your Swazi Candle as soon as the soft wax interior has burned down to a depth greater than the height of a tea light or votive.
• To reuse your Swazi Candle, simply place a votive/tea light inside the outer shell.
• Make sure that the flame from the tea light does not touch the outer shell.
• You can reuse your Swazi Candle a limitless number of times.

Use a votive candle with:

Geometric shape candles (balls, cubes etc)

Animal candles

Use a tea light with:

Bird candles

Turtle candles

Please Note: Small animals, dolphin, fish and church candles are not reusable.