Shelburne Maker Pours Candles to Capture Vermont Seasons

Debbie Mast produces 84 candles in a single production session at her Shelburne studio. The process involves stirring coconut soy wax after adding fragrance oil to prevent air bubbles, a step Mast describes as delicate. Each batch takes four to five hours to complete.

Mast founded The Bonded Wick to create a nontoxic alternative to traditional paraffin wax candles. She cited concerns about harmful chemicals, such as benzene, emitted by standard candles. A neighbor with respiratory issues reported headaches and lung irritation when burning conventional candles at Mast's home. That experience led Mast to search for expensive alternatives before deciding to manufacture the products herself.

The company uses clean-burning fragrance oils and cotton wicks. The candles are packaged in glass jars with bamboo lids. Mast stated that the design prevents smoking, soot, and mushrooming on the wax surface. All components are reusable, supporting a sustainable product model.

The Bonded Wick scents are inspired by specific Vermont locations and seasons. Four signature scents include Green Mountain Morning, Champlain Sunset, Vermont Woods, and Sugarhouse Spice. Mast designed each scent to evoke a specific time of year in the state. She described Vermont Woods as smelling like a late spring hike and noted that late fall scents capture the anticipation of snow.

Production has expanded beyond the basement studio. The candles are currently sold online and in physical stores. Mast reported that the brand is carried in more than 40 locations across Vermont, with one additional retailer in New Hampshire. The product line also includes a candle of the month club, seasonal varieties, and a New England collection featuring scents such as Cape Cod Cranberry Coast and Acadia Mountain Blueberry.

Mast aims to connect customers with specific memories of places and people. She stated that the goal is to create a bond between the user and a special moment triggered by the fragrance. The company continues to pour batches in Shelburne while maintaining its retail network in northern New England.