Our Story

As a family-owned business, our candles are proudly handmade in Tempe, Arizona, a city known for its vibrant community and natural beauty. The name "Tempe" holds special significance, inspired by Charles Trumbull Hayden, who founded the city in the late 1800s. Hayden was captivated by the area's stunning scenery, reminiscent of the mythical "Vale of Tempe" in ancient Greece, celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and timeless beauty.

The Essence of Beauty and Worth

"Not in nature but in man is all the beauty and worth he sees. The world is very empty, and is indebted to this gilding, exalting soul for all its pride. 'Earth fills her lap with splendors' not her own. The vale of Tempe, Tivoli, and Rome are earth and water, rocks and sky. There are as good earth and water in a thousand places, yet how unaffecting!"

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841)

Our journey began with a vision much like Emerson's: to discover beauty and worth within ourselves and our creations. Just as the Vale of Tempe is celebrated for its scenic splendor, our candles are crafted to exalt the human spirit and transform your space with their light and fragrance.

The Role of Genius

"The finest scenery in the world cannot, then, ‘create’ genius. A dunce, born in the Vale of Tempe, will remain a dunce still."

Rev. George Gilfillan, The Poetical Works of Beattie, Blair and Falconer

At our core, we believe that true brilliance comes from within. While we draw inspiration from the world’s natural beauty, it is our passion and dedication that breathe life into our premium candles, making each one a work of art.

A Haven for the Soul

"The scenery on the Avon is said to strikingly resemble the vale of Tempe in Greece. The student of nature may there enjoy ‘communion sweet,’ with all that his heart holds dear as life’s blood."

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (1829)

Our candles are designed to be a sanctuary for your senses, offering a serene escape from the everyday. Much like the Vale of Tempe, we aim to create an atmosphere where you can find peace, inspiration, and a sense of connection.

Timeless Beauty and Inspiration

"There was a rocky valley between Buxton and Bakewell, once upon a time, divine as the Vale of Tempe; you might have seen the gods there morning and evening – Apollo and all the sweet muses of the Light – walking in fair procession on the lawns of it, and to and fro among the pinnacles of its crags."

John Ruskin

Our candles are inspired by the timeless beauty and mythic qualities of places like the Vale of Tempe. Each scent is crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and to bring a touch of the divine into your home.

A Fertile Valley of Ideas

"Never had I seen a picture of such wild primitive loneliness as that presented by this beautiful fertile valley, encircled by smoking volcanoes and snow-covered mountains, yet green as the Vale of Tempe, teeming with animal and vegetable life, yet solitary, uninhabited by man, and apparently unknown."

George Kennan, Tent Life in Siberia (1868)

Our story is one of exploration and discovery. We strive to be a fertile valley of ideas, where each candle embodies nature’s beauty and the human spirit’s creativity, waiting to be discovered and cherished.

Majestic Celebrations

"The King, who will have nothing but what is magnificent in all he undertakes, wished to give his court an entertainment which should comprise all that the stage can furnish. To facilitate the execution of so vast an idea, and to link together so many different things, his Majesty chose for the subject two rival princes, who, in the lovely vale of Tempe, where the Pythian Games were to be celebrated, vie with each other in fêting a young princess and her mother with all imaginable gallantries."

Charles Heron Wall, Preface, The Magnificent Lovers by Moliere (1891)

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in every candle we create. We aim to celebrate and showcase the magnificent, bringing together the finest ingredients and craftsmanship to create experiences that are as memorable and enchanting as the Pythian Games in the Vale of Tempe.

Purification and Renewal

"Apollo kills the Pythoness by the necessity of his nature. It is his virtue. But his virtue is a crime that must be expiated. No sooner is the deed done, than, by a necessity as irresistible as that by which he did it, he flies from the scene of the slaughter toward the old Vale of Tempe for purification."

Elizabeth P. Peabody, The Dorian Measure, With a Modern Application

Our story is also one of transformation and renewal. We believe in the power of purification and the continuous journey toward self-improvement, much like Apollo's flight to the Vale of Tempe for purification. Each of our candles is crafted to bring a sense of renewal and tranquility to your space.