Why choose Gray Duck's candles?
That is a great question. There are a lot of great crafters and makers out there, and we support you supporting them. The market is big enough for everyone who makes a quality product with love and gratitude. We just hope that you include our candles in your buying decisions.
We strive our hardest to buy local and to buy small, but we also realize that sometimes we all need to buy big and buy cheap. For that reason, we use the highest quality US-made ingredients we can find, but offer the finished products at approachable pricing for everyday use and gifting.
We are a US-based company and we strive to provide the best quality and highest value candles on the market, produce high quality printed candle lids, and offer the ability to customize the lids with your personal photos, fundraiser event logos and information, and co-branding opportunities for your company as customer gifts and after project leave-behinds.
We enjoy working with you directly on jobs of any size. Whether you are a one-time customer or a repeat customer, we will always take great care of you and provide you with the best service possible.
Help! My candle is tunneling!
Breathe 1-2-3...
Unlike many candles made with toxic paraffin or pure soy wax that produce smoke and soot, and that require a full melt pool to avoid tunneling, our low-temperature apricot-coconut-soy blend is designed to melt evenly at a lower heat. Once your candle burns past the first third of the container, you will notice it gradually self-levels. It is perfectly normal if you do not see a full melt pool during the first half of the tin.
You may spot small “cliffs” of wax along the walls. Look closely, and you will see them slowly melting into the pool below as the flame gently warms the container.
Our goal with this wax blend is simple: a safer, cleaner-burning candle. The apricot-coconut-soy formula melts at a lower temperature than pure soy or paraffin, reducing the overall container heat and preventing soot buildup along the rim. Ideally, your melt pool temperature should stay between 125°F and 140°F, cooling quickly once the flame is extinguished. This rapid cool-down helps lower the risk of accidental burns to skin or surfaces.
Wax Tip! If the wax walls ever grow too high, use a hair dryer on low to gently melt them back to a level surface. While the wax is liquid, make sure about one-quarter inch of wick remains above the melt pool. If the wick looks nearly submerged, swirl the container slightly so the wax cools toward the edges and forms a shallow dip around the wick.
Golden Rule Candles Development
Understanding the science behind our PureNorth™ odor-neutralizing candles helps you appreciate the innovation and care that go into every candle we pour. Gray Duck Candle Company’s collections provide an effective and safe way to clarify your air and keep your space smelling fresh and inviting.
Our candles use the highest quality blend of clean-burning apricot, coconut, and soy waxes. This blend is carefully chosen for its stability, sustainability, and compatibility with our natural, environmentally safe PureNorth™ odor-neutralizing molecules. Each wax type plays an important role: apricot wax from Washington, coconut wax from Florida, and soy wax from Minnesota. All are renewable, American-sourced materials that reflect our commitment to sustainability and quality.
Our waxes are fully tested with our odor-neutralizing molecule and scent blends to ensure long-term stability and reliable performance. They burn cleaner and longer than pure soy or paraffin-based candles and emit little to no smoke when properly trimmed. Most importantly, they do not release petroleum-based soot or harmful chemicals into your air.
Even in the world of hand-poured candles, innovation and science go hand in hand. Quality is our driving force. Every production run undergoes two years of extensive testing to confirm that each scent blend maintains its pleasant balance while the odor-neutralizing molecules continue to work effectively to eliminate unwanted odors. Our candles are designed to neutralize odors, not mask them with heavy artificial fragrances.
While soy wax and paraffin wax are often used to make less expensive candles, soy waxes burn hot and emit smoke and soot, while paraffin is neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly, as it comes from crude oil refining. Studies have shown that burning paraffin can release carcinogenic pollutants and petroleum-based soot into the air. By choosing sustainable waxes and advanced odor-neutralizing technology, Gray Duck Candle Company ensures that your home stays cleaner, safer, and more naturally fragrant.
Are your candles Health Conscious?
Yes!
Gray Duck Candle Co. is proud to say that our candles and products contain no carcinogens, no mutagens, no reproductive toxins, no organ toxins, and no acute toxins.
Not only do we strive to improve the air quality of your home or business, but we also believe in providing clean, healthy candles that fill the air with good feelings, not sickness.
All of our materials, including our containers, candle waxes, odor-neutralizing molecules, and scent oils, are 100% Paraben-free, Phthalate-free, and Zinc-free! We use 100% cotton, lead-free, soy wax-coated wicks to help create that wonderful, relaxing glow.
We believe in using materials that are free of cancer-causing ingredients, especially materials that require a Proposition 65 warning, as well as similar ingredients not on the Proposition 65 list that should be.
If we find out that something we used that we believed was safe, but turns out to be questionable, we will recall those products, issue full refunds or replacements, and never use them again. We don't skimp when it comes to health and happiness.
What Is So Great About Our Wax Blend?
All About Our Apricot~Coconut~Soy Wax Candles
Coconuts are so versatile that they are used not only to create various food and health products but also in cosmetics and other things, especially for coconut oil and natural coconut candle wax. Now, if you’re here because you’re into candles, then you already know that a candle made with a blend of Apricot~Coconut~Soy waxes is one of the healthiest types of candles in the market.
What is Apricot~Coconut~Soy Wax?
Apricot~Coconut-Soy wax is a colorless and odorless wax made from cold-pressed coconut meat or coconut oil mixed with soy wax and apricot oils. It is considered one of the best and healthiest blends of wax to make candles because it doesn’t produce as much soot as the other types of candle wax. This produces candles that have better burn quality and aromatic throw.
Benefits of Using Apricot~Coconut~Soy Wax in Candles
Let’s take a look at the benefits of Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax in terms of using them in our candles:
Apricot~Coconut~Soy Wax VS Other Candle Waxes
Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax naturally has a bright white color. It doesn’t require bleaching or refining to create a creamy, smooth pour and resists cracking.
Candles made from Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax burn the cleanest compared to other types of wax. It produces the least amount of soot so you don’t have to worry about breathing it in or keeping your surfaces clean.
Our Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax is perfect for those who enjoy using their candles for aromatherapy. It has a superior scent throw which means you can produce long-lasting and strongly scented candles using this wax that fills larger spaces with scent than comparably sized candles made of other waxes.
You can also enjoy your candles longer because Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax burns slower than other waxes.
If you’re all about saving the planet, Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax candles are the perfect fit for you because they are the most eco-friendly candles to produce. They are non-toxic and burn cleaner because Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax is as close to a smoke-free and soot-free candle that can be made today.
However, many candles on the market, even when labeled as Soy wax or Coconut Apricot wax, are actually blended with paraffin wax, a by-product of crude oil refinement. Gray Duck Candle Do. uses its own proprietary pure Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax blend made from Apricot, Coconut, and Soy, providing a natural wax that rivals the cheap store paraffin candles in performance which is much cleaner and healthier for you to burn.
What Are The Common Candle Waxes?
Let’s take a look at the other types of wax that you might have heard of when buying candles. The most popular ones used for candles are beeswax, palm wax, paraffin wax, and soy wax.
There are many factors as to why candle makers use these various types of wax and each one has its pros and cons. The right choice of wax depends on what you value more. Some candle makers value affordability and availability, while others are more concerned with the ability to hold scent and the physical appearance or finish it gives to their candles.
BEESWAX is harvested from the beehives, melted and filtered several times, and then rolled out or turned into blocks. Dating back to the time of ancient Egyptians and ancient Romans, it is the oldest type of non-animal fat-based wax used in candle making.
It can lead to expensive candles because it is the purest type of candle wax. It has a low yield per hive and, like Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax, it is usually derived naturally and organically. Beeswax candles have a better burn quality than paraffin wax and they burn brighter, hotter, and cleaner, too!
Pure beeswax candles are natural air purifiers that emit negative ions that clean your air of odors. Adding scent to the candles can be challenging because the negative ions can break down the scent oils blended into the waxes. But since it has a naturally sweet scent due to the honey it was infused with, beeswax candles are typically unscented. Unless it has been bleached, It also has a natural golden color that makes adding coloring dyes to the wax challenging.
PALM WAX is obtained from palm oil and was once believed to be a sustainable option. This would have been true if it was only possible to produce its products 100% organically but because of the high global demand of the various products in the palm industry, a lot of the palm oil available in the market is produced either unnaturally, unsustainably, or through clear-cutting tropical rainforests and jungles.
PARAFFIN WAX is derived from crude oil and is the cheapest wax on the market. Most commercially available candles are made from paraffin wax because the wax comes in different melting points, blends well with other waxes, and can be poured into various candle shapes and types.
Unfortunately, when paraffin wax is burned, it emits the most smoke and soot into the air of all of the non-animal fat-based candle waxes. The smoke and soot are based on hydrocarbons from paraffin’s petroleum-based wax and have been found to lead to lung issues, can irritate the eyes, and leaves a layer of greasy dust in the rooms they are burned in.
Candles made of paraffin wax can hold a stronger scent, however, paraffin candles burn the fastest, leading their customers to buy more candles more often. Of all the types of wax mentioned here, this leads to the least environmentally-friendly candle so if you’re eco-conscious, you’re probably one of the people who would like to stay away from this kind of wax.
SOY WAX is made from soybean oil and is known to have good burn quality. It is cheap, typically sourced from US-based farming, and produces minimal soot. However, pure soy candles are known to crack if they are exposed to temperature differences or are stored for long time periods, so they are usually blended as a base wax with other waxes to improve the candle’s shelf life.
What are Wax Blends?
We’ve mentioned “blends” or “wax blends” a few times in this article and mixing different waxes is nothing new in the world of candle making. But what does it mean when we say blends?
To put it simply, one type of wax is mixed with another (or several) types of wax to take advantage of the qualities they possess. For example, our Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax is a blend of apricot oil-derived wax, coconut oil-derived wax, and soy wax to create candles with good, consistent burning quality, even and room-filling scent throw, and a smooth, creamy wax texture.
Blends are usually labeled according to which type of wax is in the majority of the blend. For example, if the candle is made of 51% Coconut wax, then it is labeled as coconut blend. For our purposes, we are proud of our blend and want to highlight the waxes used in our candles. We do NOT use palm or paraffin waxes in our candles.
At the end of the day, the type of wax or blend you choose for your candles depends on what you value most. A candle made of Apricot~Coconut~Soy wax might seem a bit more pricey than the bigger and cheaper paraffin wax candle next to it but it is important to look at the burn time, scent quality, and environmental impact of the candle, too.
What Makes Odor-Neutralizing Candles Different from Traditional Scented Candles?
There are some clear differences between odor-neutralizing candles and traditional scented candles.
All scented candles are designed to “throw,” or fill the air with a pleasing scent. Depending on the candle maker and the scent oils used, fragrances can range from light and delicate to strong and heavy. It takes skill and experience to find the right balance between a room-filling aroma and a scent that becomes overpowering.
Traditional scented candles work by masking unpleasant odors. They rely on fragrance strength to cover up bad smells, but once the candle stops burning, those odors often return.
Odor-neutralizing candles work differently. They eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and foul odors by releasing safe, odor-neutralizing molecules into the air while the candle burns. These molecules bind to odor-causing compounds and transform them into harmless ones, permanently removing the source of the smell while still adding a pleasant fragrance to the air.
Gray Duck Candle Co. is proud to use Metazene®, a non-toxic, air-safe, vapor-phase odor-neutralizing additive developed by Alpha Aromatics, in all of our PureNorth™ Odor Neutralizing Technology scent blends. PureNorth™ provides superior airborne effectiveness, continuing to eliminate odors even after the candle stops burning.
Our odor-neutralizing molecules do not break down in the heat of a candle flame or in the cold of a crisp winter night. They remain active in the vapor phase and effectively neutralize most unpleasant and harmful household odors, including those from pets, athletic gear, kitchens, smoke, and daily living, hours after the candle is extinguished.
What are Odor Neutralizing Molecules & What are Odors?
Odor-Neutralizing Molecules bond with malodorous molecules, changing their atomic structure and polarity, canceling out their odor properties. This process involves electron or hydrogen bonding, atom formation (adsorption), and encapsulation, effectively trapping the odor molecules.
Once airborne, our odor-neutralizing molecules create these reactions with the noxious odors without being consumed in the process, allowing them to be reused repeatedly as they travel through the air.
Odors are caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air by chemicals, gases, bacteria, fungi, and molds. These compounds can come from various sources, including athletic or workout gear, shoes, pets, foods, smoke, and more.
When these VOCs interact with the sensory receptor cells in your nose (olfactory receptors), they produce the sensation of a bad smell that alerts your body that this air might be dangerous to breathe.
How do our Odor Neutralizing Molecules neutralize odors?
The odor-neutralizing molecules we use in our candles are specially formulated to bond to and break down these odor-causing VOCs at a molecular level in a continuous three step process. Here’s how they work:
Step 1) Bond: The odor-neutralizing molecules in our candles bond to the polar surfaces of the odor molecules. This bonding is designed to attach only to odor molecules, meaning the odor-neutralizing molecules are designed to target the exact compounds responsible for unpleasant smells and to help clean the air.
Step 2) Neutralize: Once bonded to the odor molecules, the odor-neutralizing molecules initiate a reaction at the atomic level that breaks these molecules down into non-odorous components that naturally fall out of the air. This process neutralizes the odor at its source, rather than just masking it with additional chemical-based scents.
Step 3) Repeat: After breaking down their target odor molecules into non-odorous molecules, our odor-neutralizing molecules detach themselves and float through the air to bind to new odor-causing molecules, repeating the process and continuously working to keep your space smelling fresh until they filter out of the air or fall to the ground.
What are your candle burning guidelines?
- Handle carefully as the container may become hot during use.
- Extinguish candles with care using a flame snuffer or covering it with the candle lid (be careful, as the lid will get hot). Do not blow the candle out as it may splatter the melted wax out of the container and burn someone or damage splashed surfaces.
- Keep wick trimmed to 1/8-1/4” (3 - 6mm) at all times to ensure that your candle flame produces the least smoke and soot possible.
- If the flame of any candle seems too high, blow out the candle, trim the wick, and relight.
- If a black “mushroom” appears on the top of your candle wick, extinguish your candle, trim the mushroom off, and relight as this mushrooming may cause your candle to produce smoke and soot.
- Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches or any combustible material.
- Keep the wick centered to prevent hot spots on the walls of the container, especially when the wax is getting low.
- Keep burning candles within sight at all times and never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep burning candles away from flammable materials and out of reach of children and pets.
- Keep your candle in an area free from drafts to discourage dripping and smoking.
- Do not place candles on or near other heat sources, and never directly on furniture.
- Minimize the wax left on the sides of the container by burning the candle until the wax pool reaches the edge of the jar. It’s normal for some wax to remain, and the amount varies per scent and burning environment.
- Stop burning your candle with a half inch (1cm) or wax remains. Do not continue burning the candle, or it may cause heat damage to the surface it is sitting on.
Can you recover the remaining wax after a full burn?
Yes!
Recovering the wax to use it in a scented wax melter is a wonderful way to extend the odor neutralizing benefits of our candles.
Using the tin after the candle is fully burned.
The tin can be reused to hold wax melt cubes, knick-knacks, jewelry, or as a stash box for anything else that fits.
We designed the side candle label to be easily removed with minimal adhesive staying behind.
Where are you located?
Up North in the Wild of Hockey Country and the Northwoods.
Also known as Vikings Country (SKOL!), Lynx Territory, the Loony Bin, and the Twins' backyard.
Our team is located in Maple Grove, which is a northwest suburb of Minneapolis in Minnesota's Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Shipping: The dreaded expense.
We do our best to keep shipping costs as fair as possible. Since we are a small business, we do not receive the same deep discounts that the large online retailers do, so we have to charge shipping on smaller orders. For larger orders, we are often able to cover the cost of shipping ourselves.
We work hard to pass along the best shipping rates we can, and those discounts are reflected in the quote you see at checkout. Shipping is based on the total package weight, and since our candles are poured with dense, high-quality wax, even a few can add up quickly.
Thank you for supporting a small, Minnesota-based business. Your order means a lot to us, and we want it to arrive safely and quickly so you can enjoy it right away.
Do you offer local pick-up?
While we don’t have a store front and have limited storage space, we would be willing to arrange a pickup for short-term holds. Just contact us before you place the order and we can set it up if we have room.
We cannot hold inventory for you, unless it is under very special circumstances.
When can I expect my order?
Typically, we will ship your candles within 5-7 business days of your order. Really large orders may take some extra time if we have to bring in more inventory. We will contact you if that is the case before we start processing the order.
Candle orders with one of our in-house lid designs typically leaves our facility within 3-5 days.
Shipping takes 3-5 business days depending on your location and shipping method selected.
If you need us to ship them sooner, or do overnight shipping, please reach out before placing your order and we will do what we can to meet your schedule.
Do you have a return policy?
Our candles are poured in metal containers to reduce the chance of damage during shipping. If a candle arrives with the lid or canister dented or damaged, we will ask for pictures of the items and we will determine how to remedy the problem.
For our custom products - candles with custom lid designs or custom labels printed directly to the tins - we typically do not accept returns because we can't remove the printed graphics from the candles without damaging them.
On a case-by-case basis, we may be able to accept custom printed candles back for a 50% restocking fee.
Regarding customer submitted graphics, we do not check spelling, capitalization, or other factors and we print the exact design you submit. Please double check your work to ensure there are no issues. You can request a sample print of your graphics, which will be charged at the single-item rate. If the print is approved, then we will reduce the cost of the overall order by the difference between the order per unit cost and sample cost.
Like most people on this planet, we are human and mistakes can happen. If there are any issues with your order please contact us and we will make it right.
Custom Graphics: Do you charge setup fees?
Typically not. If proper vector art work is supplied, full size photos submitted, or graphics with a usable high resolution image of 300dpi or higher, our set up costs are already built into price.
Photos from a website or from a text will not be high enough quality for clear prinitng. If you are using cell phone photos, the images must be emailed from your phone as full size original images, not the compressed images you find in your message app.
If the art work is not suitable, we'll let you know up front and give you options such as a quote on creating proper vector art work for you. This would be a one-time charge and we'd provide you with the vector file so that you would have it for any future orders.
If an item required individual customization (such as adding individual player names or photos to a team product), there may be customization charges which would be sent to you for each item.