Treat Yourself: Camp Candle Bar brings ‘a new experience’ to Armory Square

“Ignite Your Happy Place.”

That is one of the quotes that Camp Candle Bar, a DIY experience in Armory Square, follows.

Ashley Naum started the business with her sister, Lauren.

“We really wanted to create a new experience within the downtown area that it never had before, especially in a town of eating and drinking,” said Naum. “The idea of camp is nostalgic to us as a family. We all grew up in Upstate New York and were always in the Adirondack Mountains, and the whole essence of camp is gathering around the campfire. It is the heartbeat of anything in the wilderness and we wanted to bring that same nostalgia to Central New York through our candle shop.”

The candle-pouring process is fairly straightforward. When guests arrive at the shop, a fragrance expert begins by walking them through the available scents. There are more than 50 to choose from, and they change each season. From those, guests choose three to five of their favorites, then the fragrance expert helps them build their perfect scent. The last step is to pour the wax into a jar; a variety of colors, textures, and sizes are available.

Each workshop lasts about 45 minutes, and afterward, the candle must cure for two hours before guests can take it home (or it can be shipped if they don’t want to wait). Camp Candle Bar also offers diffusers and wax melts.

“Scents bring you back to a person, place, or thing,” said Naum. “They can remind you of so many different points in your life, and we really want to pull at the heartstrings of everybody that comes through and give them a space to detach, relax, and just come as you are.”

“Our heart is for the community, our heart is for downtown, our heart is for New York, and we really wanted to bring something to the area that mimics that.”

If You Go
Camp Candle Bar

Where: 191 Walton St., Syracuse.
When: Wednesdays and Thursday from 3-7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays from noon-5 p.m.
Reservations: Recommended but not required.
More information: campcandlebar.com.