Ryan & Co Candlemakers

Ryan & Co Candlemakers began with a decision about the container. When Bronwyn Ryan founded the Bunbury family business in 2016, she chose recycled vessels from the start rather than new, imported jars. Every candle since has gone into a glass bottle that had a life before this one.

The bottles are collected locally. Hospitality businesses, sporting clubs and people around the community set their used bottles aside, and each bottle is cut by hand to make the vessel. The top halves aren't wasted either. The business offers them to anyone who wants them for craft projects, pendant lights or the garden.

The candles are poured in 100% soy wax, which the maker says sets to a silky matte finish, and each one gets a timber lid. They come in three bottle sizes: small amber, medium green or clear, and large amber. When a candle has burnt down, the glass washes out with hot soapy water and can be used again.

The scents are where the South West comes in. The South West Range is named for places: Cape Leeuwin, Evenings in Margaret River, Summer at Eagle Bay, Yallingup Hills, Geographe Breeze and Peppermint Beach among them. The Botanics Range turns to the bush and the garden, with Smokebush, Lemon Scented Gum and Wild Lavender. Reed diffusers come in recycled glass bottles with a wooden cork, and add Boranup Mist and Karri & Jarrah to the list.

The candles are stocked in shops from Bunbury to Margaret River and further afield, and the online shop sends orders within Australia. The business doesn't publish a workshop address, so order online.