Midnight Cauldron

Two 6 oz candles, handcrafted by Maranda and Chris from Midnight Cauldron Shop

• Arcane Roots

Patchouli • Amber Noir

Earthy, grounding, and a little feral — the scent you light when you’re ready to drop the mundane and slip into the deeper currents. Ideal for journaling truths, or getting out of your own way.

• Hearthspell

Vanilla • Cinnamon • Fireside Warmth

Warm, crackling, and deliciously witchy. This candle feels like creative fire in scent form — perfect for story weaving, ritual tending, or calling in comfort with a bit of edge.

An Interview with Maranda and Chris about Midnight Cauldron Shop

What inspired you to start Midnight Cauldron Shop, and how did your first “magical blend” come to life?

Maranda: I have always loved a good craft, from watercolor to stained glass. I love to create, so it wasn’t too surprising for Chris when a candle making kit showed up at our door. We played around with your typical scents like vanilla and sandalwood at first, but quickly branched out to making our own scent combinations.

Chris: The creativity of picturing a scent in my mind and being able to actually light a candle that matches the vision is incredibly satisfying. The amount of “us” we’re able to pour into our scents, descriptions, and aesthetics made me want to do it over and over again. Anyone can make a candle, but it can be a very personal outlet, and I love sharing that.

Scent has such a powerful connection to memory and emotion. How do you choose which fragrances to blend for each candle or seasonal box?

Maranda: we get this question a lot, and as unsatisfactory of an answer as it is, a lot of it for me is vibes. I also love to cook, and it is a similar thing to pair scents together for me. That is how Lilith came about, we wanted a pumpkin candle, but not your traditional pumpkin, which is where cardamom came in. We really enjoy each new season, because we get to order new scent samples to explore.

Chris: I trust my partner implicitly when it comes to scent decisions. Most of the ideas come from a feeling or memory, whether that be cozy, or energizing, or the mindset a certain book or movie might put one of us in. We iterate and tweak until the scent matches the vibe. You can just feel it when it’s right.

The Hearthspell candle smells like a cozy healer’s cottage — vanilla, cinnamon, and fireside warmth. What scene or feeling were you hoping to capture with that scent?

Maranda: you hit the nail on the head. We wanted to invoke the feeling of coming in out of the cold, and grabbing a warm drink with the smell of baking wafting through.

Chris: While Maranda is the cook, I’m the baker in our family. It’s the same sort of process, method, and iteration that probably attracts me to candle-making, too. This scent doesn’t necessarily evoke any singular thing I love to bake, but more the cozy feeling I get when I’m able to share fresh bread or a baked goody with my people.

Many of your products tie into natural and magical cycles — solstices, roots, and hearths. Do you follow any personal rituals or traditions when you create?

Maranda: Honestly? Yes, but not in the “dancing-naked-under-the-moonlight” way people assume when they hear “witchy candle maker.” For me, creating candles is its own kind of ritual. I’m always paying attention to the season, the light, the mood, the collective energy we’re all wading through. When I’m working on a scent tied to a solstice or a hearth theme, I slow down a little, put on music that fits the vibe and take a minute to set an intention, usually something simple like “let’s make something that helps someone breathe easier this week.”

Chris: I find comfort in ordered thinking, clear processes, and successful execution. I’m sure there are ways to heat, color, add fragrance to, and pour wax that I haven’t ever encountered, but my way is mine. I’ve honed my craft through lots of trial and error, so when I get it just right I’m stoked about it. Working through the steps, celebrating success, and figuring out what I can do better next time is my ritual.

How can people use scent or flame as part of a self-care or spiritual practice?

Maranda: candle magic is such an interesting topic. We try to choose our scents, colors, and names with intentions, and a lot of that comes from what I have learned about candle magic. Lilith for example is a rich red, which correlates to health, protection, vitality, sexuality and passion. When you go to light a Lilith candle, take in the color and the scent, then take a moment to set an intention before burning. As it burns, take in the spice of the chai, and the citrusy cardamom with the pumpkin, and think about your intention. Like lighting a candle at an altar, your simple daily tasks can be turned into rituals and spells.

Chris: I appreciate the self-care aspect of our candles. Sometimes a scent can just help me relax or change my perspective in the moment. I don’t mentally slow down to check in with myself very often. Intentionally choosing a scent, taking in the color of the wax, trimming and lighting the wick, and starting in on a book or working on a crossword while it burns is a brief luxury to help me  re-center and let go of some stress.

Every small business has its challenges and triumphs. What’s been your proudest moment (or biggest lesson) running Midnight Cauldron Shop?

Maranda: I think my proudest moment was getting our first wholesale order from Dragon’s Lair Books and Comics. It is so exciting to have our products in a local store we both love so much.

Chris: We broke even on our vendor fee at our first maker’s market, and eventually surpassed it as the day wore on. I was so proud and honored that so many strangers became customers and wanted to take home something we made. I still love to see reactions and hear memories that our scents bring up in the people we meet.

The packaging for your boxes feels both modern and mystical. How do you balance your aesthetic between tradition and contemporary design?

Maranda: I think that is largely me. I draw from a lot of my own aesthetic and things I like. We are also very lucky to know Pepe Becerra, who designed our logo. He has done a few tattoos for us, so we knew his talent, but he really brought our vision to life with the logo he created.

Chris: We both carry a very DIY ethos, so a ton of our aesthetic is a combination of what we think looks cool and what we’re able to accomplish with the tools at our disposal. As our business grows, our resources and community can be more inclusive. Our circle is diverse and talented, so we will always take the chance to showcase their particular brand of genius to make us seem a little cooler.

If you could create a candle inspired by a classic witch or magical figure (fictional or historical), who would it be and what would it smell like?

Maranda: I have been contemplating a Hecate candle since we started this venture, but haven’t quite gotten it right yet. Embers of Dissent was actually born out of that, but it wasn’t the one.

Chris: I have the scent profile all set in my mind for “I’d Rather Be Smelling the 1999 Cinematic Masterpiece ‘The Mummy’ Starring Brendan Fraser” but the fit on our labels is a bit of a challenge. The name is non-negotiable.

As we move into the winter season, which scents or rituals do you personally lean on to keep your spirits bright and your creativity flowing?

Maranda: I have a little garden dome in our backyard that I like to sit in and have a cup of tea, and right now I have been on a big frankincense incense kick. I think my biggest ritual any time of year is dinner time. I love to cook and feed people, so sitting down with everyone at the end of the day is just my favorite time.

Chris: My kids are 13 and 10, and I still pile on a bed with them to read for 20 or 30 minutes before they go to sleep. It’s not so much a seasonal thing, and at this point they probably do it more for me than themselves, but sharing my love for a good book with my kids is something I look forward to every day. Music, books, and comics keep my spirit bright and I couldn’t picture any season without the impact of so many artists. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to be invited for tea in the garden tent, too.

How can people reach out to you?

www.midnightcauldronshop.com

@midnight_cauldron_shop

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564359764370

A huge thank-you to Maranda and Chris for sharing their process, their humor, and the heart they pour into every candle. What shines through most is how deeply they value comfort, connection, and the simple joy of creating something that helps people feel grounded—whether that’s through a cozy winter scent, a moment of calm, or the ritual of lighting a candle at the end of a long day.

To celebrate the season, I’m giving away one of their Midnight Cauldron Shop Winter Gift Boxes, filled with inviting scents and small surprises perfect for brightening the colder months.

To enter, sign up for my newsletter at LisaTraugott.com and reply to the December edition with the word “giveaway.”
A winner will be announced in the next newsletter.