Made in Door County: Door County Candle Co.

By Laurel Ciohon

The scents of Fraser Fir, Green Tea, Door County Coffee, Lilac, Fresh Cut Grass, and Door County Cherry swirled around me as I opened the door to Door County Candle Company this summer. Inside the store, colorful candles surrounded me while customers walked around sniffing the wide variety of scented candles offered. Owner, Mike Felhofer, was in the midst of showing a family how to dip their own candles, while candle maker employees were hand-pouring candles, straightening wicks and carefully applying labels to the candle jars in plain view for customers to see.

When Mike was finished demonstrating how to dip candles, he spoke to me of how Door County Candle Company came to be.  He started Door County Candle Company over 20 years and it is actually the second candle company he has owned. After retiring in 1999, Mike felt the calling to make candles once again a few years later and continues to produce premium scented candles right in Carlsville ever since. Door County Candle Company’s candles are the only candles that are actually made right in Door County!

Each candle at Door County Candle Company is poured by hand right in the store. Customers are welcome to experience the candle making process for themselves and even become part of the candle making development. Door County Candle Company’s high quality candles, as well as their knowledge, experience and great customer service, are what bring continued success to Door County Candle Company year after year.

After walking around the store and choosing a Gardenia scented candle as a gift for a friends birthday, Mike happily showed me how to dip my own colorful candle.  You start with a plain white taper candle and transform it into a unique, artistic creation of your own by dipping the candle into colorful waxes. Mike helped me make a “Door County Sunset” by adding reds, oranges, and yellows for the sun, with blues, greens and purples to represent the water. What a fun activity for children and adults alike!

Door County Candle Company also has a spacious gift shop that offers several different candle accessories and gorgeous home décor. They have also expanded their candle options to offer soy candles in addition to their traditional wax candles. Candles are available in small, medium and large, as well as votive candles and scented wax melting chips.

Mike and Tonya Felhofer invite you to visit Door County Candle Company year round. During the summer and fall, the store is open Monday – Saturday 9:30am-5pm, and Sunday 10am-4pm. Please contact the store for their off-season hours. Door County Candle Company is located at 5789 Hwy 42 in Carlsville (just north of Sturgeon Bay), conveniently next to Door County Coffee Co. and Door County General Store. 877.263.5975, doorcountycandle.com.