WAKS

The Greek company, which exports across Europe, collaborates with established designers and creates high quality, decorative candles made from natural ingredients

Discovery

I had long been an admirer of WAKS before I was aware that its creators were from a family originating from the unspoilt and unique island of Oinousses in the northern Aegean.

The candles have delectable fragrances and burn steadily and for a long time.

Brother and sister, Evi and Yiannis Lemos, took advantage of a gap in the market and started their decorative candle company, WAKS, in 2005.

WAKS produces candles made with natural soya and a 100% cotton wick, aiming to provide a touch of luxury for your home at a reasonable price.

They import their materials from Germany and assemble everything at their unit in Metamorphosi, Attica. All WAKS products are designed in Greece and they use many award winning artists to design the containers.

The designers draw inspiration from the aromas and experiences gleaned from their travels around Greece, as well as industry trends. The candle range and the unique aromas are based on the special connections we all make between scent and memory.

The designers draw inspiration from the aromas and experiences gleaned from their travels around Greece, as well as industry trends. The candle range and the unique aromas are based on the special connections we all make between scent and memory.

According to Evi “the glow of a candle creates a lovely atmosphere inside a home. It can restore old memories or kindle new ones”.

The way we light a candle is very important: “You have to cut back the wick by about half a centimeter. For security reasons and in order to have the candle to burn longer, the flame should not be huge as it will primarily create smoke”, Evi advised us. 

WAKS are sold in many countries, including France, the UK, Spain and at some of the best department stores like Golden Hall in Athens, Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché in Paris.

The product range includes a multitude of aromatic candles, in handmade clay, metal and glass containers. At A Magic Cabinet, we’ve chosen a striking black candle in a handmade dark clay container by famous pottery artist Christina Morali.

Memory

Evi studied Art History in London and spent some time working in art galleries.  In 2005 she decided to create a candle company with her brother Yiannis, as at that time candles were mostly sold in supermarkets or ecclesiastical stores. They were aiming for clients who wanted to buy or gift a beautiful, natural candle. 

Yiannis and Evi were overjoyed when they saw their first finished product and even more so when they realized people were responding positively to their product range.

Their mission is to keep existing customers happy and expand their sales both in Greece and overseas.

Narration

WAKS employs fifteen staff members of staff. Yiannis oversees production and Evi manages a combination of commercial relations, sales and package design. They both love launching new products but admit to having a tough time managing the ups and downs of the economic crisis.

‘Our raw materials were always of high quality so that we could produce candles that burn well. We have also responded to our clients’ demands for natural candles, without additives”, Evi points out.

Candle making as an artform was practiced across many ancient civilizations including the Etruscans, Egyptians, Greeks and Persians.  In ancient Greece, candle makers made human effigies, wreaths and flowers for religious ceremonies. 

The Romans made the first wick candles, which were used for street and house lighting. 

WAKS was the first Greek company to develop candles and an essential feature of a warm and welcoming home.