Richard Bates

3k followers

Hello, I'm Rich, the accidental candlemaker behind Wicks & Spritz! My journey began in quite literally the darkest time of my life. After a 13-year battle with Crohn's disease and then finding cancerous cells in my bowel at age 30, I found myself in emergency surgery fighting for my life. Not exactly how I planned to spend that year! That hospital room became the unlikely birthplace of something beautiful. Instead of letting it become my emergency stop, I was determined to swap fluorescent lighting and prescriptions for plant-based goodness that made every aspect of my life feel calmer and more healed. I started experimenting with candle making in my spare bedroom (because apparently that seemed like a sensible thing to do at the time?), and Wicks & Spritz was born.My passion stems from creating products that aren't just beautiful but truly healthy for people and their homes. After experiencing firsthand how synthetic fragrances affected my health, I became obsessed with creating 100% natural, plant-based fragrances that make spaces smell amazing without any nasty chemicals.Teaching our candle making workshops has become one of the most rewarding parts of this journey! For over three and a half years, we've been hosting events across the West Yorkshire and beyong, bringing our unique workshops to diverse audiences. There's something magical about watching someone's face light up (pun intended!) when they create something beautiful with their own hands. Teaching isn't just about passing on skills – it's about creating moments of joy, relaxation, and accomplishment for our students.What's something special or interesting about you or your experiences?I think what surprises most people is how this business literally saved my life. Creating Wicks & Spritz gave me purpose during recovery and beyond. Also, many people don't realise that conventional candles and home fragrances are often filled with harmful chemicals that can actually worsen conditions like mine. Our commitment to 100% plant-based ingredients isn't just marketing – it's deeply personal.From those first experimental pours to now, we've crafted over 40, 000 products and hosted candle making classes for over 100 incredible guests at a time and thousands over the years.While my background isn't in traditional candlemaking (surprise!), my journey through illness gave me an intimate understanding of how environmental factors affect wellbeing. I've become deeply knowledgeable about plant-based ingredients, essential oils, and sustainable production methods through years of research and hands-on experience. We regularly host Candle Making Classes at Harewood House, one of Yorkshire's most prestigious venues! We've also established our own dedicated space – The Candle Cottage in Baildon – where we run workshops, create our products, and welcome visitors. From my hospital bed to building what we lovingly call "the artisan Avengers" team, every step of this journey has been about creating something meaningful, sustainable, and joyful. I'd love to share this passion with you through our workshops or products!