Does your imagination of a Hawaiian vacation include the vibrance of exotic flowers? Sure. And intoxicating fragrances? Absolutely. And how about soy candles? Perhaps not, but lounging on the beach surrounded by exotic floral scents can cause a person to dream. Pursuit of a dream that included candles is just how Kokoro Candles got its start.

The Beginning

Sisters Heidi Cook and Robin Nelson, hailing from Gilroy, California, known as America’s garlic capital, must know about the power of pungent fragrances. So, while relaxing on a Maui beach, they dreamed of a business of their own based on the Islands’ exquisite olfactory stimulation and the romance it inspired.

From those dreams sprang a family enterprise based upon the quality of 100% soy candles, completely handmade, unsurpassed in quality and based upon the fragrances evocative of human occasionsspecial and mundane. Hence, Kokoro has come up with fragrance blends with names like Third Date (sensual blend of musk and sandalwood), Vacation (the lush tropical fragrance of tuberose) and Front Porch (soothing scents of green tea and jasmine).

The Heart

Every stage of the creation of Kokoro Candles is about handcrafting, artisanal quality, the finest ingredients and concern for the environment. From the moment they fire up the melting pot, to the moment they place the wick into their special glass, to the impressing of the final wax seal on the award winning packaging, only the hands of artisans touch your candle. No labeling machines, no assembly lines - just several dedicated craftspeople who assure every candle is the best on the market. Handcrafting leaves subtle variations and character that add immeasurably to the personal attention invested in every box.

What’s inside every box is equally special. The scents are among the most unique and sophisticated blends available anywhere. They are created from the finest 100% essential and blended fragrance oils available.

Kokoro's candles equal uncompromising quality. They are handmade of 100% soywax, which burns thirty percent longer and cleaner than paraffin. These candles also are biodegradable and soy wax is a renewable resource. Kokoro uses cotton braided vegetable dipped wicks to complete this eco-friendly delight.

Kokoro's candles will not smoke or add soot to a home’s atmosphere if the wicks are properly trimmed and the candle is not in a draft. As the Kokoro team explains, "trimming the wick to ¼ inch maintains a proper flame, keeps the candle burning evenly and maximizes the burn time."

The Highlights

We congratulate Kokoro for receiving positive media attention and numerous awards in its few short years in businessKokoro received the 2006 Summit Award Silver, 2006 Communicator Distinction Award, 2006 Curious Collection Creative Design Award, 2006 Silver Davey Award and was featured in "OK Magazine" Top 10 April 2006.

We're also proud to offer our customers a taste of Kokoro's delicious candles because Heidi and Robin donate a percentage of profits to environmental and marine preservation efforts. These contributions help fund research and conservation efforts and educational programs.

Outstanding job, Kokoro! You're offering a USA-handcrafted award-winning product while running your family business in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible way.

Gifts with style and relevance from a socially responsible small business . . .