By Hannah Gill
“Welcome to my hobbit hole,” said Mark Klimczak, the Old Louisville Candle Maker, as he unlocked the door to his basement wax workshop.
Drippings of colored wax blotted out the counter tops between metal casings of paraffin and wicks, while boxes of melted candles lay in a perfect mess about the floor. A deep pot of pink liquid cooled on the stove, smelling of some kind of desert but looking like Pepto-Bismol.
Commonly known as the Old Louisville Candlemaker (OLCM), Klimczak is becoming a staple among the local arts, and for reasons beyond the unique designs and appealing scents of his hand-made candles.
Nursing his love for candles since boyhood Klimczak said he has spent nearly 17 years developing a process to recycle and purify used wax. In 2000, he discovered a technique to render an environmentally-conscious wax that burns cleaner than paraffin. He dubbed his creation “Two Illume,” meaning twice lit, twice burned.
Klimczak’s business brings a whole new meaning to the term “Going Green.” Various recycling junkets around town supply OLCM with used candles that would otherwise find their way to the landfill.
Each candle is colored using food-grade dye and scented with pure essential oils, making them safe enough to eat, though it’s not recommended. Even the candle tags are printed on recycled paper with soy ink. OLCM products are also chemical-free, making their delightful aroma tolerant by most asthmatics. “My whole focus and vision with these candles is the environment,” said Klimczak.
In 2004, Klimczak was juried into the Kentucky Arts Council Craft Marketing Program, which now allows his products to bear the “Kentucky Crafted” symbol, assuring their high quality and design. His acceptance into this elite group of artists has allowed his business to grow beyond its “hobbit hole.”
“Amazing Grace,” a national foods store on Bardstown Road was one of the first places in town to carry Klimczak’s candles. Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, “Rainbow Blossom” on Lexington Road, and even areas of Northeast Michigan, the Wisconsin Dells and Chicago are now carrying products of OLCM.
Klimczak’s two-tone candles are easily recognizable. Most feature a colored cap with runs down the sides, but there are several other unique lines offered by OLCM.
The Whimsical line is a series of candles cast in molds of everything from peanut butter jars, to ketchup bottles, to soap dispensers. “I want people to find things in their homes that can be reborn and have one more use,” said Klimczak.
Coffee mugs, filled with 100 percent soy wax, are another OLCM favorite. Klimczak also offers several exclusive scents, such as Tangerine Evergreen, Celestial Water and Vanilla Cocoa Brule, just to name a few.
Artist, scientist and environmentalist, it has taken a bit of each, according to Klimczak, to establish such a progressive and creative business. In the coming years, he hopes to expand OLCM beyond its basement studio. “I want to bring people together that are environmentally conscious and want to make a difference,” he said.
