Entry No. 48 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: hands-on
burn. Candle Bar
A DIY candle bar in the heart of Old Town Square where you build your own pour from 100% soy wax and a wall of nontoxic fragrances. Beyond candles, you can craft a reed diffuser or a room spray, and they specifically run date-night and girls'-night experiences. It is a low-pressure, scent-driven sit-down project for two.
The story
Kathryn Hutson set up burn. Candle Bar in Suite 104C of Old Town Square to turn candle shopping into a hands-on chemistry project. Instead of choosing from pre-poured jars on a shelf, you sit down at a long bar facing a grid of non-toxic fragrance oils, pick your glass container, and blend a custom scent profile into 100% soy wax, a room spray, or a reed diffuser.
The real insider move is hanging onto your vessel once the wax burns down. Every First Friday, the shop runs a refill event where you bring back any original burn. Candle Bar jar and get it refilled with fresh wax for ten dollars.
What it's like
You take a seat at the pour bar, grab a clip board, and nose your way through dozens of fragrance bottles to dial in your custom scent mix. Once you measure your oils and pour warm soy wax into your vessel, you hit the unavoidable physical bottleneck: soy wax takes at least an hour or two to set. Plan to leave your jar on their drying shelves, go grab a drink in Old Town, and swing back before closing to pick up the finished piece.
The move: Mix and pour your own custom-scented soy candles (or a diffuser) at a fragrance bar in Old Town Square.
📍 Before you go Reservations are recommended for date-night experiences; candles need time to set, so plan to either wait or come back for pickup.
- 📍 Old Town Fort Collins
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Old Town Square, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Social Underground Cocktail Bar — Duck into this subterranean speakeasy steps away to grab a drink while your poured candle sets on the shop shelf.
- Pinball Jones — Kill the two-hour wax cooling window by heading into this basement arcade right off the square to play pinball.
- EsScentuals — Walk a block away to compare burn.'s soy-pour bar with Old Town's long-running custom oil shop operating since 1990.
Good to know
How long does a pouring session take?
Mixing and pouring takes about 30 to 45 minutes at the bar, but your candle will need another hour or two to cool and harden before pickup.
How does the First Friday refill deal work?
Bring back any empty vessel originally made or bought at burn. Candle Bar on the first Friday of the month, and they will refill it for $10.
Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins are often accommodated, but reservations are strongly recommended for weekend date nights and group sessions.
Can I make something besides candles?
Yes, you can blend custom reed diffusers, room sprays, or perfumes using the fragrance wall if you don't want a candle.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: visitftcollins.com · downtownfortcollins.com · Yelp · Official site · voyagedenver.com
last checked: 2026-06-23