Oxford Street Candle Making Workshop on Wednesdays: STANZA

Every Wednesday from 19:30 to 21:30, the Italian-rooted candle brand STANZA Artigiana takes over Cafe Jamie Oliver on the third floor of John Lewis, 300 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DX, for a public candle making workshop. A place costs £89 per person and covers fragrance guidance, all the materials and a hand-poured soy candle you carry home that night. The class is for ages 16 and over and holds a maximum of 12 guests, which keeps it closer to a dinner party than a lecture.

STANZA Artigiana began in London in 2019. Its founder, Danilo Ranaldi, is a fragrance specialist who trained with The Fragrance Foundation UK, and the name comes from the Italian word for room. For five years the label had a boutique, but the brand's own story page explains that when the shop closed at the end of 2024, STANZA changed shape. Rather than signing a new lease, it now sells online and brings its workshops to partner venues, which is how a candle class ended up beside a department store cookery school.

That history matters for anyone booking. There is no STANZA counter to browse before you commit, and the registered address in the website footer is an office, not somewhere to turn up. The public Wednesday class happens only at the café, next door to the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, and the brand notes that other workshops can use different venues. Read the location line on the specific listing you are buying.

The session runs in a fixed order. It starts with fragrance discovery: guests smell a spread of scent notes, talk through the fragrance families and say what each one reminds them of, whether that is a grandmother's kitchen or a summer in Puglia. Next comes blending, where you pick a combination you love with Danilo or his team steering you away from mixes that clash. Then the pour: you learn to make a soy candle with premium fragrance oils, and finally you leave with the finished candle.

Because the evening is two hours long rather than a quick hour, there is room to change your mind. Use that time to test two or three directions before settling. Italian heritage runs through the house range, from citrus groves to herb gardens, and the scents on the table lean that way too. If you prefer something smoky or very sweet, say so early and the host will point you to the right bottles.

STANZA accepts cancellations up to 48 hours before the session, which is more forgiving than many London studios that refuse refunds outright. Date slots sit in a booking calendar on the brand's site, and the workshop page asks you to pick an available Wednesday there before paying. Your ticket includes expert guidance, fragrance selection, materials and the candle itself, so there is nothing to bring and no surprise surcharge at the table.

The 16-plus rule applies to the public Wednesday class only. Families can arrange a private session adapted for children from age five, as long as adults come too, and those private events can be set up at an agreed London venue. Companies can book guided team workshops for groups of 6 to 30 people at an office or event space. Private and corporate formats are quoted separately rather than at the £89 public price.

The 19:30 start suits people coming straight from work in Marylebone and Mayfair, and the brand's own pitch is that you can come with a friend, make it a date or join on your own. With twelve seats, expect a table that mixes pairs of friends, couples trading a restaurant for something hands-on, and solo guests on a midweek treat. Reviews from past guests are collected on ClassBento, which also sells some STANZA sessions at other locations.

An honest note on value: £89 is near the top of what London candle classes charge. You are paying for two hours with a trained fragrance specialist rather than an hour of pouring, and for a central venue that is easy to reach. If all you want is a quick pour with a pre-mixed scent, cheaper options exist. If you care about building a blend and understanding why it works, the extra time earns its price.

Bond Street station, on the Elizabeth, Central and Jubilee lines, is the closest stop, and Oxford Circus is a short walk east. With a 19:30 start, the smart move is an early dinner. James Street and St Christopher's Place, a pedestrian lane lined with small restaurants, sit just across Oxford Street from John Lewis. Cavendish Square, directly behind the store, is a quiet place to wait if you arrive early.

After the class, Marylebone Lane winds north toward Wigmore Street and Marylebone High Street, which is calmer than Oxford Street at night. If you are heading for the Elizabeth line, walk west past the Selfridges windows to Bond Street station. Carry your candle upright in the bag you are given: a soy candle poured that evening is still soft at the top, and a tilted journey home can leave a dent in the surface.

The public STANZA class only runs midweek, so weekend planners need another route. Earl of East holds its £55, one-hour Beginners Candle Making Workshop in Quadrant Arcade off Regent Street, about fifteen minutes' walk away. For a private STANZA session on a date that suits your group, the brand takes enquiries through its website with your preferred date, group size and venue.

Venue: Cafe Jamie Oliver, third floor, John Lewis, 300 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DX, next to the Jamie Oliver Cookery School. Schedule: Wednesdays, 19:30 to 21:30 London time. Price: £89 per person, materials and candle included. Ages 16 and over, maximum 12 guests, no experience needed. Cancellations accepted up to 48 hours before the session. Private sessions from age five with adults, corporate groups of 6 to 30. Nearest stations: Bond Street and Oxford Circus. For a late table nearby once your candle is wrapped, ask Karpo in the Karpo APP.