Candles are a popular styling choice for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Not only do they look beautiful on tables or around the ceremony space, but they also add a beautiful ambience when the sun goes down.
Whilst they might look good, there are a few logistical issues with traditional candles; they spill wax onto tables and floors as well as the vessel that holds them, they are a fire hazard with candles being easily knocked over by guests, and they aren’t always made with safe ingredients.
We are delighted to discover an innovative solution to the traditional candle with Chameleon Sand Candle. We asked the team all about their product and how this is going to revolutionise the way we use candles at weddings.
Floral styling – @wilde_little_bloome // Photography – @seanreefmanphotography // Planning, styling & coordination – @coastalelopes
Firstly, who are Chameleon Sand Candles?
Back in 2021, the wedding and events industry was still deeply reliant on traditional pillar candles — beautiful, but often messy, wasteful, and labor-intensive. Event planners and venues were burdened with constant resets, difficult cleanup, and materials that didn’t align with the health-conscious, design-driven spaces they were creating.
With backgrounds in environmental health, we recognised an urgent need for a safer, more sustainable solution — something that not only looked stunning but also aligned with values of wellness, innovation, and environmental responsibility.
That vision led to the creation of Chameleon Sand Candle: a clean-burning, plant-based, refillable alternative that replaces toxic wax with our exclusive, pure white candle sand. Designed to protect both people and the planet, our candle sand eliminates wax mess, reduces waste, and allows for effortless, elevated styling.
What began as a personal mission has since evolved into a movement — one that is reshaping how we think about candlelight in premium spaces.
By 2025, Chameleon is proudly Australian made and owned, with a growing global following. We continue to innovate from our home base in Perth, where we also offer a premium, white-glove candle styling service for weddings and events. For wholesale and retail clients, our candle sand is available Australia-wide and internationally, bringing our consciously crafted product into homes, hospitality venues, and styling studios around the world.
Our offering is twofold:
Styling Services: For weddings and events, we provide full-service, bespoke candle styling using our own in-house manufactured candle sand. Every setup is refined, safe, and styled to perfection — a seamless fusion of aesthetics and practicality.
Product Supply: For industry professionals, retailers, and interior stylists, we offer premium wholesale and retail access to our candle sand. Our clients value not just the look, but also the health-safe materials, sustainability credentials, and consistent product excellence.
We’re also the only candle styling company that manufactures its own products, giving us full control over quality and innovation. Our candle sand is RSPO-certified, fully biodegradable, home-compostable, and free from dyes or toxins. We have established our own industry standards — from Chameleon fill heights to handling protocols — because true luxury means never compromising on safety or detail.
And why the name Chameleon? Because our product, like the animal, adapts beautifully to its surroundings. Whether it’s a casual mid-week dinner or an elaborate wedding installation, our candle sand transitions effortlessly — always elegant, always appropriate, always safe.
We’re not just redefining candles. We’re redefining the experience of candlelight itself.
Photo: Kapture Moment
Tell us, what are sand candles, and how are they different from traditional candles?
Sand candles, like our Chameleon Sand Candle, represent a unique and innovative approach to candle making. Unlike traditional candles, which are typically made from a solid block of wax, sand candles consist of granulated wax – we like to call it ‘candle sand’. This granulated wax is 100% plant-based and non-toxic, offering a cleaner, more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paraffin-based candles.
The key distinction lies in their versatility and sustainability. Sand candles allow users to pour the granulated wax into any vessel of their choosing, enabling endless creativity and personalisation in home décor. Each use offers the opportunity to create a completely new candle design, catering to individual style preferences and occasions. This reusable aspect significantly reduces waste, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious living.
Moreover, our Chameleon Sand Candle is designed with safety and health in mind. The plant-based wax is free from synthetic dyes and fragrances, making it a safer choice for individuals with allergies or sensitivities and for those who are mindful of indoor air quality. Our commitment to using lead-free wicks and biodegradable packaging further underscores our dedication to environmental consciousness.
Stylist – @roseandlilyfloralhaus // Photos – @curatedst
What are sand candles made of?
Chameleon Sand Candles are crafted from a blend of 100% plant-based, non-toxic materials. This ensures that our candles are environmentally friendly and sustainable, aligning with our ethos of nurturing the planet and prioritising consumer health.
The main component of our sand candles is a granulated wax made from natural, renewable resources. This plant-based wax forms the ‘sand’ part of the candle, offering a clean-burning and eco-friendly alternative to traditional paraffin wax, which is a by-product of petroleum and has various environmental and health concerns associated with its use.
In addition to the eco-conscious wax, our candles feature lead-free wicks. This choice further ensures that burning our candles does not release harmful toxins into the air, safeguarding the health of our customers and the environment.
Lastly, an integral part of our product’s sustainability is its packaging. We use biodegradable packaging materials, including FSC-certified cardboard for the tubes. This commitment extends to not only the candles themselves but also to how they are presented and delivered, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint from production to customer.
Styling, florals – @sakevents // Photography – @ivyandco.photography
What are the benefits of using sand candles over traditional candles?
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable: Unlike traditional candles, often made from paraffin, a by-product of petroleum refining, sand candles are crafted from 100% plant-based materials. This makes them a more environmentally sustainable option. Additionally, our commitment to biodegradable packaging and lead-free wicks further reduces the ecological impact.
Reusable and Versatile: One of the most striking advantages of sand candles is their reusability. You can pour the granulated wax into any vessel, creating a new candle each time. This versatility not only encourages creativity in home decor but also significantly reduces waste, as there’s no need to discard the candle after a single use.
Customizable Experience: Sand candles cater to personal taste and style. You can choose the size, shape, and container for your candle, making each creation unique. Customisation extends to scent as well – while our candles are naturally fragrance-free, customers can add their choice of essential oils to personalise the aroma.
Improved Safety and Health Benefits: Our candles are safer for indoor environments. Being free from synthetic dyes and fragrances, they are less likely to trigger allergies, asthma, or headaches. The self-extinguishing nature of sand candles also enhances safety, as the sand naturally smothers the flame if the candle is tipped over.
Fresh Candle Every Time: With replaceable wicks and the ability to reshape the candle sand, you can enjoy a fresh candle experience each time. This feature is particularly appealing for those who value a clean, unblemished aesthetic in their decor.
Cost-Effective: The longevity and reusable nature of sand candles make them a cost-effective choice. Instead of buying new candles regularly, you can continuously recreate with the same granulated wax, offering value over time.
Aligns with a Conscious Lifestyle: For customers who prioritise sustainability and health, sand candles are an ideal choice. They align with a lifestyle that values eco-conscious, health-friendly, and creative products.
Photographer & videographer – @_untamedcreative_ // Planner, Co-ordinator, stylist – @panoramaeventsaus // Florist – @sugared_style
How are sand candles less messy than traditional candles?
No Wax Drips: Traditional candles often melt unevenly, leading to wax dripping down the sides and potentially damaging surfaces. Sand candles, on the other hand, contain the wax granules within the vessel. This design prevents any mess from wax drips, ensuring a clean and tidy burning experience.
Easy Clean-Up: After the candle has been used, cleaning up is simple. The granulated wax can be easily poured back into its storage container or into a new vessel for reuse. There’s no hardened wax to scrape off surfaces, which is often a tedious and time-consuming task with regular candles.
No Residue on Vessels: With traditional candles, especially pillar types, the wax often leaves residue inside or around the candle holder, requiring additional cleaning effort. Sand candles, conversely, leave minimal to no residue, making the vessel ready for immediate reuse or a quick wash.
Self-Extinguishing Feature: In case a sand candle is accidentally tipped over, the sand-like wax naturally smothers the flame, preventing the spread of wax and flame. This not only enhances safety but also minimises mess, unlike traditional candles, where spilled wax can be a concern.
Consistent Aesthetics: Traditional candles can become unsightly after burning for a while, with uneven surfaces and blackened wicks. Sand candles maintain their aesthetic appeal, as you can always rearrange the sand and replace the wick for a fresh, clean look every time.
Photo: 444 Love
How are sand candles more environmentally friendly?
Plant-Based Materials: Our sand candles are made from 100% plant-based wax, a renewable and biodegradable resource. This contrasts with traditional candles, often made from paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum refining, which has environmental concerns related to its extraction and use.
Reduced Waste: The reusable nature of sand candles significantly cuts down on waste. Unlike traditional candles that are discarded after burning, the granulated wax in sand candles can be used repeatedly, reducing the frequency of purchasing new candles and thereby the associated packaging and transportation impacts.
Biodegradable Packaging: Prioritise eco-friendly packaging for our products. Our packaging materials, including FSC-certified cardboard tubes, are biodegradable, minimising our impact on landfills and promoting sustainable disposal practices.
No Synthetic Additives: Sand candles are free from synthetic dyes and fragrances, which can have detrimental environmental effects during their production and use. By avoiding these chemicals, our candles are safer for the environment and indoor air quality.
Energy-Efficient Production: The manufacturing process of plant-based wax used in sand candles generally requires less energy compared to the production of paraffin wax. This lower energy consumption contributes to a smaller carbon footprint.
Transport Efficiency: The compact and durable nature of sand candles allows for more efficient packing and transportation compared to traditional candles, which often require more protective packaging due to their fragility. This efficiency can result in reduced emissions from transportation logistics.
Planning, Styling & Floral – @artdefleurid // Photography – @lamomentphotography
Why is there less waste with sand candles?
Reusability of Wax: The granulated wax in sand candles can be used multiple times. Unlike traditional candles that diminish and cannot be reused once fully burned, the wax granules in sand candles maintain their form and function, allowing for repeated use in various settings and designs.
Versatility in Containers: Sand candles enable the use of a wide range of vessels, from specially designed containers to everyday items in your home. This versatility means you can repurpose and recycle containers that might otherwise contribute to waste.>
Controlled Consumption: With sand candles, you have the control to decide how much wax to use each time, depending on the size of the vessel and desired burn time. This control helps in efficiently utilising the wax without excess consumption.
Minimal Residue Left Behind: As sand candles burn cleanly and leave minimal residue, there’s less waste in terms of cleaning and maintaining candle holders, further reducing the need for additional products and resources for maintenance.
Sustainable Florist @eukafloraldesign // Photography @redeclectic
Why are sand candles perfect for weddings?
Our candles are unlike anything else in the wedding industry. Instead of traditional wax pillars or tea lights, our exclusive, non-toxic white candle sand offers a safer, cleaner and more refined alternative. Free from fragrance and dyes, it’s healthier for all guests, including children and those with sensitivities. There’s no wax mess or soot, a reduced risk of damage to venues, and every vessel can be styled with precision for a polished, cohesive look.
Our candle sand is RSPO-certified, biodegradable and home-compostable, making it a conscious choice for modern weddings. As the only candle styling company in Australia that manufactures its own product, we can also ensure premium quality, sustainability and white-glove service, so couples and planners can enjoy effortless elegance without compromise.
We supply all vessels as part of our white-glove candle styling service in Perth, using a curated range of glass cylinders from 10cm to 68cm in height to create layered, atmospheric light. Every setup is fully managed and styled to perfection, meaning there’s no need to source or clean a thing.
For retail customers, we also offer a selection of revalued, repurposed glass vessels via our website, which are ideal for those wishing to enjoy our signature, sustainable candlelight experience at home.
Couples can personalise their candle styling through our extensive Candle Menu, which features a curated range of premium vessel styles, sizes and formats, designed to create layered light and match any wedding aesthetic. From elegant glass cylinders (ranging from 10cm to 68cm) to floating candles, ceramics, tealights, tapered candles with sleeves and even custom installations, we tailor each setup to reflect the mood, colour palette and visual tone of the event. Whether it’s soft romance, modern minimalism or bold architectural lighting, our styling team brings each couple’s candlelight vision to life – safely, sustainably and with signature Chameleon precision.
Once couples have secured their venue and begun envisioning their tablescapes, our team steps in to provide expert guidance on creating the perfect candlelight atmosphere. From advising on vessel combinations and candle quantities to designing layouts that complement the space, we offer tailored recommendations at every step. We encourage early bookings to ensure availability, but we remain committed to providing flexible, thoughtful solutions and personalised service that supports each couple’s unique vision.
Photo: Westerly
What are some of your favourite ways candles are used at events like weddings?
Our candles currently feature in candle rituals offered by Sofitel hotels across Australia. Hundreds of our sand candles also lit up the ABIA Awards in Queensland and Perth recently, creating an unforgettable ambience, and in a wedding held inside a cave, we installed 150 sand candles and 100 LED tealights to achieve a breathtaking, subterranean glow.
Styling – @peteswindellscreative / Photography – @sophiepatriciaphotography
Couples, stylists, wedding planners and venue operators, this is a new era for candles, and we think you’re going to love it. For more information about Chameleon Sand Candles and how you can get your own, check them out here.
Originally shared on Mindfully Wed, this story is now part of Polka Dot Wedding. Find out more about the move here.
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