Shadowflame Creations
My name is Damon Phelps, the owner and sole member of this humble shop. I am FTM (female to male) transgender, an animal lover, a crafter, candlemaker, and watercolor artist.
You can find my website here at: https://www.shadowflamecreations.com
This humble shop has been a passion project of mine since 2010, when I was in my sophomore year of high school. It began as a hobby to keep me busy. At the time I was making palm wax and paraffin wax candles to gift to my fellow classmates and teachers. It was something fun and entertaining to do, and the gifts were well appreciated by those that received them. We gradually moved on to making soy wax as it is more environmentally friendly and sourced from the USA.
About the Candles and Collections We Make!
I started thinking about creating not just candles, but candle collections. Themed candles. Soon, the Explorer Collection was formed! I had help from friends to make the labels and designs (check out their DA Here) but the scents and general theme were unique to me and things that interested me. I wanted it to be like a mini expedition, especially since it was created during Covid-19 when most people were stuck at home. I also wanted it to be safe for birds, because we own birds and other animals. The gems we use for our Explorer Collection come from a local business as well.
The candles that we make at Shadowflame Creations are made with 100% Soy Wax. This was a deliberate choice, as paraffin wax is toxic to birds. With prolonged use paraffin is also harmful to people and other pets, but birds especially. We also ensure that the scents that we use are carcinogen free, phthalate free, and free of other toxins commonly used in fragrances. We wanted a product that would be good for everyone, including pets of all sorts. While this isn't the most cost effective route, it is the most ecologically friendly route. We also use cotton and paper core wicks and do not use zinc core wicks. We don't use uv stabilizers, vybar, or any other additives in our products. We also make a conscious effort to ensure that our raw materials are coming from US owned and operated locations and not from overseas.
Recyclability is another thing that we look at when choosing our packing materials. The materials that we use are either sourced from pre-recycled materials or are recyclable themselves, or a mix of both! We encourage people to find creative and unique ways to recycle their materials, like turning the metal tins from our Explorer Collection into trinket containers or using them in craft projects.
Why make them safe for birds?
The folks at Ziggy's Haven are another reason I started looking at candles more seriously. They rescue parrots from all walks of life, and take on parrots that are surrendered by those who can no longer care for them. The owner wanted to offer the soy candles that I make in their shop as an education point because they have had parrot owners unknowingly place their birds at harm by using paraffin wax candles near them.
Unfortunately parrots lungs are small compared to their body size. They're also not great at filtering out toxins, and anything inhaled metabolizes directly into their bloodstream. Paraffin wax is a petroleum or shale derived product depending on the way it is manufactured, but both are toxic to birds and can result in death when used near a parrot.
Thanks to Ziggy's Haven's continued support, and the support of friends and family, Shadowflame Creations now has LLC status! This exciting venture has brought about this website, which will be improved upon as time goes on.
A portion of our sales gets donated to Ziggy's Haven Parrot Sanctuary for the continued enrichment and improvement of outdoor aviaries and indoor spaces.
