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Eagles on the Connecticut River

Posted by Brenda Hunter on 4/22/2017 to General
The come back of the Bald Eagles on the Connecticut River are so wonderful to see.  When we first opened our business back in 2007, we would be so excited to capture a glimpse of this beautiful bird but it wouldn't happen often.  However over the past few years, the eagles have become a regular site along the banks of the Connecticut River.  We'll often see them soaring by with a fish in their claws or teaching their young to fly high above the river. Here are a few of the photos I've captured of these beautiful creature but if you crave more, sign up for a river cruise with the CT RiverQuest. Their dock is located at Eagle Landing in Haddam and you can reserve seats on their website.


NEW FALL FRAGRANCES

Posted by Brenda Hunter on 10/7/2016 to Announcements

CT Animal House

Posted by Brenda Hunter on 7/18/2016 to General
The CT Animal House has a simple mission:

"Our mission is dedicated to ending euthanasia of adoptable dogs by providing medical, and behavioral training to CT pound animals so that each one has the best chance at adoption". 

We've dedicated this blog post to the CT Animal House in hopes that bringing attention to this organization on our blog will bring them support in the form of donations, product purchases, attending events or most importantly giving one of their rescues a forever home.  One of the ways we help is to provide soy candles featuring their logo which they in turn sell at events to raise awareness and funds.  To read more about this worthwhile organization, visit their social media links.  NOTE: All doggies shown below are available for adoption as of this date!!


Lilly































Jeter





































Ozzy

























Harriet



















Soy Candles

Love Both of These New Scents

Posted by Brenda Hunter on 2/24/2016 to Announcements
Every year around this time we start thinking about new scents for Spring and Summer.  We found two that we really love.  That brings our total scent list somewhere between 75-80 fragrances. You're probably thinking only two new scents??  Trust me, we test many before we decide on adding new scents to our lineup and we think you'll agree these are winners.

New Fall Scents

Posted by Administrator on 9/1/2015 to Announcements
It's that time of year again where customers are looking for fragrances that say "Fall". Well, as in the past, we are announcing some new scents just for this time of year, Autumn Spice and County Fair. It's hard to choose between them because they are both so good. Autumn Spice is just that, lots of spices, like cinnamon stick, nutmeg, ginger, clove and even a touch of pumpkin. County Fair, says Fall, but in a different way. This fragrance combines Candied Apples, Cotton Candy and Caramel and has aptly been named County Fair. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have finding them for you!!  Also here's a list of Connecticut County Fairs for Fall 2015.

 


What's in a Name?

Posted by Administrator on 4/6/2015 to General
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We're often asked why we named our company after the Connecticut River. In looking back, there wasn't much thought given to what the company name should be. I had just begun researching the process of making soy candles for my own use and that was around the same time we were moving to a new house. You guessed it, the house is located on the Connecticut River. I remember my husband's face when I showed him that first soy candle sporting a label with the name "CT River Candles". I didn't have room on the label to spell out Connecticut, so used the state abbreviation. I didn't give much thought to the design of the label. To spruce it up and add some color, I chose one of the many photos I have of the river taken while we were boating. We looked for a house on the river because we love boating and what better place to do it then on the gorgeous the Connecticut River. So after I showed my husband that first candle, his response was that's a great name for a candle company.  I really thought he was just kidding but he wasn't and as you can see, I wasn't either.  I got to work testing and researching the art of candle making with soy wax and the rest is history. We continue to build our company around what inspired it's name. We've since trademarked the name and all candle labels display various photos that we have taken on our boating trips.  Always searching for a new photo to add to some of our favorites, such as the Goodspeed Opera House perched over the river. The Becky Thatcher making it way north or south with a load of passengers or that solo fisherman anchored, patiently waiting for a tug on his line. When pairing a photo with a scent, I often pick a season to compliment the scent. For example, Macintosh Apple is paired with a gorgeous stretch of Fall Foliage along the riverbank. My hope is I can pass the beauty that we feel so fortunate to see everyday to our customers in the form of a soy candle that will provide hours of fragrance using clean burning soy wax, the finest fragrances and cotton wicks.  Yes, it's about the river but more importantly, it's about providing the best soy candle for our customers enjoyment.
Written by Brenda Hunter, Founder and CEO of CT River Candles



The Compassionate Friends Organization

Posted by Administrator on 3/27/2015 to Announcements
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Please Join us in Supporting the Compassionate Friends Organization. A wonderful organization that support families after losing a child. This is a very personal choice for Brenda Hunter, the owner of CT River Candles.  She hopes in telling her story it will help other families during their grief process.



Meet Mini

Posted by Administrator on 3/18/2015 to Announcements
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New Mini Jar - 4 oz of Fun Fragrance

Valentine's Day Scents

Posted by Administrator on 1/17/2015 to Announcements
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Perfect Scents for Valentine's Day


Meet Summit

Posted by Administrator on 11/8/2014 to Announcements
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Meet the New "CT River Dog" SUMMIT

Summit, our new Great Pyrenees Pup, come home on August 1, 2014. 
A fluffy ball of white fur and looking like a baby polar bear, he was just so adorable.




Now almost five months and many pounds bigger, but still many pounds to go, he is still adorable and so much fun. This photo was taken on Halloween in his costume :)



The reason I call him the New CT River Dog is because it was the name we gave my Yellow Lab, Dakota, when we first moved to our home on the Connecticut River. Dakota would love to make his way to the riverbank and jump around in the water.  Unfortunately Dakota went to The Rainbow Bridge this past December after giving us almost 14 years of devoted love. We miss him lots but are glad that we now have Summit to give us daily does of dog smooches.

Dakota

The name CT River Dog also become known for one of the products I added to my candle line several year backs.  Our Soy Wax Dipped Plush Dog Air Fresheners.  You're thinking what are those?  Well it's simple, you take a small plush stuffed animal and dip it into scented soy wax.  Once it sets up you're left with an adorable air freshener, perfect for kid's room or anywhere you want scent without a flame.  While we started with a Yellow Lab, we now offer many dog breeds as well as a variety of cats.  This photo shows the how the air freshener looks after it's been dipped and placed on the wooden stand.



Frosting - What is it?

Posted by Administrator on 9/24/2014 to Candle Care
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Why it's important to know:


New Fall Scents

Posted by Administrator on 9/18/2014 to Announcements
Fall is the perfect time of year to burn soy candles.  Pumpkin Pecan Waffles Type, one of our newest Fall scents is yum in a jar.



Our First Radio Ad

Posted by Administrator on 5/31/2014 to Announcements


We've been thinking about doing a radio spot on our company for a few months and decided to choose a local radio station to work with.  WLIS-WMRD is a local radio station that covers the shoreline and as far north as Hartford.  Because they are local and well known in a large part of Connecticut, we felt they would be a good fit to create our ad. Being a bit nervous about what to expect I arrived at the radio station and was immediately put at ease by the friendly staff.  We got to work right away and after a few recordings, I was told we would good to go.  They would have to do some minor editing including adding some music.  The first airing would be Wednesday, May 28, 2014.  We also decided that combining a fun candle giveaway in conjunction with our ad would be a great way to get listeners involved and learn more about our soy candles.  So without further adieu...here's our radio ad combined with some beautiful photos of the Connecticut River.  Note this link will redirect to YouTube.  Please feel free to share with others. 

An Annual Event: The Spring Flooding of the Connecticut River

Posted by Administrator on 4/15/2014 to Announcements

         It's April 15, 2014 and heavy rain is forecast for Connecticut. Not such perfect timing as the almost clockwork event of the CT River spring flooding is upon us. It doesn't seem like Spring in CT unless we hear about the rise of the waters of the Connecticut River. Often impacted by the snow melt in Vermont, this year is sure to have an impact with the record snowfalls in the North. So how does this year compare to previous ones? Without getting into measurements, there are a several landmarks located on the river that visually tell us how it compares to previous years. 

       One is the Canoe Club, aka the renamed Harbor Park Restaurant in Middletown. This stretch of the river is notorious for flooding as is the Portland Fairgrounds and low lying areas in Cromwell. It's not unusual in years past to see the water surrounding the restaurant and parking lot. I can recall it rising over the highway adjacent to the restaurant in previous years. As we head south down the river the impact is less but still noticeable as the water makes its way onto shore and submerging trees. 

       We are witness to this event yearly as our house sits on the banks of the Connecticut River but at a height of almost 60 feet, we are thankfully spared the worry of water lapping at our doorstep. Some of the worst flooding on the Connecticut River was the Flood of 1936 as witnessed by some of the photos


Riverbank in Haddam, Connecticut, Spring 2014


Harbor Park, Middletown, Connecticut, Spring 2011

Harbor Park, Middletown, Connecticut, Spring 2011

Hartford, Flood of 1936

Hartford, Flood of 1936

Floral Candle Scents Perfect for Springtime

Posted by Administrator on 3/31/2014 to Soy Candles
Spring is here but Winter is not going out like a Lamb. To get you in the mood and ready for Spring and warmer weather, we wanted to spotlight some of our Floral Fragrances listed in no particular order. Review descriptions of all fragrances.

Lily of the Valley ~ Color: Natural White This is a wonderful fragrance which captures the scent of this flower beautifully. A clean, fresh floral.
     

Honeysuckle Jasmine ~ Color: Natural white soy Lot's of honeysuckle with just the right touch of jasmine. This may remind you of the one in the JM candle line.

Lavender ~ A lovely sweet, crisp floral scent like an enchanting meadow fringed with springs of lavender.

Lilac ~ Color: Light Purple Such beautiful flowers and this candle captures them perfectly. Smells like true lilacs in full bloom. A strong realistic scent.

Plumeria ~ A floral scent of the most beautiful flowering trees of the tropics. Smells very similar to a well know BB Plumeria.

Birds of Paradise ~ A floral aroma with base notes of strawberry, vanilla, sweet pomegranate with hints of soft jasmine, rose petals and coconut.



Hand Poured Pet Odor Eliminator Soy Candle

Posted by Administrator on 2/7/2014 to Announcements
We're pleased to announce we have a new Pet Odor Eliminator Soy Candle that will help to eliminate those pesky pet, smoke and cooking odors. Made with 100% soy wax, cotton wicks, this spice fragrance is infused with natural essential oils, including Orange, Grapefruit and Cinnamon. This fragrance is available in both our 8oz and 16oz jars and has an adorable label featuring a photograph by R.L. Heller Photography from Lancaster, PA. Shop online at www.ctrivercandles.com for this candles or others available in over 75 scents handmade by CT River Candles in Haddam, Connecticut.


Favorite Holiday Fragrances

Posted by Administrator on 11/18/2013 to Announcements


























When you think fragrances, you think holidays. With Thanksgiving and then Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to focus some of our most popular fragrances.  You can't go wrong selecting one of these to make your home warm and inviting for the holidays.

MISTLETOE AND BERRIES
This was one of our first holiday fragrances and it continues to be a best seller year after year.  A festive pine scent with notes of berries, green apple and mistletoe. One of our most popular fall and winter scents. 

CHESTNUTS AND BROWN SUGAR
Another new scent this year, this fragrance is just awesome.  It has a sweetness but not too much. A combination of sweet roasted southern pecans and hazelnuts drenched in buttery brown sugar, sweet coconut and vanilla toffee. The coconut gives this a nice twist.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
Our new favorite and very popular, Country Christmas combines orange spice notes from the kitchen, fir and pine notes from the Christmas tree, and an earthy smokiness from the fireplace. It's Christmas Eve, in a bottle, any time.

NUTMEG CLOVE
Spice lovers this one is for you! A combination of warm spicy nutmeg, tangy clove and a touch of cinnamon. A very inviting and welcoming scent. New to our fragrance lineup this 
year and already very popular.

PUMPKIN SOUFFLE
Everyone loves pumpkin scents and this one doesn't disappoint.  A realistic fragrance bursting with fresh pumpkin, delicious notes of butter, sugar, and lots of spicy cinnamon and nutmeg, complete this bakery fragrance.


Candle Care 101

Posted by Administrator on 9/12/2013 to Candle Care
We find that many people are not aware of how to burn soy candles to achieve the best scent and most efficient burn. It's all about the length of time you burn the candle and if you trim the wick correctly. A typical question we hear is why does the candle burn down the middle and leave lots of wax on the sides of the jar, this is called tunneling.  This can be caused by not burning the candle long enough for it to reach an full melt pool. The rule of thumb is for each time you light the candle, plan on burning 1 hour for each inch of jar diameter. For example, a 3 inch jar, 3 hours is the rule. The wick should always be kept trimmed to 1/4 inch before you begin and after the burn timeframe. Sometimes you may have to blow out the candle during the burn period and trim the wick. Where you place the candle during burning can also have an impact on burn times. Keep the candle out of drafts and never leave a candle burning unattended. If you follow these directions and the candle tunnels than most likely the candle has not been wicked properly. Additional Candle Care information can be found on our website


High Connecticut River Hurts Boating Season

Posted by Administrator on 7/9/2013 to Announcements
The Connecticut River isn't looking very pretty this season. There is so much debris coming down the river it has become difficult for boaters to navigate nevermind swim on off the shores. The high water has taken lots of dirt from the banks resulting in very muddy waters. It's common place to see logs, brush and even full trees floating down the river. It's an obstacle course for boaters whose props can be severely damaged if they come in contact with the fast moving debris. Even Long Island sound has not been spared from the river's condition.  This photo was taken a couple miles out from where the river meets Long Island Sound just south of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It was really quite amazing to see.

















In addition to boaters being inconvenienced by the debris laden river, those interested in seeing the fireworks at the Riverfest in Hartford were also disappointed.  This event was cancelled due to the high water, abundant debris and unsafe navigating conditions for the barges carrying fireworks.

Farther north in Hadley, Massachusetts, marina patrons were complaining it's been the worse boating season ever as they are having their boats taken out of the water for fear of  them being damaged by heavy logs in the strong current.

This photo taken from the river looking at Middlesex Yacht Club in Chester, Connecticut, show piled up debris and logs caught against the docks.

















This last photo was taken in Haddam, Connecticut.  It shows how high the river is as it engulfs this sidewalk 
and inches up the staircase.

The Shad are Back

Posted by Administrator on 5/7/2013 to Announcements

You know it's Spring when the Shad come back to the Connecticut River.  There are "Shad for Sale" signs posted along Saybrook Road.  The local Lions Club will soon be holding their Shad Bake using this fish as it's main course.  It's really quite remarkable how these fish swim so far to spawn and then like many other species die after completing this task. However many are caught on their way north in nets by the Shad Fishermen.  They can be seen in their boats after dark placing their nets in just the right areas to catch these fish.


Closed now, the Shad Shack, located on Saybrook Road in Haddam, Connecticut is a historic reminder of how long the Shad Run has been part of this area.