FIELD NOTES · FOLKLORE · CANDLECRAFT
Notes from the waterline.
Stories, places and practical notes from around the Minch — from old folklore and remote lighthouses to the quieter details of candles and the way we use them.
THE JOURNAL
A little further
beyond the candle.
The names in our collection come from somewhere. Behind them are stretches of water, headlands, northern skies, seafarers and stories passed down through generations.
The Journal is where we explore those stories properly — alongside useful notes on fragrance, wax, candle care and the small rituals that make a room feel like your own.
START HERE
Stories of the Minch.
ALL NOTES
From the Journal.
The latest stories, guides and field notes from The Minch Candle Co.
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Northern Lights in Scotland: Watching the Aurora Borealis
On the right night, the sky above northern Scotland can begin to glow, shift and move. Here is what causes the Northern Lights — and how to give yourself the best chance of seeing them.
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Coconut Wax Candles: 10 Benefits and What to Know
Coconut wax is a soft, plant-derived candle wax made from processed coconut oil. It offers some useful properties for container candles, but many of the claims made about it need a little context.
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How to Fix Candles That Burn Unevenly
If a candle burns straight down the middle and leaves wax around the sides, it is tunnelling. Here’s how to rescue an uneven candle and prevent the problem from happening again.
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Britain’s Largest Meteorite Impact: The Mystery Beneath the Minch
Around one billion years ago, a huge meteorite struck northwest Scotland. Its debris survives in rocks near Ullapool, but the crater itself remains hidden — possibly beneath the Minch.
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Bothies
Scattered through some of Scotland’s wildest landscapes are simple unlocked shelters known as bothies. Here’s what they are, how they work and what to know before spending a night in one.
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Vikings on the Minch
The Vikings did more than raid Scotland’s western islands. For centuries, Lewis and the Outer Hebrides formed part of a Norse maritime world whose influence can still be traced today.