After returning from a trip to Mexico last fall, Affton Coffelt decided to start making candles for her friends and family, which eventually transformed into Broken Top Candle Co.

In the 14 months since the company was founded in Bend, Broken Top Candle Co. has started selling scented candles in stores in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Coffelt says the company ships around 500 candles every week.

“I started making candles, and everyone and their mother wanted to buy them,” Coffelt said.

Soy and paraffin wax are two of the most common materials used in the commercial candle industry, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Coffelt said candles made entirely of soy wax can lose their scent after several uses, while paraffin requires petroleum. Broken Top Candle Co.’s products use a blend of paraffin and soy, which Coffelt said combines positive elements of both materials.

She said the company can make up to 600 candles in two days. Employees melt wax using a specialized melting pot that can accommodate up to 60 pounds of wax at a time. The melted wax is then poured into individual containers where the scents are added. From there, the wax is poured into individual glass or tin containers.

Today, the company has around 25 scents, including standards such as vanilla and lavender and less-common varieties suvh as brandied pear and whiskey.

“You’re creating an atmosphere, an environment, a memory, a moment,” Coffelt said. “Not just a smell.”

While grapefruit is the company’s best-seller, Coffelt added that the company is introducing a new scent, called “Mt. Bachelor,” that uses cardamom oil and amber.

“It’s becoming our signature scent,” she said.

While the company will be discontinuing some of its older scents, Coffelt said several new candles, including one with a tobacco scent, will soon be available.

Coffelt’s candles can be found in more than a dozen stores in Central Oregon, such as Newport Avenue Market and Sunriver Country Store. After Broken Top Candle Co. acquired another local candle company in July, it started producing candles bearing the Bend logo.

Broken Top Candle Co. is in talks with an Ohio-based distributor that would help the company expand into stores in the Midwest. Additionally, the company will be moving out of its temporary warehouse on NW Clausen Drive and into a new warehouse space on Boyd Acres Road to keep up with growth.

“We’re hoping, by the summer, that our products are clear across the country,” Coffelt said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7818, shamway@bendbulletin.com

Q: Where do you see the company in 12 to 24 months?

A: Affton Coffelt: I think it would be good to have another four to six employees behind us. If we can accomplish that, it would mean that we’ve had steady growth, but also, it would give us a chance to start giving back and helping out the local community.

Q: Are there any scents that are becoming more or less popular?

A: A couple years ago, it seemed like the trends were in warm (scents). The pumpkin spices and the sugar cookies. We still offer those, and people still buy them, but everything’s become a lot more crisp. Citrus is really big.