Useful over impressive
Every lesson ends with a practice, record, or decision you can carry to your next batch.
About the studio
A wider way into candle making.
Emberstride Studio began with a simple belief: a maker learns more when the process has space to breathe. Our courses make technical decisions understandable without flattening the creative joy of the craft.
Our story
From a shared worktable to a generous classroom.
Founder Mara Ellison started recording wax temperatures and scent observations at a small worktable in Portland. Friends asked for the notes, then asked to learn beside her.
That informal exchange became Emberstride Studio: a place for structured experiments, honest questions, and courses that respect both the material and the learner.
Today, our teachers bring experience in formulation, design, safety communication, and small-batch production to a calm online learning environment.
What guides our teaching
Curious and careful
We welcome experimentation while keeping safety, labeling, and responsible testing visible.
Room for your voice
There is no single aesthetic here. We help you develop a process that reflects your own eye and pace.
The people behind the lessons
Mara Ellison
Founder and wax educator
Mara teaches material behavior, testing discipline, and the quiet confidence that comes from keeping useful notes.
Jon Bell
Fragrance and sensory lead
Jon helps students turn vague scent impressions into clear, balanced concepts they can revisit.
Priya Shah
Studio practice mentor
Priya brings thoughtful systems to planning, workspace flow, labeling, and small-batch review.