Home·FAQ
Questions answered.
Everything you need to know about Maison de Lumière candles, bespoke orders, wedding favours, delivery, materials, and the St Helens studio.
About Maison de Lumière
- What is Maison de Lumière?
- Maison de Lumière is a handmade soy-wax candle and luxury gifting studio based at 52 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, WA10 2TF, Merseyside. The studio is run by founder Mihaela Luca, who hand-pours every candle in small batches. Products include sculptural pillar candles, bespoke candle bouquets, wedding and event favour candles, pet keepsake candles, trays, and accessories.
- Where is the Maison de Lumière studio?
- The studio is at 52 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, WA10 2TF, Merseyside. Local collection can be arranged by contacting the studio via the contact form or email before visiting.
- Who makes the candles?
- Every candle is hand-poured by Mihaela Luca, the founder of Maison de Lumière. There is no production line. Each batch is poured, coloured, finished, and checked by hand before leaving the studio.
- Is Maison de Lumière available online or only in St Helens?
- Both. The full collection is available to order online with UK delivery. Local collection from the St Helens studio is also available by arrangement. The studio does not operate as a walk-in shop; appointments or collection times should be confirmed in advance.
- How do I contact Maison de Lumière?
- Contact the studio by email at hello@lamaisondelumiere.co.uk or via the contact form at lamaisondelumiere.co.uk/contact. For bespoke orders, use the bespoke order form at lamaisondelumiere.co.uk/bespoke-orders.
Products and materials
- What wax do Maison de Lumière candles use?
- All Maison de Lumière candles are made with natural soy wax. The studio does not use paraffin, mineral wax, or blended waxes. Soy wax burns cleanly, holds fragrance well, and produces a refined surface finish suitable for sculptural forms.
- What wicks and fragrances are used?
- Cotton wicks and candle-safe fragrance oils are used in all products. Fragrance is measured by weight for each batch to ensure consistent scent throw across every candle. The studio does not use lead wicks or synthetic paraffin-based fragrances.
- What scents are available?
- The Maison de Lumière core scent range includes Mademoiselle, Cocoa and Patchouli, Lime Basil and Mandarine, and Fresh Linen. Scent availability may vary by product type. Bespoke and favour orders can specify a preferred scent from this range.
- What candle products does Maison de Lumière sell?
- The product range includes: sculptural soy-wax pillar candles (swirl, sphere, bubble, tornado, and round swirl forms); bespoke candle bouquets (15 to 35-plus candle arrangements made to a colour and occasion brief); wedding and event favour candles (swan, sleeping baby, moon baby, angel, love bear, small flower, small bubble cube shapes); pet keepsake candles (rottweiler and jack russell forms, and bespoke commissions); a new home candle with handmade pot; and trays and accessories including oval trays, jewellery pots, and bubble trays.
- Are the candles suitable as gifts?
- Yes. The Maison de Lumière range is designed around gifting occasions. Gift-ready products include the full sculptural pillar range, candle bouquets, favour candles for events, pet keepsakes, the new home candle, and accessories. Bespoke orders allow colour, scent, scale, and presentation to be shaped around a specific recipient and occasion.
- Do the candles contain real flowers?
- No. Maison de Lumière candle bouquets and favour candles are made from soy wax formed into candle shapes. They are not floral arrangements and do not contain real flowers, dried botanicals, or organic material inside the wax.
Bespoke orders and candle bouquets
- What is a bespoke candle bouquet?
- A bespoke candle bouquet from Maison de Lumière is a composed arrangement of handmade soy-wax candles shaped around a specific colour palette, scent, and occasion brief. The candles are sculptural wax forms, not real flowers. Each bouquet is made to order in the St Helens studio. Classic arrangements start at £55 for 15 candles, rising to £65 for 20 candles (Signature) and £75 for 30 candles (Grande).
- How do I order a bespoke candle bouquet?
- Submit a bespoke order brief at lamaisondelumiere.co.uk/bespoke-orders with the occasion, recipient, colour direction, scent preference, budget, and date needed. The studio will confirm whether the brief is achievable and provide a quote and lead time before production begins. No payment is taken until the brief is confirmed.
- How much does a bespoke order cost?
- Bespoke candle bouquets start at £55 (Classic, 15 candles), £65 (Signature, 20 candles), and £75 (Grande, 30 candles). Arrangements of 35 or more candles are quoted individually. Wedding and event favour candles start from £3 per favour for small bubble cube and small flower shapes. Pet keepsake candles and other bespoke commissions are quoted after the brief is reviewed.
- Is a deposit required for bespoke orders?
- A 10% deposit is required to begin production on bespoke orders where a final price has not been confirmed upfront. The deposit is confirmed at the brief stage, before any wax or materials are committed.
- How long does a bespoke order take?
- Lead times vary by order complexity and current studio capacity. Most bespoke candle bouquets require at least two weeks from confirmed brief to dispatch. Wedding and event favour orders with larger quantities are best placed six to eight weeks before the event date. All lead times are confirmed before production begins.
- Can I specify an exact colour for a bespoke order?
- Yes. Colour is mixed by hand in the studio to match the palette you specify. You can provide a Pantone reference, a fabric sample description, an image, or a written description of the tone. The studio does not offer a preset colour range for bespoke orders; colour is matched to your brief.
- Can extras like chocolates or prosecco be added to a candle bouquet?
- Yes. Additions such as chocolates, prosecco, or a handmade gypsum pot can be included in a candle bouquet and are quoted individually on top of the bouquet price. Mention any additions when submitting the bespoke order brief.
Wedding and event favours
- What wedding candle favour shapes are available?
- Available wedding and event favour shapes include: swan (£6 each), sleeping baby (£5.50 each), moon baby, angel, love bear, small flower (£3.50 each), and small bubble cube (£3 each). All shapes are available in any colour from the Maison palette and in any scent from the studio range.
- What is the minimum order for wedding favour candles?
- Favour orders are accepted from 20 pieces upwards with advance notice. For larger quantities, the studio recommends placing the enquiry at least four to six weeks before the event date.
- Are favour candles available for christenings and baby showers?
- Yes. The favour range includes shapes suited to christenings, baby showers, and family celebrations: sleeping baby, moon baby, angel, and love bear forms are popular for these occasions. All favour candles are made from natural soy wax.
- Can I collect wedding favours locally from St Helens?
- Yes. Local collection from 52 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, WA10 2TF is available for couples and event planners based in Merseyside and the surrounding area. Arrange a collection time in advance through the contact form or by email.
Delivery and collection
- Do you deliver across the UK?
- Yes. All Maison de Lumière products are available for UK-wide delivery. Dispatch times for ready-made items are typically within two working days. Bespoke and personalised orders have individually confirmed lead times.
- Can I collect my order from the St Helens studio?
- Yes. Local collection is available from 52 Ormskirk Street, St Helens, WA10 2TF by prior arrangement. Contact the studio to confirm a collection time before visiting. The studio is not a walk-in shop.
- How soon will my order be dispatched?
- Ready-made items are typically dispatched within two working days of the order being placed. Bespoke, personalised, and event favour orders have individually confirmed production and dispatch timelines, which are agreed before production begins.
Returns and after-sale
- Can I return a candle?
- Ready-made items can be returned within 14 days of delivery in unused, original condition. Personalised, bespoke, and custom-colour items are non-returnable unless they arrive damaged, faulty, or incorrect. See the returns and refunds policy for full terms.
- What should I do if my order arrives damaged?
- Contact Maison de Lumière within 48 hours of delivery with your order number, a description of the damage, and clear photographs. Email hello@lamaisondelumiere.co.uk or use the contact form. The studio will resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Candle care
- How do I care for a soy-wax candle?
- Trim the wick to around 5mm before every burn. Allow a full melt pool to form on the first burn so the wax reaches the edge of the vessel. Burn for a maximum of four hours at a time, allow the candle to cool fully before relighting, and stop burning when around 10mm of wax remains at the base. Store away from direct sunlight, humidity, and heat sources.
- Why is the first burn important?
- The first burn sets the memory of the candle. If the melt pool does not reach the full width of the vessel on the first burn, a wax tunnel can form that affects all future burns. Allow two to three hours for the first burn depending on the candle diameter.
- How long should I burn the candle for?
- Burn for a maximum of four hours at a time. Extended burns can overheat the vessel and reduce scent performance. Allow the candle to cool and resolidify fully, typically around two hours, before relighting.
- Can Maison de Lumière sculptural candles be kept as display pieces without burning?
- Yes. Many customers keep sculptural pillar candles, pet keepsake candles, and candle bouquet pieces as display objects without burning them. Store away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve colour and surface quality.
Need something specific?
The studio is available by email.
hello@lamaisondelumiere.co.uk