Kira Newton calls the little town of Moonbi home, and it is here that she also hand makes a gorgeous range of scented candles and melts. Kira stocks some beautiful Christmas hampers featuring her products, which can really help take the guesswork out of gift-giving!

Hi Kira. What’s your background in the Tamworth area … are you a long-term local?

I was born here but moved away very young. Mum and I spent the next 16 years living on the Central Coast until we decided to come back here to be closer to family. I’m now living in Moonbi, which is such a beautiful little town. 

How did you come up with the concept for Sage and Mystic?

Originally it was named “Sage Candles”. I didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for other candles, so I thought I would make them myself. I was also trying to think of something that could act as a second job while I was working and studying, so I thought, why not start a little business?

I have always been into herbs, crystals and other spiritual things, so I started to branch out with products other than soy candles and wax melts, so that’s how the name “Sage and Mystic” came about. I am currently selling a range of crystals and tumbled stones, smudge sticks, selenite lamps, and I’m currently planning some candles-making workshops, but more information on that is to come! I also offer tarot and oracle readings, but that can be very draining, so I’m holding off on that for now.

I love my business so much, I’m constantly inspired and excited by it, and I can’t wait to watch it continue to grow.

What processes are involved in making your beautiful candles?

Currently, I’m making them in my lounge room and kitchen! I’m hoping to work out some sort of studio/workspace in the future (somewhere in Moonbi would be amazing) to keep creating them and have room to do it on a larger scale. I work full-time as well, so I try to get up before 6 am to make as many candles as I can before going to work. 

I try to keep my product labels and packaging simple by printing them at home so that I can do as much of it myself to keep costs down. 

I sell wholesale to businesses as well, so that’s always exciting.

Where do you source the raw materials you use?

I’m currently using what’s called a “fragrance oil”, rather than essential oils; the fragrance oils have been specifically blended to give off a strong fragrance throw when the wax gets hot.

The wax is a soy blend, which can be very difficult to work with when the weather changes from hot to cold and back again as it has been lately, so there is always a lot of trial and error. 

I use an Australian supplier for the fragrance oil, wax, jars, wicks etc.

What types of crystals are your personal favourites (and why)?

My all-time personal favourite is Rose Quartz; it is just a great all-rounder stone for healing and grief, love and self-love, and I just find it has a really positive energy. I use rose quartz to meditate, I keep huge chunks of it around the house, and it’s probably a stone I recommend to most people. 

What special hampers/gift ideas can you put together for customers for Christmas?

Currently, I have some Christmas hampers available. They range from $50 to $100, or more if you choose. Each hamper has a mixture of candles in different fragrances and sizes, and most include a soy wax melt as well. 

I love hampers because you can either buy a large gift for someone, or you can break the hamper up and give the candles out separately, and it’s almost as if you’ve done all your Christmas shopping in one easy transaction.

What markets do you visit regularly?

I am regularly at the Peel Street Markets in Tamworth on the third Sunday of the month, the Craft Shed Markets in Tamworth, which are on the first Saturday of the month, and then I travel around the region to other larger markets, Mother’s Day markets, Christmas markets, etc. You can find a list of the rest of the 2019 markets that I will be at on my website.

Where can we contact you/find out more info?

Facebook at www.facebook.com/sageandmystic, and Instagram at @sageandmystic, but you can also find my website, which is www.sageandmystic.com.au. I welcome emails at: sageandmystic@gmail.com.

You can also find exclusive Sage and Mystic candles at Molly Mays in Manilla, NSW, and The Hub General Store in Wallabadah. I’m slowly branching out to other stores in Tamworth, but you’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.

Thanks, Kira.