Candles that change lives.
Click below to read our story!
Our story - A Timeline
Kenshi began after a school volunteering trip to FareShare (a charity kitchen in Melbourne). Liam was 14 at the time but this experience inspired him, something needed to be done about the growing problem of hunger and food insecurity which affects thousands of Australians every day.
The idea was simple: people are already spending hundreds of dollars on candles every year. What if we could harness that money to fund food and stop hunger in Australia for good?
From his bedroom, to the kitchen, and eventually to the family garage, Kenshi began to grow. People recognised the craftsmanship that went into every hand poured candle and felt good knowing that their purchase was funding food for people in need.
On school holidays and weekends Liam's friends would come over to help make candles. But before long they outgrew the garage and a new partnership emerged which would make Kenshi even more life changing.
In 2019, Liam began a partnership with the Chin refugee community from Myanmar who live in Melbourne’s west to make the candles.
After fleeing from civil war, the Chin people spent several years living as displaced people in India before eventually being granted refugee status and arriving in Australia. Now, Kenshi Candles are made by the Chin in Melbourne providing them with vital employment and income.
From April 2019, the candle operation moved to Jacob's garage, a leader for the Chin community in Melbourne.
But after a couple of years, Kenshi Candles grew large enough to have its own home!
Kenshi moved to a new candle-making facility in Sunshine with the capacity to make over 500 candles and diffusers a day!
All of our candles are still made the same way Liam started, poured by hand here in Melbourne.
As Kenshi began to grow, our impact did too. By October 2021 we had funded over 100 tonnes of pasta and rice for homeless people and families in need all over Australia.
Liam was offered a full scholarship to Princeton University in USA. The "Candle Boy's Father" Michael, stepped in to fulfil Liam’s vision of funding massive volumes of food for Australians doing it tough and ultimately work towards our greater goal of eradicating hunger in Australia for good.
In 2023 Kenshi began to expand into hundreds of retail stores around Australia.
This allowed us to purchase and distribute more than 12 tonnes of pasta and rice for families in need here in Australia as well as the Chin people in Myanmar.
Liam and Jacob travel to Myanmar to visit Jacob's home village of Sentung in Chin State. Jacob was forced to flee his home in 2005 at just 20 years of age. Due to the military coup of 2021 there is currently hundreds of thousands of Chin people who have lost their homes. An estimated 65,000 remain in Myanmar as displaced people and hundreds of thousands more have fled across the border to India seeking refugee status.
Through Kenshi we purchased 2.5 tonnes of rice which we delivered directly to families living well below the poverty line in desperate need in Chin State. (See picture on the right)
Hand poured in Melbourne
Our candles have always, and will always, be poured by hand in Melbourne. From Liam's first batch of candles on the kitchen bench to our current factory in Sunshine. Kenshi is committed to making great candles, that is why we only use the best high quality ingredients:
- Natural Soy Wax: Our candles are made using natural soy wax, which is free from additives or preservatives. This ensures a clean and environmentally friendly burn, promoting a healthier atmosphere in your space. At Kenshi we have never, and will never, use paraffin or other 'wax blends' in our candles. Only 100% soy.
- High-Grade Australian Fragrance Oils: We source our fragrance oils from trusted Australian suppliers ensuring that every candle smells amazing with scent throw that lasts! All of our fragrances are IFRA (International Fragrance Association) certified, meeting the highest quality safety standards worldwide. We use high-quality ingredients sourced both locally and around the globe. The fragrances are vegan-friendly and free from parabens and phthalates.
- 100% Cotton Wicks: To promote an optimal and even burn, we exclusively use 100% cotton wicks in our candles. These wicks are free from lead or other harmful substances, providing a safe and clean burning experience.
- Sustainable Packaging: We are passionate about minimising our environmental impact, which is why our packaging is crafted from 100% recycled materials. By utilising recycled materials, we aim to reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future. We encourage you to re-use and up-cycle your candle jars after use and purchase and diffuser refills.
Chin State, Myanmar
Since 2019, Kenshi Candles have been made by refugees from Myanmar.