Armadilla Wax Works, a Family Shop, Offers a Wide Variety of Candles, Soaps, Lotions, and Art Pieces, Year-Round
By Megan Yakovich
If you’re looking for personal, thoughtful gift options this holiday season, look no further than Armadilla Wax Works in Prescott Valley. Founded in 1971 by husband-and-wife team Denise Jenike and Kent Buttermann, this beautiful shop offers a wide variety of handmade candles, soaps, lotions, and unique art pieces.
Denise and Kent met when they were attending Arizona State University in Tempe. Sharing an interest in art and photography, they soon combined their passion for candles as an art form—a medium for the expression of beauty.
Over the course of the past 48 years, they have mastered the medium, and their candles are works of art. “Our strength is in our creative collaboration,” Denise says. “We encourage and complement each other’s work, and have a shared goal of providing the best quality and value possible in every candle we make.”
A family of creatives, Kent is the driving force in developing original candle designs, combining science and art to make the molds and candles in the house. Denise handles the retail side of the business, as well as the displays, and they work together to capture the essence of their work in photographs. Their three sons also participated in the business when they were younger, making it a true family business.
“It was everyone on deck,” says Denise. “And the boys learned so much more than how to run a successful business. It’s all about how you treat people, and that’s what they saw firsthand in the store.”
Candles come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, for any occasion:
Floating candles: Most often used for decoration and special events, they’ll burn for approximately seven hours, adding a beautiful ambiance to any occasion or home.
Pillar candles: A decorative accessory in a wide variety of sizes, shades of colors are combined with layers of fragrance that blend perfectly as the candle burns.
Votive candles: Known for their fragrance, Armadilla’s votives burn up to 15 hours.
Wax potpourri: With the same strength of fragrance as a votive, these wax pieces can be melted and re-melted for weeks of wonderful scent.
Customers can also create their own masterpieces via the on-site candle-dipping station. Choose a white novelty figure and dip it into the wax colors. It’s not only a fun family activity, but a creative way to give a truly thoughtful gift.
“Our goal is to make the best candles we can make, so they will do their job well—burn clean, and for as long as possible,” Denise and Kent said.
Visit Armadilla Wax Works at 6689 East 1st Street for an unforgettable experience—including an open invitation to play a 1916 vintage piano! You can also learn more, here: https://www.candlefactorystore.com/