Joaquín Donézar

Candle maker

The beauty of beeswax

Joaquín is the last wax worker in the north of Spain
He is the fourth generation managing the workshop
His bee hives produce wax for candles and honey for sweets

Thirteen years ago, Joaquín Donézar left his job in the IT sector to take over the family business, the Donézar confectionery and candle workshop. The family business opened in 1853 in Pamplona, the capital city of Navarra, where it is located up to this day. In little more than a decade, Joaquín has ended up becoming the last wax worker in the north of Spain, and the only confectionery and candle shop left in the country. With its own hives distributed throughout Soria and Zaragoza, he takes advantage of the winter months to manually manufacture beeswax candles. The honey from the hives is used to make nougat, tea pastries, and puff pastry. Undoubtedly, creating a candle layer by layer by dipping each wick in the wax, is a very special craftsmanship.

Interview

©Alberto Estudio Fotográfico S.L

Is wax working a disappearing craft?: Yes, absolutely. Nowadays, people have specialised. When my father took over our family workshop, there were about 20 cererías, wax working workshops, in the north of Spain. Today, only one generation later, only our workshop remains.
What is little-known about your craft?: The manufacturing process is unknown to most people as they often think that all candles are made with a mould, which is not the case. We make them in layers, in immersion baths, which is one of the necessary characteristics to obtain a perfect candle burn.
What do you love the most about your profession?: A well-finished candle, the smell of beeswax and the flame of a candle. A successful product to me is a candle made with beeswax, without blemishes or marks, an optimal flame with a good duration, and, finally, a satisfied customer.
What is a memorable moment in your career?: A new challenge, with gratifying results was when we made candles in the shape of the head of San Ignacio de Loyola with an artist. Acquiring new moulding techniques, adjusting the wick to achieve an exact burn duration and seeing the national and international exhibition.

Joaquín Donézar is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2003