Meet reativ's Founder: James Dow
Hey, I’m James — the founder, creator, packer, and everything-in-between behind reativ. If you’ve landed here, you’re probably curious about the person pouring all this creative energy into refillable candle kits. Thanks for taking a moment to explore the world I’m building.
reativ wasn’t something I planned — it was something I needed. A way to create. A way to unwind. A way to step away from the chaos and make something with my hands. And, eventually, a way to help other people do the same.
My hope is that as you explore reativ, you’ll feel the calm, the creativity, and the purpose translated into every detail.
how reativ began
reativ started with a simple problem: I had a growing collection of empty candle jars. beautiful ceramics, tinted glass, old favourites — all too good to throw away, or use as boring bathroom storage.
creative from a young age, I later found myself navigating anxiety and grief. As someone who typically struggles to switch off and sit still, I craved a creative outlet to help unwind and reconnect. Candles soon became a ritual of calm, but when looking into making them myself at home, the process felt overwhelming and overcomplicated.
it got me thinking. what if candle making could be effortless and mess-free? what if you could refill your empty candles without the complicated equipment? what if the creative process was stress-free? what if you could fit all this in your already busy day?
that’s where our signature candle wax pouch came in — a pre-measured, microwavable pouch that melts in minutes and doubles as your mixing bowl.
reativ was born from this idea: a creative, effortless, circular way to unwind and reuse your empty candles. endlessly.
building a brand around creative calm
From the beginning, I wanted reativ to be more than candle kits. I wanted it to be a creative invitation — a reminder that creativity isn’t reserved for just “artists.” It’s for every day creative minds who want a moment of calm, joy, or simple hands-on making.
Reativ is built around three pillars:
creativity
every kit is beginner-friendly and designed to help you discover the joy of making — even if you don't consider yourself as a stereotypical creator.
self-care
creating something with your hands is rewarding, grounding, and mindful. then, once your candle is set, you get to unwind with the warm, calm glow you made yourself — up to 60 hours of it.
sustainability
your empty candle jars deserve a second (and third… and tenth) life.
This is the heart of reativ: turning creativity into self-care and giving your empty candles a chance to be used again and again.
from idea to real customers (and real shelves)
reativ officially launched in 2024 — with me designing the packaging, building the website, hand-packing every order, and personally dropping parcels at Australia Post.
Soon after launch, things started to shift.
People were refilling their candles.
They were sharing the creativity with friends.
They were hosting candle-making nights and gifting candles they’d poured themselves.
Then came the big milestone:
reativ’s first retail partnership with Readings bookstore, followed by House of Handmade in Richmond. My refillable candle kits now sit on shelves across Melbourne — something I still can’t quite believe.
For a brand that started as a personal creative project, seeing it out in the real world is surreal.
what candle refills mean to me (and hopefully to you)
reativ exists to make candle making effortless, creative, and stess-free. It’s not about perfection. It’s not about being “crafty.” It’s about the moment you create:
the two quiet minutes melting wax
the satisfaction of pouring
the first burn of a candle you made yourself
the feeling of keeping something and giving it another life
Whether you’re:
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refilling a favourite vessel
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hosting a creative night with friends
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making a candle as a gift (“i made this for you”)
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or just wanting a moment to slow down
…there’s a place for you here.
fast facts about reativ + me
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reativ was born in my Melbourne apartment — with boxes stacked everywhere
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the candle wax pouch took months of testing, tweaking, and lots of wax spills
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i design, illustrate, photograph, edit, pack, and ship everything myself
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my background spans creative industries in Melbourne and London
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i also run my own travel art business (which is stocked in Readings and House of Handmade too!)
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every reativ pouch is compostable and made from plants, and every sample is poured by hand in melbourne
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“creative self-care” is the phrase that shaped the entire brand
join the reativ community
Shaping this little idea into a real brand has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my creative life. Every order, every refill, every review — it all means more than you know.
If you’re new here, welcome.
If you’ve been supporting the journey already — thank you.
Explore our kits, try a refill, or create a candle for someone you love.
You never know where a moment of creativity might take you.
