Renata Portes is blending artistry, wellness and community through a unique experience that pairs wine with candle-making. Through her business, The Universe Stuff, Portes is crafting workshops that invite participants to slow down, engage their senses, and create something meaningful with their hands. By combining social enjoyment with creative expression, she offers a refreshing alternative to traditional wellness and crafting events.
Portes said the concept grew naturally from her past work blending candle-making with mindfulness-based practices.
“The inspiration really came from the way people experience candle-making with me,” Portes said. “I’ve paired candle-making with yoga many times in more traditional wellness settings, and what I’ve consistently seen is how powerful it is when people slow down, use their hands, and create something with intention.
This year, I wanted to explore that same grounding, sensory experience in a different format—one that feels more social and accessible. Wine naturally fits into that vision.”
Her approach focuses on accessibility and intention, welcoming participants regardless of their level of artistic or wine knowledge.
Translating wine’s mood into fragrance
One of the most distinctive aspects of Portes’ workshops is how participants use wine as inspiration for scent creation. Rather than focusing strictly on aroma notes, Portes encourages participants to tap into emotional and memory-based connections.
“Wine is incredibly expressive, and I encourage guests to think beyond just ‘what it smells like’ and focus on how it feels—or even what memories that aroma brings up for them,” Portes said. “A bold red might inspire something warm and grounding, like woods, spice or amber.
A crisp white or rosé often leads people toward brighter, fresher blends with citrus, herbs, or soft florals. During the workshop, we talk about mood as much as notes.”
This creative freedom often results in candles that are highly personal, reflecting the evening’s emotional experience as much as the fragrance itself.
Making creativity approachable for everyone
For guests who may be new to candle-making or curated wine experiences, Portes intentionally designs her workshops to be welcoming and pressure-free.
“I design the experience to feel welcoming, not intimidating. You don’t need any prior knowledge—everything is guided step by step, and there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ outcome.
The wine helps people relax, laugh, and trust their instincts, which makes the creative process feel easier and more fun,” Portes said.
Participants often discover that creativity feels natural once they release expectations of perfection and focus on the experience itself.
RELATED: West Side Book Shop Turns 50
Crafting clean, balanced scents
Portes’ dedication to quality materials is another hallmark of her workshops. She exclusively uses pure soy wax and carefully curated fragrance oils designed to complement—not compete with—the wine experience.
“I work exclusively with clean, high-quality fragrance oils and 100% pure soy wax—no blends. Soy wax itself doesn’t have a scent, which is actually a big advantage,” Portes said.
“It allows fragrances to come through in a soft, balanced way without competing with the wine experience. Soy wax also burns cleanly and slowly, with a consistent scent throw, so the candle lasts longer and feels gentle rather than overwhelming.”
Rather than matching fragrances directly to wine profiles, Portes encourages exploration across scent families, allowing guests to develop combinations that feel authentic to them.
Creating an atmosphere of relaxation and connection
The pairing of candle-making and wine naturally fosters a calming and social environment. Portes said the two experiences share a rhythm that encourages guests to be present and engaged.
“They both invite people to slow down. Candle-making engages touch, scent and creativity, while wine brings taste, aroma and conversation,” Portes said. “Together, they create this beautiful rhythm—sip, create, chat, laugh, repeat.
There’s something very grounding about working with your hands while enjoying a glass of wine. It shifts the energy from ‘doing’ to ‘being,’ which is something people are really craving right now.”
Enhancing the experience through wooden wicks
Another sensory detail that sets Portes’ candles apart is her use of wooden wicks, which add both aesthetic and auditory warmth to the final product.
“Wooden wicks add a sensory layer that people don’t expect. They create a soft crackling sound when lit—almost like a tiny fireplace—which instantly makes the experience feel cozy and elevated,” Portes said.
When paired with wine, it enhances that feeling of warmth and intimacy. Guests love knowing they’re taking home something that not only smells beautiful but also sounds comforting when they light it later.”
The importance of place: Social Vines Vineyard
Portes emphasizes that the venue plays a vital role in shaping the experience. Social Vines Vineyard, one of her workshop hosts, offers an atmosphere that aligns closely with her philosophy of relaxed creativity.
“Social Vines Vineyard has such a welcoming, community-centered atmosphere,” Portes said. “It’s elegant but relaxed, which aligns perfectly with the intention of the workshop. The space encourages people to linger, connect and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. They truly value craftsmanship and local creativity, which makes it a beautiful place to host an event like this.”
Encouraging creative risk and personal expression
Over time, Portes has witnessed participants grow more adventurous with their scent combinations. She said these moments of experimentation often become the most memorable.
“What’s always surprised me—in the best way—is how naturally people lean into blending once they realize there’s no pressure to get it ‘right.’ At one point, someone asked if they could blend a few fragrances together, and that simple question changed the whole dynamic.
It suddenly felt more playful and open, like there were no rules anymore. Watching people take notes, smell different combinations, and experiment purely for fun is one of my favorite parts of these workshops.”
A carefully structured evening
Portes carefully designs the flow of each workshop to ensure guests can enjoy both the creative and social aspects of the event.
“The evening flows in stages. We start slow—with wine, conversation and an introduction to scents—so guests don’t feel rushed. The candle-making portion is guided but flexible, allowing time to sip, ask questions and enjoy the social aspect. My goal is that no one feels overwhelmed,” Portes said.
Expanding the vision of hands-on wellness
Looking ahead, Portes sees strong demand for experiences that combine creativity, mindfulness and community engagement. She is expanding her workshops into new spaces and formats, from wellness collectives to vineyards and private gatherings.
“People are craving experiences that feel meaningful and tactile—especially in a world where so much of our time is spent on screens and in our heads. Craft workshops give people a chance to slow down, work with their hands, reconnect with their inner child, and release stress in a very natural way. They also bring people together in a way that feels easy and genuine.”
Through wine, wax and creativity, Renata Portes continues to design experiences that invite participants to reconnect with themselves and others—one candle at a time.
Renata Portes is hosting a Wine + Candle-Making Workshop on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 6-8pm. The event will take place at Social Vines Vineyard & Winery, located at 6620 Dexter Ann Arbor Rd, Dexter. For more information: https://www.theuniversestuff.com/event-list
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
