Shining Sol Candle Company opening on Rehoboth Avenue

Shining Sol Candle Company, known for its soy-based, wood-wicked candles, is opening its third location, on Rehoboth Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach. The first store opened in 2016 in Manassas, Va.; the second opened in 2020 in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

During a recent interview, founder Pete Evick said he’s been eyeing an expansion in Rehoboth for some time. Rehoboth was on the list of future expansions when the company opened its first store, he said.

“I'm a big beach lover, and there aren’t many main street commerce areas that lead straight to the beach, like it does in Rehoboth,” said Evick, adding he was familiar with Rehoboth because he has family in the area.

Evick said his candles burn clean because they’re soy-based, and the wood wicks make for a relaxing-by-the-fireplace experience. He said it took a lot of research to develop the perfect wick, because wood and candle wax can be a tricky coupling.

“The secret is in the size and kind of wood,” said Evick, who didn’t want to go any further on how the company developed its method of burning.

Evick is a touring musician, and he said he got started in candle making as a way to relax after a particularly long tour. He said candle making is a lot like golf – anyone can play, but it’s hard to master.

“I was on the road for nine straight months and I came back exhausted,” said Evick, who has been Bret Michaels’ guitarist and music director for the last 17 years. “I was 50 years old and it had been music, music, music my whole life. I needed a hobby before I crashed and burned. I became obsessed.”

Shining Sol offers a wide variety of traditional, unusual and some over-the-top scents, including one called All Jacked Up, which is supposed to smell like the soda Mountain Dew. When asked if All Jacked Up is true to the description, Evick said he and other staff members were amazed the day those candles came to the shop and one of them was opened.

“We all laughed in disbelief with how close it smelled to Mountain Dew. You can smell the sweet carbonation the soda is known for,” he said.

Evick said the company’s wax warmers are also popular. It’s a really affordable unit that works great, he said.

Evick said the store’s expected opening date is Friday, March 12, and the hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week to begin with. He said once summer kicks into full gear, the store could be open as late as 11 p.m. For more information on Shining Sol, 110 Rehoboth Ave., Unit 2, go to shiningsol.com.