Hi Jess,
Thanks for your review as we like to hear all feedback, good and bad, to ensure our high standards are in place.
The mini ceramic your friend purchased first would have been prior to November 2021 which is when we had a slight price rise across all of our products due to the Australia-wide candle industry shortages as well as the price rise of candle ingredients, which still haven't come back down years later. We had been absorbing the increased costs for more than a year before we had to make these unfortunate but necessary changes.
So, for these reasons, as well as the multitude of handmade processes that go into making the ceramic vessels by Daisy Cooper Ceramics in Melbourne and then more handmade processes by us to turn them into candles, means they are not a cheap candle to be thrown away when they are finished. They can then be either refilled by us (see our refill service on our website) or they can be used as a beautiful coffee cup, vase / succulent planter, key holder, with the large size also able to be a pen holder, toothbrush holder, etc. So they have an ongoing use which gives them that extra value for money.
I have sent an email with further information and details so please have a read of that for me and thanks again for your feedback!
