Scented Candles
Sharing Our Love of Scented Candles
A candle's gentle light brings pure, simple pleasure. Its ever-moving flame is like a living thing, always changing yet always the same. People have valued this gentle light for generations.
Adding fragrance to a candle engages another of our senses and brings a new dimension to the experience. Scent can take your imagination wherever you want it to go. Together, scent and light create a beautiful atmosphere and help set the mood. The choice is yours.
Scent is a wonderful luxury for your home or workspace. Scented candles fill a room with a gentle fragrance, making it a more pleasant place to work or relax.
Smell is often the forgotten sense, lagging behind sight, sound, touch and taste. Yet it has the power to set a mood, trigger a memory or simply help us relax.
Buying Scented Candles Online
Almost all the big homeware stores now stock scented candles, so they are easy to find on the high street or in a shopping centre. Amazon also offers a huge choice, covering a wide range of prices and quality levels. A higher price does not always mean better quality.
We often buy online because it is quick and easy. Of course, the web cannot do scent, but it does convenience very well. We prefer to buy directly from specialists, and the web makes that simple. It is also a good way to find out more about the quality of the candle before you buy. Our favourite is UK candle maker Stoneglow.
How to Choose a Scented Candle
Choosing a scented candle involves more than finding a fragrance you like. Consider where the candle will be used, the size of the room and the atmosphere you want to create. A subtle fragrance may suit a bedroom or bathroom, while a larger living space may need a candle with a stronger scent throw.
Choose a fragrance for the room
Fresh citrus, herbal and marine fragrances work well in kitchens and bathrooms. Floral scents can bring a gentle, welcoming fragrance to a bedroom or sitting room. Woody, amber and spicy fragrances often suit living rooms, dining rooms and cosy evenings.
The season can also influence your choice. Light floral and citrus fragrances are popular during spring and summer, while warm fragrances featuring cinnamon, sandalwood, vanilla or amber can make a home feel more inviting during autumn and winter.
Check the wax and wick
Scented candles can be made from mineral wax, vegetable wax, beeswax or a carefully developed blend. Each type has different characteristics, so the quality of the finished candle matters more than choosing a product solely because of one ingredient.
The wick should be suitable for the candle's diameter and fragrance formulation. A well-designed candle should form an even pool of melted wax and burn without producing excessive smoke. Multi-wick candles can help wider containers burn evenly, but the wicks must still be trimmed and maintained correctly.
Consider burn time and value
A candle's size does not always indicate how long it will last. Look for the manufacturer's estimated burn time and follow the recommended burning instructions. A well-made candle that burns evenly may provide better value than a cheaper candle that tunnels down the centre and leaves unused wax around the sides.
Before buying online, check the candle's dimensions, wax weight, fragrance description and care instructions. Reviews can also provide useful information about fragrance strength, appearance and overall performance.
Candles: The Thoughtful Gift
Are you looking for a gift? Scented candles are a reliable choice for anyone who enjoys making their home feel special. It does not matter if they already have one, as more are usually welcome. It does not even matter if someone else gives them a candle too, because there are so many different fragrances to enjoy.
A carefully chosen scented candle can be a thoughtful gift. Take time to find a fragrance that suits your friend's personality and home, and you will show how well you know them. Everyone likes to make their surroundings feel more inviting, and a scented candle can help them do just that.
Home, Happiness and Scented Candles
Candles Do Decorate a Room
Books do decorate a room, and so do scented candles.
Scented candles can decorate almost any space straight away. They gently illuminate a room and fill it with a beautiful fragrance.
In a busy house, they are a quick and easy way to cover unwelcome odours. Scent is often one of the first things we notice when entering a friend's home, even if we do not realise it. Scented candles let you make that first impression cinnamon or lavender, rather than damp dog and dirty trainers.
Scents and Sensitivity
Some people are more sensitive to fragrance than others. A strong scent may cause discomfort for someone who experiences headaches, allergies or respiratory irritation, whether the fragrance comes from synthetic ingredients or natural essential oils.
If you or someone in your household is sensitive to fragrance, choose a lightly scented candle, burn it for shorter periods and make sure the room is well ventilated. Stop using any candle that causes discomfort.
Look for candles from reputable manufacturers that provide clear product and safety information. Whatever type of wax or fragrance you choose, trimming the wick and following the manufacturer's burning instructions will help the candle burn cleanly and evenly.
Life, Lifestyle and Candles
How to Relax and Unwind
Do you need to unwind? Light a candle in the bathroom while you enjoy a long, peaceful bath. Relax in the warm water and enjoy the candle's gentle light and the subtle fragrance of your choice.
Prayer, Meditation and Candles
Many religious traditions value candles as an aid to prayer and meditation. Christians, Jews, Buddhists and followers of other faiths all use candles in different ways. But why?
Some say a candle's flame reminds them of the spiritual light of the world. Others feel that its fragility reflects our own short time on earth. For some people, a candle's gentle light simply helps them become calm and mindful. Whatever works for you, we hope scented candles bring you peace and contentment.
Mindfulness, Meditation and Candles
Mindfulness is increasingly popular with people seeking a break from the rush and noise of modern life. It reminds us to quieten our busy minds and enjoy the here and now. A candle can provide a simple focus for our thoughts, helping us slow down and feel centred.
Enjoying Your Candle Safely
Good candle care can improve performance and help a scented candle last longer. Trim the wick before each use, keep the candle away from draughts and, where the manufacturer's instructions recommend it, allow the melted wax to reach the edges of the container. Never leave a burning candle unattended or place it close to curtains, furniture, children or pets.
Read our candle safety tips for more advice, or visit our frequently asked questions about candles.
Some of the World's Best-Known Scented Candle Brands
The international scented candle market includes established household names and specialist luxury brands. Some of the best-known include:
Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is a well-known American brand offering a wide range of fragrances and distinctive jar candles. Its products are available in many countries.
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works is known for its seasonal collections and unusual fragrances, which appeal to a wide range of customers. It is particularly popular in the US.
Diptyque
Diptyque is a luxury French brand known for premium quality and skilled craftsmanship. It has a global following, particularly among people who enjoy high-end candles.
Voluspa
Voluspa is known for its unusual fragrances and elegant packaging, which have helped it become a recognised name in the luxury candle market.
SC Johnson (Glade)
SC Johnson owns several well-known household brands, including Glade. Glade offers affordable scented candles in a wide choice of familiar fragrances.