Candle Buying Guide - How to Pick Your Scent
The use of the candle is an aged long history, dating back to its first use as a source of light and illumination during celebrations, to religious uses, Christmas parties and birthdays, to romantic dinners and celebrations, and even for limbic system stimulation - nothing is more inspiring and welcoming than decorating the home with candles, especially scented candles.
Much more than a simple accessory, scented candles represent an authentic daily pampering and offer unique and enveloping fragrances that help regenerate. In addition, they are authentic furnishing accessories capable of adding a pinch of color and personality to all corners of the house.
With scented candles, one can perfectly create a special atmosphere during a romantic dinner, carve out a moment of relaxation after a busy day at work, or simply give an extra pinch of sophistication at home. However, many reasons lead to the purchase of the best-scented candles. But which one to choose and why? Here are the tips you would need to make the right choice.
How to Pick the Best Scent
Choosing the best scent requires putting some factors into consideration. First, you have to consider the place it will be used, its purpose and fragrance, etc. Thus, some of the factors to consider include but are not limited to the following:
Consider the Place and Purpose of Use
The place to use the candle is very important to know whether it is in an open place or indoors. You would not like to use a big overpowering scent in a small space or a light-scented candle in a large space.
Besides, the scent used for romantic dinners is quite different from the one used for a birthday or Christmas party, and even the one to be used for relaxation and meditation. Therefore, knowing the purpose would help you make the right choice.
Make the Right Choice of Fragrance
Ensuring you make the right choice of scent while choosing a scented candle is a key to achieving the purpose of buying a such candle. Making the right choice of scent would make you feel calm and at home, helping you to relax and feel energized and also enabling your brain to get into a more productive mindset. So, selecting the best scent to enjoy the full benefits of using a scented candle is important.
You can do this following your taste, the purpose, the environment in which you want to install the diffuser, and the season. Starting from this, you must know what fragrance you want to use to achieve a special atmosphere. You can opt for a fresh and natural aroma or a more intense fragrance, such as woody and floral. And if what you are looking for is to enjoy an atmosphere full of positive energy, nothing better than smells like orange, ginger, etc.
Knowing the smells of your desired fragrance, you should smell it before buying to ensure you purchase the right one.
Consider the Type or Nature of the Wax
Knowing the type and nature of the wax used for the candle is of immense importance when choosing a scented candle. Hence, we will review the different types of waxes used by manufacturers in producing scented candles:
Vegetable Wax: This is a wax of plant origin that comes from different types of plants (rapeseed, palm, soy, etc.), and its quality is very variable.
For Example - Coconut Soy Wax: Coconut soy wax is a unique blend of coconut and soy wax that is quickly becoming the go-to choice for candle makers. It is an all-natural product that burns cleaner than traditional paraffin wax, releasing no toxic fumes or soot into the environment. coconut soy wax has some other great properties that make it especially well suited to being used in candles. It holds scent exceptionally well, and its creamy texture makes it ideal for blending with other colorants and dyes, allowing you to create customized colors as well as fragrances. Its low melting temperature allows coconut soy wax candles to burn longer, making them a cost-effective option among natural waxes. Here at STL Candle Co, we use coconut soy wax in all of our candles.
Beeswax: Beeswax is an animal extract and has the highest melting point of any wax, which makes it burn longer than paraffin wax. It does not release any soot and tends to drip less. Candles made of beeswax emit much more ambient light, which makes it to create a cozy atmosphere.
Paraffin Mineral Wax: It is this which allows the best diffusion of the perfume, but as for vegetable wax, its quality can be very variable.
Each type of wax can therefore have different virtues, and the work of the perfumer will be to find the right mixture by ensuring the quality of the raw material. This is how the wax will become one of the elements explaining the price differences between scented candles: the more the work carried out on the composition of the wax is pushed, the more its price will be changed.
Consider the Quality of the Wick
The wick is an essential part of every candle that plays a key role in the quality of a scented candle. It acts as a fuel pump, delivering fuel to the flame by drawing the liquefied wax up into the flame to burn. Too little of it will create a small burn pool, leading to a poor scent throw, whereas, too much of it may burn too hot and burn off the fragrance.
Hence, the different types of wicks used in a scented candle include:
Synthetic wicks: They are not natural, and are therefore not best recommended for scented candles, especially when you don't know their quality: it is meant to be of a certain standard and can affect negatively if not up to standard or contain toxic chemicals.
Wooden wicks: They can be recognized by their crackling sound when lit, which is reminiscent of a chimney fire. They are not the best vector for diffusing perfume because it is difficult to manage their burning.
Cotton wicks: This is the best type of wick for scented candles, as it is 100% natural, braided or woven. They guarantee the longevity of your candle and the diffusion of its fragrance.
Therefore, to ensure that you choose the best-scented candle and ensure its quality is the best, check whether the wick is made of cotton.
How to Make Your Candle Last Longer
The Wick: You must ensure that the wick of the candle doesn't measure more than 1cm to avoid creating smoke, otherwise, you are to cut it immediately. Also, avoid blowing on the candle to extinguish it: you can put a lid or a cap on top of the candle so that it goes out naturally, without damaging the wick. Finally, do not hesitate to remove the deposits that accumulate around your wick with a tissue when it is extinguished. Wick Trimmers come in handy as well. Learn more about wick trimmers HERE.
The Wax: It is advisable to wait until the entire surface of the candle is liquid before extinguishing it to prevent it from hollowing out. For the candle to burn evenly, do not place it in a draught.
Consider the Design
The design of a scented candle plays an important role in ensuring the aesthetic appeal it gives is in line with the in-house design. Sometimes the design determines the colorations, scent, and even the quality of the scent. Therefore, the choice would depend on your taste and purpose.
Consider the Price
The price of a scented candle should also be taken into account before buying, as it can be used to determine the quality of the scent. Most times the price is determined by the brand, its aroma, design, and wax quality. Considering the price will help you know whether the candle is truly the original based on the general market price of your chosen scent and if it is within your budget range.
