Today we are digging into the topic of candles. I had my good friend Amanda give us the details on what you should know before buying your next candle. This is a good one folks. Amanda was a assistant buyer in the industry, so she is giving us the ins and outs from an expert’s point of view.
Q) What should you look for when purchasing candles?
A) You’re going to get what you pay for. There’s nothing wrong with being drawn to the candle aisle at TJ Maxx! They’re cute and cheap and everyone loves cute and cheap! But these candles will typically have a much lower fragrance fill and lower quality wax and wick. They may have a good “cold throw” (this is how they smell before ever being burned), but chances are, they will not have the strongest “warm throw” (this is how they smell while being burned). They will not last or burn for as long as a more expensive candle and their fragrance might not fill a room like a higher quality candle would do.
Q) How long should you burn a candle for in a sitting? Why?
A) When you go to light a candle for the first time, make sure you have at least an hour (or more, depending on the size of the candle) to let it burn. This helps to create an even pool of wax which will help to burn the candle evenly for future burns. You want the top of the wax of be evenly burned before blowing it out. If you don’t do this, your candle could start to “tunnel” and once it’s tunneled, you can’t get an even burn again. This will create a buildup of wax on the sides of the candle which means hours of burn time lost.
Q) Why do you need to trim the wick?
A) There truly is a right way and a wrong way to burn your candles. Trimming the wick to 1/8th of an inch helps to have less soot and a cleaner burn. Are you ever grabbing a paper towel and wiping the inside rim of the candle to get the black residue off? This could be prevented if you trim your wicks. Shorter wicks also control the flame and cause less smoke. You should trim your wick before every burn. You can use a finger nail clipper to reach a burned wick or purchase a wick trimmer (under $10).
Q) What are you favorite styling tips for incorporating candles into your home?
A) I love putting my candles inside of vases filled with white beans or white rice. (also candy hearts for Valentine’s day, M&M’s or skittles for a birthday party). You can create a statement centerpiece with any small candle by doing this! I also love putting candles on cute little saucers. The sale room at Anthropologie always has random saucers for cheap so I always pick some up for my candles!
Q) What are you favorite scents for this coming spring?
A) Lagoon (fav) and Ivory Primrose by Capri Blue, Coconut Milk Mango by Illume, Mokara by Voluspa (very clean and subdued) , Rose Colored Glasses by Voluspa (super pretty fragrance)
Q) All time favorite everyday scent?
A) Oh man, I have tons! Whipped Cream and Pear and Oatmeal Cookie by Boulangerie Jar (Illume Line) (THE BEST!), of course Volcano by Capri Blue, Goji Tarocco Orange by Voluspa (FILLS YOUR HOME WITH THE BEST FRANGRANCE), Spiced Cider by Capri Blue (seasonal), Balsam and Cedar by Illume (HANDS DOWN my ALL TIME favorite holiday candle). Hobby Lobby has a candle called Clementine and Mango that is super similar to Capri Blue Volcano and is amazing quality!
After working with Amanda, I never looked at candles the same way again
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Loved this read!! So insightful! Thank you for this post!!! ����
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Thank you! She has so much info!
It’s good to know that you should burn it for an hour. My husband and I want to get candles for our home. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we find some to get.
so glad this was helpful!