Choosing Candles: A Beginner’s Guide

Most people choose candles by sniffing them, which is reasonable but not quite enough. A candle that smells wonderful in the shop can be a disappointment at home for reasons that have nothing to do with the fragrance. Here is what is worth knowing.

Wax: what is the difference?

• Soy usually burns slower and cooler than paraffin, often with a softer scent. It is the favourite of many small makers.
• Paraffin tends to carry strong fragrance well, and is what you will find in many mass-market candles.
• Coconut and blends often give a smooth finish and a good scent, and many makers mix waxes to get the best of each.
• Beeswax has its own gentle honey smell, so it is usually best left without added fragrance.

Be a little wary of big claims. The wick, the fragrance load and how you look after the candle all matter as much as the wax does.

Scent: single note or layered?

Single-note candles smell of one thing: lavender, fig, leather. They are easy to commit to. Layered candles have top, heart and base notes that change as they burn. They are more interesting, but more likely to divide a household.

Cold throw and hot throw

Cold throw is what you smell when a candle is unlit. Hot throw is what fills the room when it burns. They are not always the same, so if you can, ask the maker how it behaves when lit.

Match the scent to the room

Bright citrus and herbs suit kitchens. Clean, fresh scents work well in bathrooms. Smoky and woody fragrances are made for a living room in winter. A small room needs a small candle, and scent-sensitive guests will thank you for going lighter in shared spaces.

How to burn a candle properly

• Take your time on the first burn. Let the melted wax reach the edge of the container, which often takes a couple of hours. This helps to stop tunnelling, where the flame burns down the middle and leaves a ring of wasted wax.
• Trim the wick to about 5mm before each burn for a cleaner flame and less soot, unless the maker advises otherwise.
• Keep it out of draughts, which cause uneven burning and smoke.
• Follow the label’s safety advice. Never leave a burning candle unattended, keep it away from pets, children and anything that can catch fire, and stop before the wax gets too close to the base.

Not sure about flames?

Wax melts and reed diffusers give you the fragrance with no flame on the shelf. ScarWick Candles offers custom reed diffusers, where you choose a coloured stone and a fragrance oil, as well as hanging diffusers for wardrobes and cars.

Where to find them in Weston

Dahlia Wax Candles is a North Somerset maker with soy candles, wax melts, wax flower bouquets and gothic designs with skulls and snakes. Come and have a sniff at 15 West Street, and pair a candle with a few other unusual bits for a present that lands every time.