Handmade candles are more than a source of light. They set the mood, bring warmth into a room, and often carry a personal story from the maker. But with so many options available, knowing what to look for can help you choose candles that not only look beautiful but also perform well.
Tips for Buying Handmade Candles
Here are a few tips for buying handmade candles.
1. Pay Attention to the Wax Type
The type of wax a candle is made from affects how it burns, how long it lasts, and even how it smells.
- Soy Wax: A popular choice among candle makers. It’s renewable, burns cleaner than paraffin, and usually offers a slower, longer-lasting burn.
- Beeswax: Naturally golden and slightly sweet in scent, beeswax is known for its long burn time. It’s also one of the cleanest-burning waxes, producing very little smoke.
- Coconut Wax: Often blended with soy, coconut wax holds fragrance well and burns slowly with a creamy finish.
- Paraffin Wax: While not as eco-friendly, paraffin is widely used because it delivers a strong scent throw. Many handmade candle makers avoid it, but it can still be found in artisan blends.
Knowing the wax type helps you pick a candle that matches your preferences for sustainability, burn time, and fragrance strength.
2. Consider the Scent Profile
Scent is usually the first thing people notice when choosing a candle, but there’s more to it than just liking how it smells in the jar.
- Fragrance Strength: Some waxes and wick combinations carry scent better than others. Soy and coconut wax typically provide a gentler fragrance, while paraffin tends to be stronger.
- Essential Oils vs. Fragrance Oils: Handmade candles often use natural essential oils or high-quality fragrance oils. Essential oils offer a natural aroma, while fragrance oils allow for a wider range of creative blends.
- Single Note vs. Complex Blends: A candle with a single fragrance note, such as lavender, will smell straightforward and soothing. Blends might layer multiple scents for a more unique experience.
Smell the wax itself, not just the top layer. Some candles only smell strong on the surface because of added fragrance oils on top, but the deeper wax may be weaker. A consistent scent throughout the wax is a sign of quality.
3. Look at Burn Time and Wick Type
The wick plays an important role in how evenly a candle burns. Cotton wicks are the most common, while wooden wicks give a gentle crackling sound and create a rustic atmosphere. Whichever you choose, the wick should be well-centered to avoid tunneling, which wastes wax.
Burn time depends on wax type, size, and how the candle is cared for. Larger handmade candles can last 40 hours or more, while smaller ones may burn for just a few evenings.
Makers often provide estimated burn times, but these numbers assume the candle is burned correctly. To get the most from your purchase, trim the wick to about 6 mm before each use and allow the wax to melt across the surface before extinguishing.
Check for mushrooming wicks. If a candle forms a large carbon ball at the tip of the wick while burning, it may release extra soot. Handmade makers who test their wick sizes usually minimize this problem.
4. Match the Candle to Your Space and Purpose
Not every candle suits every setting. For example:
- A lightly scented soy candle may be perfect for a workspace where you don’t want to be overwhelmed.
- A stronger fragrance, like spiced vanilla or sandalwood, can anchor a cozy evening at home.
- Unscented beeswax candles are ideal for the dining table, where food should be the star of the experience.
Think about the container material. A ceramic jar retains heat differently than a glass one and can affect how evenly the candle burns. Metal tins heat up quickly, which can shorten burn time if the wick is too large.
5. Support Makers Who Share Their Process
One of the joys of buying handmade is the transparency that comes with it. Many makers are happy to explain how their candles are poured, what ingredients they use, and why they choose them. Reading labels or chatting with the maker at a market gives you a better sense of quality and care.
Ask if the maker cures their candles. Like wine, candles often benefit from a curing period where the wax and fragrance bind fully. A candle that has been cured for at least a week often burns better and smells stronger.
Choose Handmade Candles Produced in Small-Batches
A handmade candle is more than wax and wick. It’s a small piece of craftsmanship that can change the atmosphere of your space. By paying attention to wax type, scent, burn time, and maker transparency, along with small details like wick performance and container choice, you can choose candles that fit your style and last longer, while supporting artisans who pour passion into their work.