This time of year tends to get chilly and dim early, and the house feels noticeably cozier with a candle burning. A warm light and a familiar scent make the season easier to enjoy. So, today’s question fits the moment well.
Saturday Question #285:
What Is Your Favorite Scented Candle?
Do you repeat-purchase any scent, or do you explore new ones every time you choose the next candle?
My Answer
A flickering light that immediately makes any room warmer. A scent that gradually fills all the available space and lingers long after a candle is put out. Candles are festive, calming, relaxing and romantic…
Theoretically, I love candles – and not only scented ones. And at any time, I have at least 2-3 of them at home. But many years with Rusty, who mercilessly hunted any burning wick from a Hanukkah shamash to a birthday candle, taught me never to leave them unattended. As a result, a candle that is burned for half an hour during dinner and then safely retired to the cupboard will serve me for at least a couple of years. And even if I don’t love them, I can’t bring myself to throw them away.
I rarely buy candles; I use those that I get as gifts from friends or as a GWP. So, I can’t say that I have any real favorites. I do love my Ormonde Jayne Ta’if candle that I received as part of a gift set. But since that perfume is one of my all-time favorites, I don’t want to use it as an ambiance scent. Everything else was fine while it lasted, but I never wanted to repeat any of the candles I finished.
This year, I discovered something I wish I had found much earlier – a candle warmer. I’m sure I was the last one to learn about it, but just in case anyone else managed to miss this trend: it is a lamp that melts a candle placed under it without actually burning it. I love the idea, and it has become part of my daily evening ritual. You can choose the intensity of the light and use the timer. Some models (not the one I got) also allow you to change the distance from the candle to the light. And now I am on a quest to find the best winter candle to enjoy with my candle warmer.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
My favorites are Cire Trudon Abd-el-Khader, a mint tea scent, diptyque Baies and Frederic Malle Noel. I haven’t bought any holiday candles this year as I still have some unused ones.
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There was a LE Cire Trudon candle several years ago called Bayonne, I bought a dozen of them, so I’m stocked for life. It smells of spices and chocolate.
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My DH gets headaches & a runny nose if I burn a candle. He’s the same with cut flowers. If I burn a candle it will be when I have an evening bathe. Hot bath, scented bubbles & a candle with a complementary fragrance. I adore Boogie Bougies Queen Jam.
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Queen Jam was my favorite of the original set as well. Also Succulent.
I don’t buy candles anymore as I end up not being able to smell them after a while and that feels wasteful. I liked Homesick London, as they did the petrichor note well and it made me want to keep sniffing it although it was quite light.
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Hey Undina,
There are always a couple of candles in this apartment. One for the living room and one for the main bathroom. We are two old dudes and two smelly dogs living together. Sometimes the air needs clearing, and I find a candle the softest way to do that. When we have guests I burn one in the main bathroom so the next person doesn’t get the last persons odour.
I don’t have a favourite but two brands I gravitate to because their scents are so good are Boujee Bougies (particularly Verdant and Gilt) and Gascoigne and King (an affordable but super fabulous Aussie brand that sends to the world). Both of these candle houses make candles with fine fragrance quality scents.
Portia xx
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Over the years, I’ve become quite the avid candle shopper, perhaps because of my love for fragrances. While I’ve always appreciated a great scented candle, it also became a way for me to explore fragrance more specifically as ambiance for my home. I have several favorite brands due to the quality of their fragrances. One of my favorite brands is Tatine, which is made right here in Chicago. Another is Votivo, which I’ve mentioned on PER FUMUS before. Both brands offer great quality scents and are always a guaranteed smile maker as a gift. Lafco New York would be another one of my favorites. There are several other brands that offer great value as well. I could go on and on.
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I am fairly boring at Christmas. My favorites are the very well known Nest: Holiday. When I smell it burning, I know it’s Christmas. And Thymes Fir, which I just find to be such a relaxing and Christmasy smell. I actually love the smell of Christmas trees for longer than the season. My other new favorites are by Harlem Candle Co. I think everything the owner there does is exquisite. Her Holiday scent is based on the Christmas tree, but she also takes inspiration from the old perfume Emeraude. Her Santa Claus (I think that’s the name) candle, which has notes of gingerbread and other things but manages to be a lot more than that, is also very good.
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