Artistic Scented Candles

The Wax Makes the Difference

The type of wax determines how a candle burns and how it releases scent. Artistic houses work almost exclusively with vegetable waxes, which melt at lower temperatures and release the fragrance oil progressively rather than all at once.

• Soy wax — slow, clean burn, excellent cold throw, longer lasting than paraffin.
• Coconut wax — the strongest performer for scent throw, creamy texture, often blended with soy.
• Rapeseed wax — European in origin, burns very evenly and ranks among the most sustainable options.
• Beeswax — naturally honeyed, it purifies the air but partly masks delicate fragrances.
• Vegetable blends — formulated by each house to balance burn time and intensity.

How to Burn a Candle Properly

A few rules separate a candle that lasts thirty hours from one that lasts sixty:

• The first burn decides everything — let it burn until the wax pool reaches the edges, usually two to three hours. Put it out sooner and the candle will tunnel forever.
• Trim the wick — to about 5 mm before every lighting: this prevents soot, tall flames and blackened rims.
• Never burn beyond four hours — past that the vessel overheats and the fragrance degrades.
• Snuff, do not blow — use a snuffer or dip the wick into the wax: no smoke, no burnt smell.
• Keep away from draughts — an unstable flame burns wax unevenly.

Burn Time, Sizes and Coverage

Burn time depends on size and wick count. A 180-200 g single-wick vessel gives roughly 40-50 hours and scents a room of up to 20 sq m well; 500 g formats and above, often three-wick, are made for open plans and exceed 90 hours.

Once less than a centimetre of wax remains, it is time to replace the candle. Many vessels from artistic houses can be reused as containers after cleaning with warm water.