Scented candles AIBU

[QueenArnica]

Afternoon all, AIBU to think that reasonably priced scented candles that actually smell don’t exist?

I’ve had expensive ones as gifts (Jo Malone, Jo Loves, Neom etc) but can’t afford them on an ongoing basis.

I like them on in the evenings to make me feel cosy and relaxed but is there a brand that actually has a scent that you can smell once it’s burning that would require me to sell a kidney?

I just buy Tesco ones. Cheap and smell nice. Dunno why anyone would spend £50 on a candle.

I was given some lovely ones for Christmas from the Yorkshire Candle Company.

I was given an M&S one and it smells well when burning.

I also like Sainsbury's ones.

I love the neom candles but I buy off ebay when I’m feeling flush.

This is lovely and affordable
groceries.asda.com/product/room-fragrance/george-home-lime-basil-and-mandarin-scented-multiwick-candle-with-lid/1000045904397

These people:

www.thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk/

I tried their candles on a recommendation from a Christmas thread here. They're lovely.

I second the zara candles, they are a lovely compromise

I also read the article about mineral wax ones (like Yankee - and bizarrely Diptique!) being bad for you, so bought some St Eval (recommended on here)
After taking DD to the GP because of the black snot pouring out of her....we established it was inhaled soot.
I wrote to St Eval and got a yeah but no but reply.
I'll stick to Yankee.

I love scented candles, but really can't get on with the Yankee range, I prefer something more subtle. I have found the St Eval candles to be nice on the cheaper side. You can get them as tealights, so really quite cheap! I like the seasalt ones.

I do love the Neom ones - I nearly bought myself one for Christmas but went for the bubble bath instead as it was cheaper.

Cross post re St Eval!

These are fantastic
https://www.thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk

@GhostCurry

Did anyone else know that scented candles should only be burned for about half an hour and then blown out? I didn’t (until someone told me at Christmas). The hot wax scents the room thereafter, apparently.

That might not help OP but it does mean that fancy expensive candles would last a lot longer!

Really?

Candles should be burned for longer than 30 mins as you need to (for a container one at least) melt the top layer of wax, so it is all liquid, or it won't burn right in future

Re scented candles that actually scent a room, sand and fog from tk maxx are good, but also try Goose Creek

@FenEel

Cross post re St Eval!

Just keep a look out when you blow your nose!

@pippistrelle cross posted! I recommend them a lot
Luma candles aren't too bad either but definitely not as strong as the botanical company ones
Roja and co also good
I'm sat here with a collection!

Matalan candles are surprisingly powerful.

B&M have a woodwick one, it's orchid lily or something? Smells lovely, but not too strong. They also have Fresh Linen wax melts for a couple of pounds and I found them nicer than yankee fresh scents. Sainsbury's have a great selection too.

Zara candles are lovely luxury-ish candles (around £20 I think) but aren't too strong. They come in really nice votives that can be reused for tealights too.

@ChocolateSantaisthebestkind

Daylesford are good. Largest size are £29 and burn very evenly and have a good throw.

Daylesford are excellent too You can get them from Ocado as well as direct, and often with reductions

@Winterwoollies

Wait for the “I have to be immediately sick if I smell a scented candle/diffuser/plug in” brigade 😆

I'm immediately sick (or rather I start developing breathing difficulties) if I encounter anything with an aerosol propellant, like those horrible ones in so many publicly accessible loos - so candles and reed diffusers are the only way I can fragrance a room!

@GhostCurry

Did anyone else know that scented candles should only be burned for about half an hour and then blown out? I didn’t (until someone told me at Christmas). The hot wax scents the room thereafter, apparently.

That might not help OP but it does mean that fancy expensive candles would last a lot longer!

You need to burn a candle a lot longer than 30 mins. You need to burn it so the melted wax is even all round, otherwise you will end up with tunneling and ruin the candle.

Candles should be burned for longer than 30 mins as you need to (for a container one at least) melt the top layer of wax, so it is all liquid, or it won't burn right in future

Yes, it just burns in a funnel down the middle. You need to burn a large jar candle around 4 hours to avoid this.

I have a wax melt burner that also works as a light £23 from Amazon it’s by Boblyn it’s used a lightbulb to heat up so you don’t have to worry about it catching fire
You can put oils in it or wax melts

I have a diffuser as well that is lovely and changes lights which is nice and soothing that I also bought from Amazon
Wax bars companies that I use
Sassy Wax
Essential Wax
Devon wick
Timeless Moonlight Melts for the oils and waxes as they do tiny ones
Smelly Pigs 😂
All do amazing choice of wax bars and some really nice scents
Sassy Wax is probably my favourite they have a FB page and some of the ladies wax stashes are impressive 😂😂 I’m taking hundreds of bars and tubs of waxes
There starter set includes 6 of there most popular and they are really strong
They also do a destash page where people sell there stashes😂
I had no idea wax was such a big big business 😂

Oh I love the Aldi candles but we didn't have Aldi in Northern Ireland. I stock up when I visit my friend!

X posted!

Oh wax melts are definitely the strongest fragrance wise! I use candlewick greens for those
It's weird, sometimes I want a melt, sometimes a candle

Oh and I’ve always found the customer service from these smaller companies to be first class

I bought some recently that are about the size of a large galaxy bar of chocolate
DH thought It was chocolate bars and that was hiding them from him 😂 he was very disappointed to find that it was a large wax melt slab and not a secret stash of chocolate 😂