In short, no, there are hundreds if not thousands of variations of candles to choose!
For those who are not avid candle buyers, it can seem a little odd when you come across a person with a candle obsession!
Every cupboard, every table, every bookcase, candles simply everywhere!
So...
How does candle buying become an obsession?
From the container, to the wax and of course, the fragrance! Candles can quickly become a favourite (and expensive) hobby for those who want their home to smell amazing and look fantastic.
If it's aesthetics that tick your box, then you can choose a candle based on the container it comes in. From handmade ceramic pots and concrete squares to intricate coloured glass and even pillar candles that have no container at all! There's a feast of options for those who like their homes to look stylish and aesthetically pleasing. Some candle buyers forgive the scent, if the candle looks superb as a centrepiece in their home.
If it's scent you're looking for, then don't forget the golden rule: Hot Throw and Cold Throw are two completely different things!
Have you ever purchased a candle from a retail shop, after doing a quick in-store sniff test, only to find that it doesn't give off any scent at all when you burn it for the first time?
That's because Cold Throw is the scent you smell in-store, pre-burning. The wax and fragrance oils have set and gradually release the top notes of the fragrance, that's what you can smell in the shop. When you light the candle for the first time though, and the wax begins to melt, this becomes the Hot Throw of the candle. This is when the heat starts to burn through the notes of the candle, releasing slightly different fragrances as the wax melts. There are Top Notes, Middle Notes and Base Notes within each scent and these all vary completely depending on the fragrance and even the batch!
What About The Candle Wax?
Again, there's a veritable feast of different candle waxes, depending on your preference and if you have any allergies.
The standard, mass-manufactured brands will use either paraffin wax or soy wax. Paraffin wax melts quickly and releases A LOT of fragrance, filling your room with scent. BUT, some people prefer to choose soy wax, as it melts at a lower temperature, is generally considered to use fewer chemicals and is seen by many to be more eco friendly than paraffin which is oil based.
There's also coconut wax, which has superb eco credentials and natural, non-chemical properties. You can even find candles with a blended wax, soy and coconut, giving you the best of both worlds.
All of these waxes melt at different temperature points and react differently to the fragrance oils used in their productions. So, again, it can quickly become an obsession to seek candles that offer different properties.
Then There's Candle Accessories
If you're all 'candled out' don't forget, there's also a variety of home fragrance accessories that any candle obsessive must own!
Candle snuffers: It's always preferential not to blow candles out. The molten wax can be blown on to delicate surfaces or worse still, it can bounce back off the container and into your eyes! Very dangerous! A candle obsessive will always invest in a couple of stainless steel or brass candle snuffers, to safely extinguish any flames.
Heat proof mats: Another essential if you're burning candles regularly and have delicate wood or painted surfaces in your home. Heat proof mats dissipate heat and reduce hot spots on furniture. Candles can reach incredibly high temperatures when they're burning, the glass can easily mark varnished wood and painted surfaces are likely to crack!
