What Is The Best Brand Candle?
Candles have become an increasingly popular home fragrance and decor item over the past decade. With the rise in popularity, more and more brands have entered the candle market, providing consumers with a wide array of options. Some of the most popular and well-known candle brands today include Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, Voluspa, and Diptyque. These brands offer a range of candle types, from traditional paraffin and soy wax candles to luxury scented candles. Consumers have many factors to consider when choosing a candle brand, including fragrance options, ingredients, burn time, price point, and overall quality and performance. The candle industry has seen impressive growth, with sales continuing to increase each year in the United States as consumers seek to infuse their homes with inviting scents and cosy lighting.
Most Popular Candle Brands
Some of the most popular and top-selling candle brands include:
Yankee Candle
Founded in 1969, Yankee Candle is one of the most well-known candle brands. They offer a huge selection of candle scents and sizes, from small votive candles to extra-large jar candles. Yankee Candle frequently tops lists of the best-selling candle brands.
Bath & Body Works
Owned by L Brands, Bath & Body Works is another very popular candle brand. They are especially known for their seasonal collections and fragrance variety. Bath & Body Works candles come in a range of stylish jar designs.
Voluspa
Voluspa specializes in luxury scented candles packaged in beautiful glass containers. Their candles have unique fragrance blends like Baltic Amber and Goji Tarocco Orange. Voluspa candles are hand-poured in the USA.
Other Notable Brands
Some other popular candle brands include Nest, Boy Smells, Jo Malone, and Diptyque. These brands range from mid-range to high-end and offer a variety of sophisticated scents and packaging.
Criteria for Evaluating Candles
When determining the quality of a candle, there are several key factors to consider:
Fragrance
A top-quality candle should have a pleasant, long-lasting fragrance. The scent should be well-balanced and authentic to what’s advertised without being overpowering (Candletime).
Burn Time
Look for candles that provide a good burn time relative to their size and price point. Many high-end candles provide 45-60 hours of burn time for a standard 8-10 oz candle (Candletime).
Wax Quality
The wax should melt evenly and be free of defects like air bubbles. Common types of wax include paraffin, soy, and beeswax. Higher-end waxes tend to burn cleaner and be more environmentally friendly (Candletime).
Wick
The wick must be properly centered and trimmed to about 1⁄4 inch to allow for complete wax pooling and an even burn (Candletime).
Price
Consider the price in relation to factors like wax quality, fragrance, burn time and presentation. While not always the case, pricier candles often outperform cheaper varieties.
Aesthetics
The candle should be visually appealing and well-designed. Look for details like attractive labeling, jar shape, color coordination, and creativity.
Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is one of the most well-known candle brands. The company was founded in 1969 by Mike Kittredge, who made his first candle as a gift using melted crayons. Today, Yankee Candle offers a wide range of candle products including jar candles, votive candles, tea light candles, and more. Some of their most popular candle scents include Clean Cotton, Vanilla Cupcake, and Home Sweet Home.
According to reviews on SiteJabber, many customers are dissatisfied with Yankee Candle, giving the brand only 1.6 out of 5 stars. Some of the biggest complaints include poor scent throw, defective products, and a decline in quality over the years. However, fans of the brand praise the strong scents and nostalgic flavors that Yankee Candle is known for.
While Yankee Candle remains one of the biggest players in the candle industry, the brand has faced some backlash in recent years. But with hundreds of scent options and new products released frequently, Yankee Candle continues to have a loyal customer base looking for their signature scented candles.
Bath & Body Works
Bath & Body Works is an American retailer under the L Brands umbrella that specializes in soaps, lotions, fragrances, and candles. The company was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio and has since grown to over 1,700 retail locations across North America.
Some key facts about Bath & Body Works (Bath & Body Works: Body Care & Home Fragrances You’ll …):
- Wide range of bath and body products including hand soaps, body lotions, shower gels, fragrances, candles, and more
- Known for their seasonal collections and limited edition scents
- Offers sales frequently throughout the year
- Has signature, long-standing scents like Japanese Cherry Blossom, Cucumber Melon, and Warm Vanilla Sugar
- Best selling candle scents include Mahogany Teakwood, Fresh Balsam, and Vanilla Bean Noel
Pros of Bath & Body Works products include the wide variety of scents, high-quality ingredients, frequently replenished selections, and effective marketing promotions. Drawbacks for some consumers are the strong fragrances, rising prices in recent years, and encouragement of frequent shopping.
Overall, Bath & Body Works is one of the most recognizable and beloved brands in home fragrance and body care. Their expertise in unique scent profiles and giftable product arrangements keep fans coming back year after year.
Voluspa
Voluspa is a luxury candle brand that was founded in 1999 by Troy and Lorna Mallett in California. The brand was inspired by the ancient rituals of Japan and named after the famous Völuspá poem in Norse mythology (Source). Voluspa aims to create clean-burning, long-lasting candles with exotic and unique fragrance blends.
The Voluspa product range includes a variety of scented candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, and bath and body products. Some of their most popular candle lines include the Maison Collection, Goji Tarocco Orange, and Baltic Amber. The candles come in colorful glass vessels with creative designs and range in size from petite tins to extra-large jars.
Pros of Voluspa candles include their strong fragrance, intricate blending of scents, and long burn times typically over 50 hours. The wax burns evenly and the glass vessels can be reused. However, some cons are that the candles can be quite pricey and the fragrances may be too strong or unique for some consumers’ preferences (Source).
According to reviews, some of Voluspa’s best selling candle scents include Japanese Plum Blossom, Baltic Amber, and Santiago Huckleberry. Other customer favorites are Vanilla Bourbon, Mediterranean Fig, and French Cade Lavender.
Other Notable Brands
In addition to the most popular luxury candle brands like Yankee, Bath & Body Works, and Voluspa, there are several other notable brands to consider when shopping for candles:
WoodWick candles are known for their wooden wicks that crackle while burning, creating a unique ambiance. WoodWick offers a variety of natural soy wax candles in different fragrances like cedarwood, sandalwood, and mahogany teakwood (Cosmopolitan).
Paddywax makes artisanal, hand-poured soy wax candles that come in unique vessels like reusable glass and concrete containers. Popular scents include tobacco + vanilla, basil + grapefruit, and amber + moss (USA Today).
Rigaud candles offer a high-end, luxury candle experience with fragrances inspired by historical figures and eras. Their candles feature beautiful packaging and unique scents like 1940, Cyrano, and Chatsworth (Business Insider).
Candle Safety
Candles can set a wonderful ambience, but it’s important to follow proper safety precautions. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), candles cause over 7,000 house fires each year in the U.S. [1] Here are some guidelines for candle safety:
Always follow the manufacturer guidelines for safe use and burning times. Don’t burn a candle for longer than is recommended. Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting, as longer wicks can produce more soot and smoke. Make sure to keep candles away from any flammable materials like curtains, blankets or paper. Allow candles to fully cool and harden before moving them to avoid spills. Extinguish candles before going to sleep or leaving a room. Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip over easily. Avoid burning candles near pets or small children.
With some simple precautions, you can safely enjoy candlelight and minimize the risk of fires. It’s also advisable to keep a fire extinguisher handy in homes where candles are burned regularly.
Conclusion
Throughout this article we looked at several popular candle brands and evaluated them based on criteria like scent quality, price, selection, container style and more. Key takeaways include:
– Yankee Candle offers the widest selection of scents but can be more expensive. They excel at seasonal and nostalgic candles.
– Bath & Body Works provides great value for the money. Their candles burn evenly and have excellent throw. Their affordable prices make it easy to try new scents.
– Voluspa candles are indulgent and luxurious, focusing on beautiful packaging and exotic fragrances. However, the high prices limit options for many buyers.
– Other brands like Chesapeake Bay, WoodWick and Paddywax offer unique experiences but have a smaller catalog of scents.
Taking all factors into account, I would recommend Yankee Candle as the best overall brand for most candle buyers. Their unparalleled selection provides something for everyone at reasonable prices for the high quality. While more budget-friendly brands can be suitable for everyday use, Yankee Candle offers an immersive sensory experience that can transform any space.
References
[1] National Candle Association. “Candle Industry Facts.” https://www.candles.org/candle-industry-facts
[2] Smith, Sarah. “Top 10 Best Candle Brands in 2022.” Candle Junkies. https://candlejunkies.com/best-candle-brands/
[3] “Candle Safety Tips.” National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Candles
[4] “Candle Fires.” U.S. Fire Administration. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/candles.html
