What Is A Good Gift For A Candle?
The purpose of this article is to recommend and describe good gift ideas for candles. Candles can make thoughtful and meaningful gifts for various occasions. Selecting the right candle gift involves understanding the purpose it will serve and the preferences of the recipient. The goal is to provide a comprehensive guide to candle gift ideas that will help the reader choose a gift that delights and surprises the candle lover in their life.
This article will explore different types of candle gifts across a range of budgets. Factors like scent, design, color and candle burning time will be considered when suggesting specific gift ideas. The focus will be on highlighting unique, creative and useful candle gifts that show thoughtfulness, care and appreciation for the recipient.
Candle Accessories
Find useful accessories that can enhance the candle experience. Products like candle snuffers, wick trimmers, and candleholders serve a functional purpose while also adding to the ambiance.
Candle snuffers are metal tools used to extinguish a burning candle wick. Rather than blowing out a candle, using a snuffer cuts off the oxygen supply to put out the flame. Snuffers prevent wax from splattering and smoke from blowing around the room. Look for snuffers with long handles to protect fingers from getting burned.
Wick trimmers are another handy candle accessory. As a candle burns down, the wick becomes longer and can make the flame flare up, drip wax, or smoke. Trimming the wick about 1/4″ before lighting will help the candle burn cleaner and more evenly. Wick trimmers have a sharp blade specifically designed to cut wick material.
Candleholders provide an attractive and safe base for a candle. Candleholders come in an endless array of styles, shapes, colors, and materials like glass, ceramic, wood, metal, and more. Choose a candleholder that matches the recipient’s decor. Make sure the holder is stable and sized appropriately for the candle. Tea light candleholders, votive holders, taper candle holders, and pillar candle holders are some common types.
Other useful candle accessories could include candle trays to catch melted wax, wick stickers to keep wicks centered, or snuffer caps to extinguish and contain smoke. Shopping for accessories that serve a function while looking stylish can be a thoughtful candle gift idea.
Decorative Candles
Decorative candles add warmth and ambiance to any space while also serving as beautiful works of art. These aesthetically pleasing candles come in a variety of styles including colored jars, sculpted pillars, and uniquely shaped designs.
Colored jars allow you to add a pop of color that coordinates with your home’s decor. These candles look beautiful grouped together on a shelf or mantel. Popular colors include jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and amethyst. Frosted jars diffuse the glow of the candlelight for a soft, elegant look. Etched jars feature delicate patterns like florals and geometrics.
Sculpted pillars showcase intricate designs molded into the wax. Fluted pillars have vertical grooves circling around the candle. Other pillars mimic the look of real objects like seashells, vines, and columns. These shaped candles add visual interest when displayed.
For a truly unique gift, consider hand-poured candles designed into shapes like starfish, shells, leaves, and more. Many candle makers offer these creative designs that capture images from nature. The intricate shapes make each candle a work of art. Arrange them together for a visually striking display. Their unique forms provide novelty and whimsy.
Whether you choose colored jars, sculpted pillars, or shaped candles, decorative candles make a thoughtful, artistic gift for a candle lover. Let these beautiful candles infuse their surroundings with both light and art.
Scented Candles
Scented candles make excellent gifts for candle lovers. The scent emitted from the candle as it burns can create a soothing, uplifting, or relaxing ambiance. Popular scents for candles include lavender, vanilla, pine, citrus fruits, cinnamon, and woodsy notes like cedar or sandalwood. Candles scented with essential oils are especially valued for their purity and aromatherapeutic benefits. Some of the most sought-after candle scents include lemon, jasmine, rose, and balsam.
When selecting a scented candle as a gift, it’s best to opt for soy wax or natural beeswax candles, as these burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Highly fragranced candles in large jars, pillars, or decorative vessels make impressive gifts. However, it’s wise to first know the gift recipient’s scent preferences. For an extra personal touch, consider a custom-scented candle labeled with the recipient’s name.
Candles with essential oil blends designed to promote relaxation, meditation, or sleep also make thoughtful presents. Some popular scented candle gifts include nectarine mint, eucalyptus, and vanilla balsam.
Candle Gift Sets
One of the most popular and appreciated gifts for candle lovers are candle gift sets or gift baskets that pair candles with complementary items. These make wonderful gifts for birthdays, holidays, or other special occasions.
Some ideas for candle gift sets include pairing scented candles with matches or lighters, incense, candle holders, or other decorative accessories. For example, you could create a gift basket with a soy candle, matchbox, candle snuffer, and candle tray (Source: https://www.etsy.com/market/candle_gift_basket).
Scented candle gift boxes are also a creative gift idea. These contain a set of scented candles, often 3-5 candles in complementary scents like vanilla, lavender, citrus, etc. The candles are neatly packaged in a gift box or basket, sometimes with other small accessories (Source: https://www.scenteddesigns.com/products/scented-candles-gift-set).
For the candle maker or enthusiast, a DIY candle making kit is a unique gift idea. These kits contain wax, fragrance oils, wicks, jars, and instructions for creating homemade candles. It allows them to make custom, personalized candles themselves.
No matter the specific gift components, a candle gift set is sure to delight any candle lover. The pairing of candles with complementary accessories makes the gift extra special and useful.
DIY Candle Making Kits
One creative gift idea for a candle lover is a DIY candle making kit. These kits allow the recipient to enjoy the process of crafting their own customized candles in their preferred scents, shapes, and colors. Candle making kits can be great for crafty people or those who want to explore candle making as a new hobby.
Many kits include all the supplies needed to get started like wax, wicks, fragrance oils, coloring, and candle jars or tins. Popular beginner kits from brands like CandleScience and Nation Home provide enough materials to make 6-12 candles with detailed instructions guiding users through each step [1]. More advanced kits offer a wider selection of dyes, scents, and vessels to allow for greater creativity and experimentation.
The hands-on, creative process of making candles from start to finish can be very satisfying. DIY candle kits are a thoughtful way to encourage someone’s inner artist and let them fully personalize candles to their taste. The end result is a set of beautiful, homemade candles the crafter can proudly gift or display.
Candle Care Products
Proper care can help candles burn evenly, last longer, and avoid issues like tunneling. Consider gifting candle accessories designed for trimming wicks, catching wax drips, and extinguishing flames.
A candle care kit contains essential tools like a wick trimmer to snip away excess wick that can cause uneven burning or smoke (Boysmells). These kits also include a snuffer to neatly extinguish a candle when you’re done burning it (Linnea & Co). The snuffer caps the wick instead of blowing it out to prevent wax splatters.
You could also gift a candle wax warmer designed to melt away wax pools cleanly as the candle burns down. These catch drips to prevent them from staining furniture or tabletops. Or consider a candle heat diffuser plate which protects surfaces from heat damage.
For traveling with candles or outdoor use, gift a candle carrying case. These protect glass containers in transit and catch melting wax. Lantern-style carriers allow the candle to keep burning safely.
To remove wax drips from previous burns, gift a candle wax cleaning kit with a melting spoon and scraper. Or provide cotton pads and cleaning solution designed to dissolve stuck-on wax.
With the right accessories, your gift recipient can enjoy their favorite candles longer while keeping their home looking neat and clean.
Books about Candles
Books can make a thoughtful and personal gift for candle enthusiasts. Here are some interesting book recommendations covering various candle-related topics:
For beginners interested in learning the art of candle making, Candle Making for Beginners provides step-by-step tutorials on creating unique candles. It covers essential techniques like wax melting, coloring, scenting, and wick selection.
Those fascinated by the magical and spiritual symbolism of candles may enjoy The Witch’s Workshop. This book guides readers through crafting tools like candles for rituals, meditation, or spellwork.
Candle Craft: A Complete Guide features 23 projects using melt-and-pour candle wax. It’s great for intermediate candle makers seeking inspiring new design ideas.
For a deep dive into candle magic, Master Book of Candle Burning explores candle color meanings, meditation, and rituals. This can help readers understand the symbolic power of candles.
Duration of Candles
When choosing a candle as a gift, it’s important to consider the burn duration so you can select the right type of candle for the occasion. Smaller candles like tealights and votives typically burn for 7-20 hours, while larger pillar candles can burn for 25-50 hours depending on their size and wax type (Slatkin & Co.). Soy candles tend to burn slower than paraffin candles. As a general guideline, a 12 oz candle will burn for around 60-80 hours.
For a short celebration like a birthday or dinner party, a set of tealights or votives can provide ambiance during the event. Pillar candles in glass containers are great for longer occasions like anniversaries, weddings, and holidays since they burn longer. Gifting a large 3-wick candle is perfect for someone who loves lighting candles daily at home. No matter what type you choose, it’s thoughtful to give candles that align with the recipient’s needs and lifestyle.
Conclusion
In summary, candles make wonderful gifts for candle lovers. Some of the best gift ideas include decorative candles with beautiful finishes and designs, scented candles that create a soothing atmosphere, candle gift sets with multiple scents or styles, and DIY candle making kits for the crafty friend. Candles also pair nicely with accessories like wick trimmers, snuffers and candle holders.
When selecting a candle gift, consider the recipient’s preferences for fragrance, design, and candle size. Opt for their favorite scents in decorative vessels or gift sets with an assortment of options. For avid candle users, replenishing supplies like wicks and wax can be both practical and thoughtful.
The purpose of this article was to highlight gift ideas that any candle enthusiast would appreciate. With this wide selection of accessories, candles, and candle-making kits, you’re sure to find the perfect present to brighten their space.