Once upon a time candles were a necessity. If the sun went down and you wanted to be able to see, you better have a stack of candles sitting around and ready to go.

These days, candles are more of something to appreciate than a necessity. This has led to candles not being just one, uniform style, to create a particular function, but instead to their being created in a variety of styles, colours, designs and scents to fit any mood or theme. As you consider the right kinds of candles to bring into your home, start by looking at the shape:

Pillar Soy Candles

In days of old when candles were being used as a way to light a path at night, generally these types of candles were put to work. They are medium to tall in height and thick enough to give off a long burn, lighting the way through a long night.

In today’s world, these are often the centrepiece candles for a candle arrangement as they can stand up above flowers or other decorations.

Votive Soy Candles

If you have a little candle holder or decorative candle bowl that you want to make shine, you may want to pick up a few votive soy candles. These are shorter than pillars and usually about 1 ½ – 2 inches wide.

Jar Soy Candles

By far the most popular of candle designs are jar soy candles. The reason for this is that not only do these candles give off a beautiful glow, but they also come in their own decorative container, as they are moulded directly in a jar.

These are also thought of as the safest of candle designs by many since they are self-contained and you can put a lid back on top after you have used them, avoiding any smouldering or hot wax issues.

Speciality Soy Candles

While the above candles are traditional designs, some people want more than traditional designs. For these people there are a number of speciality soy candles out there. From candles that look like teddy bears to those that take on the shape of a famous sculpture, there are plenty of speciality soy candles on the market that are as much decoration by their shape as for being a candle.

Scented or Unscented

Once you have selected a shape for your soy candles, there is still another consideration to make. Do you want them to be scented or unscented candles?

Scented

One of the things many people love most about candles is the scents that come from them. The use of essential oils will allow candles to give off scents as they burn. There are a number of scents on the market these days from floral bouquets that can make you thing spring has sprung to apple, gingerbread and cinnamon that make you feel like you have been whisked back to your childhood holiday gatherings.

Unscented

If you are using your soy candles as merely display pieces to complete a centrepiece on a table or to light up a bowl, vase or other arrangement, you may not want the candles to give off scents. In this case you may choose unscented candles.

Making a Selection

Selecting candles is a very personal thing for most people. Take your time. The candles aren’t going anywhere. Enjoy the process of looking through all the colours, shapes and scents until you find the combination that is best for you.

Many people are doing more and more in their lives to be a little more environmentally friendly. From recycling to looking for ways to use less fuel by combining errands into one trip, there are plenty of things you can do to try and lessen your environmental impact. Believe it or not, the candles you purchase and light in your home can be a part of this as well.

When you make a candle purchase you have two options – regular candles (paraffin) or soy candles. If you want to be more green and eco-friendly, you need to look for the ’soy’ labels. Here’s a look at the reasons why.

Candle Materials

Do you know what those paraffin candles are made out of? Paraffin is a petroleum product and as you know there is a limited amount of petroleum available on the planet. That’s why gas prices keep going so high. On the other side of the coin are soy candles, which are made from soy beans that are a completely renewable crop. They can be picked one season and a whole new crop is ready to be harvested the next.

Transport

If you purchase paraffin candles, the petroleum for those candles has likely come from another country and travelled all over the world to get here, using even more resources to run those ships, trains and transport trucks. Meanwhile, the US is filled with soy fields, meaning there were fewer resources used to get the materials to the factory as the factories were nearby.

Waste

Another thing to think about is the waste from the candles. Eventually, you have to throw away what is left of the candles, right? Well if you are throwing out part of a paraffin candle, you are adding a petroleum product to the landfill. Petroleum products do not break down like soy candles do meaning they will spend many more years in the landfill, instead of degrading and going back into the soil.

Smoke

When you light a paraffin candle, black soot is let off during the burning process. This black soot is carcinogenic and you are releasing it into the air in your home and into the environment. Soy candles, on the other hand, are clean burning candles. While they do give off white soot, it is not a sticky or dangerous material as is released from petroleum candles.

Duration of Burn

Soy candles burn more slowly than paraffin candles. This means a few things for you. First, this means you are getting up to 50% more candle for your purchase price when you are using soy candles. Secondly, this means you are not using as much initial candle material to get the same candle burn. You are saving resources.

Once you have taken a look at the differences between the two candles, it is not hard to decide which would be best for you, your family, and the environment. So, buy your soy candles with confidence knowing you are making the best choice for all involved.

Fragrance Range

Vanilla – Traditional, sweet, delicate, need we say more.

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Frangipani – A bouquet recreating the scent of one of the most beautiful flowering trees.

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Love Spell – An instant classic – this fragrance is a luscious fusion of citrus, cherry blossom, hydrangea, apple and peach; with a hint of blondewood.

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Green Tea and Lemongrass – This bright and natural smelling citrus begins with a top note of orange Valencia, bergamot tea and plum wine. The heart combines jasmine, violet, lavender and orange flowers. The dry down is a clean citrus musk.

Violet and Lime – The sensual and luxurious aroma of violet blends with crisp, clean lime to produce this sophisticated fragrance.

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Lemon Verbena – Spunky lemon & floral verbena combines in this uplifting delight. The scent begins with tangy lime, grapefruit & lemon. The heart combines lavender, geranium rose & lemongrass. The dry is a soft woody musk.

Angel Type – This exotic & unique fragrance defies any description! Inspired by the sensual designer perfume, Angel is recommended for romantic moods. This popular favourite explores essences of honey, chocolate and caramel, blended with notes of vanilla, patchouli & sandalwood.

Peppermint and Eucalyptus – Invigorating blend with peppermint, patchouli, cedar wood and eucalyptus.

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Exotic Woods

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Lavender – An enchanting meadow fringed with springs of lavender.

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Sandalwood and Musk – A rich, sweet, earthy scent with a hint of musk.

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Rain Water – The scent begins with a white floral bouquet of carnation, lily and crisp white grapefruit. The heart is a radiant blend of jasmine, tuberose, cyclamen and violet. The base combines vanilla beans, East Indian sandalwood, rose crystals and long lasting sexy musk.

Golden Rose – Over two dozen unique perfumes can be found in roses. We’ve chosen a few of the best to create a complex bouquet of sweet rose, lily, fern, and marigold.

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Winter Magic – Inspired by and created especially for the Winter Magic Festival held each year in Katoomba (Blue Mountains), we combined the fragrances of Cedarwood, Lemongrass and Lemon to create a truly Magic aroma.