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Comforting candles for the coziest time of the year
Dear Readers,
I’ve never really been someone who went in for scented things, and I never used to be a candle person, either. Then, I moved to the East Coast, and seasonal affective disorder became more than an abstract concept. I read about hygge, the Danish idea of creating warmth and comfort during the darkest months of the year, and I decided to give the candle thing a try. Soon, I was hooked. There’s nothing like the flicker of candlelight on a chilly night. Add some hot cocoa, a challenging puzzle, and some cozy socks, and you’ve got autumn at its finest. But while candles can set the mood, they can also pollute it.
Many candles are made from paraffin wax, which is a byproduct of petroleum, aka gasoline. Yikes! When I had a car, I used to try to avoid the smell of fuel as I gassed up. Why on Earth would I want to bring the stuff into my home? The same goes for synthetic fragrances, which can release volatile organic compounds and other irritants into the air. (To learn more about the potential downsides to synthetic fragrance, read our advice columnist’s tips on finding a perfume.)
Over the years, I’ve created an evolving library of clean-burning candles that I can reach for depending on my mood. There’s the wonderful, non-scent scent of pure beeswax. The woods-after-rain exhalation of the Cascades, one of my favorite national parks. And the unmistakable, fresh green tomato candle that has become one of my go-to gifts. They all set the scene beautifully for fall and beyond. To learn about these sustainable candles and more, keep reading.
Happy shopping!
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor
Gorgeous Candles and More
Pure Beeswax Candles
For more than 30 years, Bluecorn has been hand-pouring candles in Colorado using pure beeswax, a naturally renewable byproduct of responsible beekeeping. The candles burn cleanly and emit a subtle, honeyed fragrance all their own — no added scent required. The golden light they cast feels warmer and more alive than anything synthetic. I always keep Bluecorn’s votives and tapers on hand to help set the scene for a party.
Bringing Nature Inside
I first encountered Juniper Ridge years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The Northern California company channels the wild landscapes of the American West into every candle with steam-distilled essential oils from plants like red cedar, sage, and Douglas fir. The resulting scents, earthy and evocative, offer a quick ticket to some of my favorite places, like Big Sur and the Cascade Mountains. The brand also offers incense, essential oils, and minimalist diffusers.
Glow and Grow
Modern Sprout makes gorgeous grow lights, garden tools, and creative seed kits, as well as uniquely giftable candles. Once the essential oil–scented, soy wax candles have burned down, the vessels double as small planters. Each candle comes with seeds, so after you’re done burning, you can start growing. The candle’s scents correspond to the plants you’ll soon cultivate. With prices starting at $16.99, the kits are a terrific bargain.
Delightful Decorative Lights
Hand-forged in Wisconsin, Northern Forge’s solar-powered luminary pillars aren’t candles at all, but they create such a magical glow that I felt compelled to include them. By day, they’re handsome pieces of weathered steel art. By night, they radiate light through intricate cutouts, casting dancing shadows across your patio or garden: the perfect complement to the warm candlelight indoors.
Creative Beeswax Delights
Four or five years ago, a search for unique Hanukkah gifts led me to Toronto-based Mile End Soap and Candle. The proprietor uses local beeswax to create the most marvelous, hand-dipped candles. Custom name, number, and date candles make birthday cakes even more special, as do charming candles in the shapes of bikes, butterflies, and instruments. But my favorite items remain the incredible menorah candles, which I buy for myself and others and light on the last night of Hanukkah each year.
Candles to Write Home About
Flamingo Estate’s luxe candles are scented with pure essential oils, many from the Los Angeles home and garden that gives the brand its name. Yes, the candles are expensive — the Heirloom Tomato and Jasmine Damask Rose candles cost $64, with limited edition candles priced even higher — but they’re truly wonderful, like olfactory postcards from the garden. If you feel like spoiling yourself, or someone else, start here.
