How to Pick Your Perfect Candle in 3 Easy Steps

OK, as the founder of an online home fragrance business I'll admit it...shopping online for a fragrance-based product can be hard and never more so than when it's a first time buy from a new store.

True, I probably shouldn't say that for fear it'll send you to a high street shop for your next candle purchase but the fact you're here tells me you'd rather buy a product made by the hands of a human than one made on a factory production line. Am I right?!

Sure, you can base your decision on the all-important reviews but what if it's a new business and it's too early for anyone to have left one yet? What else can you do to equip yourself with as much knowledge as you can to avoid the disappointment of wasting your hard earned pennies on something it turns out you don't actually like? 

Yes, you could look for a business like ours that offers samples - a kinda try-before-you-buy, if you like, at minimal cost - but let's say you're shopping somewhere that only sells full size candles at £25 a pop. Where's a good place to start?

Here are three easy steps you can take to ensure that next time you head online in search of a new candle, you can buy the perfect fragrance with confidence. 

Start with a Feeling

OK, let's start with our most powerful sense - smell. Have you ever found yourself transported to a time long since past simply by a scent? We all have at some point, right?! Your grandmothers Bronnley Lily of the Valley soap (divine btw) or warm hay on a summers day and *whoosh* you're momentarily eight years old again.

Scents are amazing. They have this superpower...this ability to elicit different emotions and feelings through the simple act of breathing in. Yup, they're pretty incredible.

So before purchasing your new candle, take a moment to think about how you'd like it to make you feel. If you want an energetic pick-me-up, citrus is your best bet but if you want something warm and comforting, vanilla's the way to go.

Do your Homework

Once you know how you'd like to feel while burning your candle, research scents associated with those feelings. I know, I know - the thought of homework makes you break out in a cold sweat, right?! You're not alone! Don't worry, we've got you covered! Leave Google behind and head over to our blog post The Ultimate Guide to Mood Boosting Scents and we'll have you clued up in just a few short minutes.

Time to Shop!

OK, you've read the blog post (welcome back!) and you've got an idea of which scent you're looking for - it's time to hit the shops. (OK...a shop...er-hum...that'll be Oak & Porter then...naturally!)

Remember - a candle is a piece of furniture too so how it looks matters. We opted to house our candles in matte white vessels to ensure they work with any décor. The advantage also being that, unlike a clear glass vessel, if you don't want the label disturbing the vibe of your space, you can simply turn it out of sight...you're welcome!

So there you have it - three simple steps to picking your perfect candle! How was that? Are you feeling more informed? Hopefully next time you head online to buy a fragrance based product you'll feel better equipped and certain of what it is you're looking for. 

Thank you so much for hanging out with me today! To show you how much I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read my words, here's the link to download my handy lil' cheat sheet Which Mood, Which Candle? - perfect for the next time you're in the Oak & Porter store and are wondering how our fragrances can influence your mood. 

Until next time!