Scented candles are that seemingly insignificant interior detail that creates a special atmosphere and fills the space with your favorite aromas. For many centuries, candles have been associated with warmth, romance and comfort. In addition, it has been scientifically proven that smells have a significant impact on a person’s mood and well-being. High-quality scented candles made from natural ingredients will help create a unique atmosphere for a romantic dinner, peaceful meditation, cozy family gatherings and other “special” moments in your life. However, choosing the best scented compositions from a huge variety of products presented on the modern market is not easy. Experienced specialists from the Expertology team will help you cope with this task.

How to choose scented candles?

Doctors and environmentalists recommend choosing scented candles with the utmost responsibility. This is due to the fact that low-quality compositions may not only fail to meet consumer expectations, but also cause serious harm to health. For example, candles made from unrefined paraffin emit harmful gaseous substances during combustion - toluene and benzene. When entering the human body with air, these toxic components can have a negative effect on the nervous system, disrupt sleep, and also act as active carcinogens. A study conducted at the University of South Florida proved that the combustion products of paraffin candles cause harm to health comparable to inhaling diesel exhaust gases. The lungs and heart suffer first. No less harmful are synthetic fragrances and cheap dyes, which are often used by unscrupulous manufacturers.

To avoid negative impact on health and enjoy natural aroma for a long time, when choosing scented candles, experts recommend paying attention to the following features:

Base. As mentioned above, paraffin is not the best base for a quality candle. Being the final product of oil refining, this substance can release toxic compounds during the melting process. Options made from highly purified paraffin are less harmful, but experts consider soy wax to be the safest, most natural and convenient base for candles. This substance is quite hard and retains its shape perfectly regardless of the room temperature. Modern manufacturers also produce high-quality aromatic candles based on coconut and beeswax. Such compositions are completely safe for both human health and the environment.

Source of aroma. The smell that cheap scented compositions emit is due to the presence of synthetic fragrances in their composition. Recent studies conducted at the University of Maryland have shown that about 90% of such fragrances are based on dangerous toxic substances - acetone, toluene, limonene, etc. High-quality premium products should contain completely natural essential oils or expensive purified perfume compositions.

Wick composition. The wick should be positioned strictly vertically. To achieve this, some manufacturers use a metal core, represented by a thin lead or zinc thread. Experts believe that this is unsafe. When the wick burns, the metal heats up, releasing toxic substances into the air that have a negative effect on the central nervous system. It is relatively easy to check whether there is metal in the wick core. Simply run the tip of the wick over the surface of a sheet of paper. If a dark mark remains on the surface of the paper, it is better not to use the candle.

Color. Too bright colors of the paraffin or wax base indicate the presence of synthetic dyes, which also often release toxic components when heated. Experts advise choosing candles in more subdued pastel colors.

Burning time. Most manufacturers indicate the burning time of the candle on the packaging, which depends on the type of base, weight and dimensions of the product. It should be taken into account that wax-based candles burn longer than paraffin ones, which is why their higher price is often justified.

Type of aroma composition. When choosing a candle scent, you should rely not only on personal preferences, but also on the purpose of the purchase. For example, warm notes of patchouli and sandalwood help to create an atmosphere of peace and relaxation in the bedroom, while invigorating citrus compositions will be more appropriate in the bathroom. You should be especially careful when choosing candles for a romantic dinner, since not all smells go well with food aromas. The best solution in this case would be compositions with light "edible" notes of vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate.

The atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the house is made up of many factors, among which aroma is not the last. High-quality aromatic candles, which contain only safe natural components, will help fill the space with your favorite smells. It is precisely such products that made it into the TOP of the best aromatic candles from the experts of the Expertology website.

YANKEE CANDLE Warm Cashmere

The products of the American brand YANKEE CANDLE are currently successfully sold in 20 countries, including Russia. The brand's range includes more than 150 unique aromatic compositions created on the basis of natural waxes and natural plant extracts. The aroma "Warm Cashmere" Warm Cashmere will definitely conquer lovers of subtle spicy-woody scents. The base notes of the formula are sandalwood, musk and patchouli. The middle note, revealing the very essence of the composition, is given to the soft velvety aroma of "cashmere wood" and fragrant cardamom. The manufacturer indicates ripe orange as the top note, but users note that the citrus line of the candle is very gentle and does not drown out the sweetish spicy base.

YANKEE CANDLE Warm Cashmere candles are available in miniatures weighing 49 and 104 g, as well as in large formats weighing 411 and 623 g. The full-size version is sold in a stylish glass jar with a weighty lid and provides 150 hours of continuous burning. The candle has a pleasant beige-pink color, which allows it to harmoniously fit into almost any interior. Users note that the delicate sweet aroma of the composition does not strain and does not cause headaches even with prolonged burning of the candle. The product is ideal for creating a warm, relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom.

TIZIANA TERENZI Andromeda

Perfumers of the world-famous Italian brand Tiziana Terenzi made sure that the delightful aromas of their Lunar collection could sound not only on the body, but also fill the surrounding space. For this purpose, the company released a line of unique perfumed candles based on purified hydrogenated wax. The Andromeda aroma is a fresh floral-citrus composition that begins to unfold with a combination of tart bergamot and sweet ylang-ylang accord. The heart of the composition is a fruity-floral symphony. In it, sensual notes of damask rose and lily harmoniously intertwine with the sweetness of peach-pear nectar. The composition is completed by subtle notes of coconut, amber and vanilla. Such an exquisite melody leaves no one indifferent.

The candle contains 20% of natural aromatic essences of the highest quality. This allows you to achieve such a bright and at the same time natural aroma. Another distinctive feature of the product is a wooden wick made of two types of wood. During combustion, the wick pleasantly crackles, imitating the sounds of a fireplace. This allows you to complement the atmosphere of warmth and comfort. The candle is sold in a golden glass container decorated with the brand's signature coat of arms. In addition, thanks to the use of Air Therapy technology, during the combustion process, the candle emits a large amount of clean water vapor, which contributes to the correct and balanced humidification of the air in the room. Due to the negative ionization of space, dust particles settle, and the air becomes cleaner.

WOODWICK Fireside

American manufacturer of aromatic candles WoodWick offers its customers to appreciate fantastic new products that give multi-sensory sensations. The combination of natural wood aroma and the characteristic crackling sound of a burning fireplace allows you to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and home. The first to be revealed in the aromatic composition of Fireside are the sweet-tart notes of Italian bergamot and apple peel. In just a few minutes, the user can appreciate the medium velvety notes of golden amber and black oak. The last to be revealed are the deep woody aromas of vetiver, mahogany and musk. Merging into a single composition, these smells relax and create a peaceful atmosphere.

A characteristic feature of this brand's candles is their wide wooden wicks, which create a long dancing flame. The special patented wick design provides a pleasant crackling sound during combustion. The manufacturer uses natural soy wax, which is completely safe for human health, as the basis for the WoodWick Fireside candle. The range includes candles of different weights - 31, 85, 275, 453, 609 grams. The listed options guarantee from 8 to 160 hours of continuous burning. Due to the fact that the candles are placed in stylish glass containers with a lid, they will worthily decorate the interior and help create a unique home atmosphere.