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A love letter to candles and the best ones to see you through winter
I know we are supposed to dread the dawn of winter. We often feel incrementally more sad with every minute earlier that the sun sets. But I no longer fear it. That is because I have a ritual which begins the moment summer turns to autumn; every evening, as the sun goes down, I potter about my flat and light candles. In the hallway, these are tall pillar ones in glass lanterns that fill the space with a soft glow. In my bedroom it's a lavender one which – whether placebo or not – I believe helps me sleep. In the sitting room I like a mixture of something delicious smelling with one or two coloured, tapered ones dotted about in colourful candlesticks on the coffee table. And is there anything more lovely than eating dinner under the soft flicker of a few candles? The overall effect is so atmospheric, and the ritual of the whole thing so deeply relaxing that far from dreading cold, dark winter nights, I have come to look forward to them.
I can’t be the only borderline pyromaniac who derives so much joy from a bit of ritualistic candle lighting: the industry is booming. From their humble beginnings some thousands of years ago as a purely functional way to illuminate a space, candles are now one of the most effective ways to add a sense of cosiness to any room. Beyond that, they also serve very important decorative purposes. Coloured tapered candles can transform a drab dining arrangement into something rather jolly (my favourites are from St. Eval, a budget-friendly option with a range of colours to choose from). The vessel which holds scented wax can be just as important as the wax itself – just ask Heather Gilberthorpe Pell, whose company Lit Home sells its candles in handmade ceramic vessels, which can be refilled time and time again with a variety of scented rapeseed wax.
Before you start your shopping spree though, it’s important to be clued up on what to look for when buying candles. You'll want to consider the ingredients, the burn time, the scent and the price.
What are the ingredients that go into candles?
Traditionally, they were made using paraffin wax – a derivative of crude oil which, when burned, releases all sorts of pollutants into the air (and your lungs). Today, sustainable alternatives are plentiful and should always be favoured. Look out for those made using soy wax, rapeseed wax or beeswax (though, beeswax doesn’t take scents as well as other types, so these tend to be used in a blend or for non-scented varieties, such as tapered candles).
How to choose a scent?
Our reactions to different scents are, of course, personal. You may be a fan of anything vanilla-based, while I personally can't stand it. I am partial to a woody, library-esque aroma at home, though others find it overwhelming. That being said, there are some universally-accepted truths: certain oils and scents do have a mental effect on us. Ylang ylang oils are said to create emotional balance, whilst lavender oil is meant to reduce stress and ease tension. Jasmine oil creates calm and rose oil acts as a remedy for stress. I am a firm believer that, much in the same way we don’t wear summer clothes in winter, or cook the same food year-round, candles are seasonal too. ‘In summer it is all about flamboyant florals and the sparkling zest of citrus to refresh the senses’, says Celine Roux, head of fragrance and lifestyle at Jo Malone. 'But as the cold creeps in we crave deeper, luscious fruits like berries as top notes, accompanied by the warmth of spices such as clove and pepper in the heart. The sweet, earthy tones of patchouli and precious, resinous woods are unparalleled in the base this time of year.’ If proof of this were ever needed, Jo Malone’s heady, rich and woody ‘Pomegranate Noir’ candle sells at a rate of one every three minutes in December.
‘For winter candles we use woody top notes like cedar and sandal and interlace them with subtle exotic mid and base notes like amyris and ho wood,’ says Charlotte Semler, co-founder of luxury candle brand VERDEN. Unlike its spring and summer scents, the most popular winter candles blend aromas of woods and spices. For something with a hint of woodiness but enough freshness to help you look forward to spring, try its latest release: a candle created in collaboration with Beata Heuman, who incorporated scents from her childhood in Sweden for a truly nostalgic experience.
And finally, the Christmas candle: a smell so evocative that it could put even the most stubborn scrooge in a festive mood. Every candle maker will have a different alchemy, though the running thread seems to be baking spices, some greenery, such as fir or pine, and a hint of citrus (normally orange). Diptyque has just released its first in a series of winter specials: the ‘Citrouille Classic Candle’ is a celebration of the sweet, warm smell of pumpkin. It would be perfect for Thanksgiving, though it also has enough cinnamon to happily see you through to the new year too.
If you’re despairing about the shorter days and colder temperatures, I prescribe you a course of a few minutes spent lighting candles with a podcast playing in the background. Sit in the warm light with a glass of wine and cup of tea, and tell me there isn’t something to be said for this winter ritual (though, please, keep a window open a crack).
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