What to look for in a candle

There are so many different types of candles out there, it can be overwhelming when you're looking to try a new one. What qualities should you even be looking for when candle shopping? When I started Hope Street Candle Co., I knew a few things about candles, but since then I've learned a lot more and I wanted to share some of my knowledge with you. Here's my guide on what makes a quality candle.

  • aroma: Arguably the most important element of a scented candle is its... scent. Our classic scents are clean, fresh, everyday mood boosters. While our seasonal scents can be slightly more complex, they're still designed not to overwhelm. In my personal experience, certain scents can trigger headaches. One of our goals when starting a candle company was to provide scented candles that are pleasant, even for people with sensitive noses like me. Aroma can be hard to judge when you're shopping online, but that's one of the reasons we offer a flight of our most popular scents so you can try them all at an affordable price point.

  • wax type: Our candles use 100% soy wax. While there are a few different types of natural waxes out there, soy is our wax of choice because it's made from a sustainable, natural crop grown by American farmers. Some candles marketed as "soy wax blends" may be blended with parrafin wax, which is derived from fossil fuels. When shopping for candles, I recommend searching for 100% soy wax candles. Eco-friendly waxes such as soy, coconut, and beeswax are superior to traditional parrafin candles both because they burn longer and cleaner and because they're better for the environment. 

    soy wax candle

our candles are 100% soy wax

  • throw: Candle culture has a terminology all its own. "Throw" is a word that describes how strong and how far a scent carries. Hope Street candles test our throw so that our candles fill a room without overpowering your senses. Throw will make or break the quality of a candle.

  • sustainability: This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're candle shopping, but if you're an environmentally conscious person in general, you can bring that attitude towards almost any product you use. For example, our 9 oz. candles come in high quality American made glassware that you can easily repurpose into a cocktail glass when the candle has finished burning. (Check out our cocktails & candles highlight on our Instagram for ideas on what to serve in those new glasses.) We're also mindful of avoiding plastics in our packaging when we ship our candles to you. And of course, an eco-friendly wax makes a much more sustainable candle.

  • aesthetic: A significant portion of what you're paying for when you buy a candle, especially a higher end candle, is the packaging. Slapping a designer label on a candle can double/triple/quadruple its price. Of course, candles are part of our home décor, so the way they look is important. But be mindful of when you may be paying extra for a name brand just because it's a name brand.

hygge candlea simple but pretty candle will upgrade any space.

 

And there you have it, my candle shopping guide. I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, please don't be shy to email me!