A Beginner's Guide to Candles: Types, Wax, and How to Choose

Candles have been a part of human life for thousands of years — first as a practical light source, now as one of the most versatile tools for creating atmosphere, supporting wellbeing, and adding beauty to a home. But walk into any candle shop (or browse online) and the sheer variety can be overwhelming. Pillar or jar? Soy or paraffin? Scented or unscented? This guide cuts through the confusion.

Candle Types: What's the Difference?

Jar Candles
Poured into a glass or ceramic container, jar candles are the most popular style for home use. The container holds the melted wax as the candle burns, making them safe, long-lasting, and easy to use. They come in an enormous range of sizes, scents, and styles — from simple everyday candles to decorative shaped jars. Our shaped candle jars are a popular choice for gifting.

Pillar Candles
Freestanding candles that don’t require a container. They’re typically wider and burn for a long time, making them ideal for centrepieces and decorative displays. Always burn pillar candles on a heat-resistant holder to catch any drips.

Taper Candles
The classic tall, slim candle designed for candlestick holders. Taper candles create an instantly elegant atmosphere and are perfect for dining tables and mantelpieces. They burn relatively quickly, so they’re best for occasions rather than everyday use.

Tealights
Small, self-contained candles in metal or plastic cups. Tealights are incredibly versatile — use them in tealight holders, oil burners, lanterns, or scattered across a table for atmosphere. They typically burn for 4–6 hours.

Votive Candles
Slightly larger than tealights, votives are designed to be burned in a snug-fitting holder that supports the wax as it melts. They burn longer than tealights and create a beautiful glow through glass holders.

Spell and Ritual Candles
Slender, tapered candles traditionally used in spiritual practice — for intention-setting, manifestation, and ritual. They burn quickly (usually 1–2 hours) and come in a range of colours, each associated with different intentions. See our range of spell candles for more.

Tube Candles
A modern style — cylindrical candles, often with decorative elements like embedded crystals, dried flowers, or printed designs. They combine the aesthetic appeal of a pillar candle with the decorative detail of a gift item.

Wax Types: What Should You Look For?

The wax a candle is made from affects how it burns, how long it lasts, and how well it holds fragrance.

Paraffin Wax
The most widely used candle wax, derived from petroleum. Paraffin holds fragrance well and produces a strong scent throw, but it’s not a natural product. It’s the standard for most mass-market candles.

Soy Wax
Made from hydrogenated soybean oil, soy wax is a popular natural alternative to paraffin. It burns more slowly and cleanly, has a lower melting point (meaning a cooler, safer burn), and is biodegradable. Soy candles typically have a softer scent throw than paraffin.

Beeswax
One of the oldest candle materials, beeswax is completely natural and burns very cleanly. It has a naturally sweet, honey-like scent and a long burn time. Beeswax candles are often used in spell and ritual practice for their purity.

Coconut Wax
A premium natural wax with an excellent scent throw and a slow, clean burn. Coconut wax is increasingly popular in artisan candles for its smooth finish and sustainability credentials.

Blended Wax
Many candles use a blend of waxes — for example, soy and paraffin, or coconut and beeswax — to combine the best properties of each. Blended waxes are common in mid-range and premium candles.

Wicks: Why They Matter

The wick determines how evenly and cleanly a candle burns. A wick that’s too small will cause the candle to tunnel (burning straight down the centre, leaving wax on the sides). A wick that’s too large will produce excessive soot and a flickering, uneven flame.

Cotton wicks are the most common and burn cleanly. Wooden wicks produce a gentle crackling sound and a wider flame, creating a more atmospheric burn. Always trim your wick to around 5mm before each use — this is one of the most important things you can do to extend a candle’s life. More on this in our Candle Care guide.

Scented vs Unscented

Scented candles add fragrance to a room as they burn, making them a simple and effective form of home aromatherapy. The strength of the scent depends on the fragrance load (how much fragrance oil is used) and the wax type.

Unscented candles are ideal for dining (so they don’t compete with food aromas), meditation (where you may be using incense or essential oils separately), and decorative use where the visual effect is the priority.

Crystal Candles: A Special Category

Crystal candles embed rough or tumbled gemstones into the wax, combining the ambience of candlelight with the aesthetic and symbolic properties of crystals. As the candle burns down, the crystals are revealed and can be kept afterwards. They make beautiful gifts and are popular in spiritual and wellness practice. See our dedicated guide to Crystal Candles Explained for more.

How to Choose

• For everyday home fragrance: a jar candle in soy or blended wax with a scent you love
• For a dinner table or occasion: taper candles in a matching holder
• For atmosphere and gifting: a decorative tube or shaped candle
• For spiritual practice: spell candles or beeswax ritual candles
• For versatility: a pack of tealights and a selection of holders

Browse our full candles collection to explore the range.