Candle Guides, How-Tos & Comparisons

Where to Start

Whether you're new to candles or trying to fix a specific problem (tunneling, weak scent throw, poor burn quality), our guides walk through the fundamentals and the common issues. Here's how to use them based on what you're trying to do.

I'm new to candles

Start with our candle burning basics — the single most impactful improvement most candle owners can make is proper first burn (letting the wax pool to the edge before extinguishing) and wick trimming. From there, our wax type comparison helps you understand what you're actually buying when you compare a $12 paraffin candle to a $40 soy one.

I'm trying to fix a problem

If your candle is tunneling (burning straight down the middle, leaving wax on the sides), our troubleshooting guide explains both how to recover a tunneling candle and how to prevent it next time. For other issues like weak scent throw, smoking, or uneven flames, our general troubleshooting guide covers the most common complaints with diagnostic steps and fixes.

I want to make my own candles

Our DIY candle making guide covers the equipment, wax selection, fragrance ratios, wick sizing, and pouring techniques to make your first batch successfully.

I'm shopping for a specific use case

Different rooms benefit from different scent profiles. Our scent guide by room covers what works in living spaces vs. bedrooms vs. bathrooms vs. kitchens. For seasonal selections, our seasonal scent guide matches fragrances to time of year. If you're choosing between traditional candles and electric warmers, see our candle vs. warmer comparison.

Common Misconceptions

A few things we see repeated online that aren't quite right:

"Soy candles are always healthier than paraffin." Modern paraffin is highly refined and the soot/health concerns are largely myth. Soy is generally cleaner-burning, but the difference is smaller than marketing suggests. Wick quality and proper trimming matter more.

"Burn time is always proportional to size." Wick size and number determine how fast wax is consumed. A 9oz candle with two wicks burns faster than a 9oz candle with one. Always check the manufacturer's burn time, not just the ounces.

"More fragrance oil = stronger scent." Above ~10-12%, additional fragrance oil reduces burn quality without proportionally improving throw. Premium candles usually use 6-10% by weight with high-quality fragrance oils.

"Tunneling means the candle is bad." It usually means the first burn was too short. Tunneling can be recovered (foil method or rebalancing the melt pool) and prevented going forward by always burning long enough for full pool formation.

Great candles and warmers only matter if you know how to pick and use them. Our guides cover everything from the basics (how to burn a candle properly) to the nuanced (which wax type burns cleanest around pets).

How-Tos

How to Burn Candles Properly

The 4-hour first burn rule + wick trimming.

Fix Candle Tunneling

Save your candle and reclaim the wasted wax.

Candle Making Basics

Start with soy — wax, wicks, containers, and fragrance.

Candle Troubleshooting

Sooting, smoking, flickering, low throw — fixed.

Buying Guides

Scents for Each Room

Bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room — what works.

Seasonal Scent Guide

Month-by-month scent calendar.

Comparisons

Candle vs Warmer

Burn or melt — the honest tradeoffs.

Soy vs Beeswax vs Paraffin

Wax types ranked on burn quality, scent, safety.

Yankee vs Bath & Body Works

The two mass-market titans head-to-head.

Electric vs Tealight Warmers

Which warmer type fits your home.