Dear AT LA,
Could you recommend a good scented candle? I’ve gotten burned (no pun intended) by spending $$ on candles only to have the wick get lost, and I have to throw them out half used. Are there really no good scented candles out there for less money?
-Stinky
Hey Stinky(!),
We agree that there is nothing more frustrating than buying high priced candles only to find their structure is less than quality. While we love the smells (and packaging) from Sage candles (especially the Amber) we are always frustrated by the waste.
We will go on record as saying that we are pretty exclusively in love with 
SO put another wick in the candle--go to Michael's and buy a bag full. Works like a charm. YOu don't need to dig out the old wick, just scoop out a little hollow for the new one.
I think in terms of quality (strong fragrance, longer burn-time), you get what you pay for with scented candles. I'm pretty brand-loyal to the Voluspa line (about $20 for 80-hour candle), but will stray when The Bombay Company puts their "Tobacco" scented candle on sale for $9.
I have been burned as well, spent way too much money on expensive candles at Fred Segal only to find out they were duds.
You may want to try Ikea. Kind of a pain if you are only going there for candles. If you are a fan of fruit or vanilla sents they sure are a bargain and they stay lit.
You can always ask Santa Claus for new candles and get them for free!
Good luck!
I bought some soy candles at the drugstore. They were cheap. Surprise! they are also wonderful. The wick (cotton) burns all the way to the bottom and the fragrance is lovely. They burn very clean.
Oh, ebrown, your comment just reminded me about a tip regarding soy candles. I was told by the shopowner of a candle boutique that on the first burn, you should always burn the candle for a few hours so that the melted wax encompasses the entire diameter of the container. Otherwise, the wick will burn down quicker on subsequent burns, leaving the outer edges of wax unmelted. [Yeah, yeah, I know... How gross am I that frequent candle boutiques?]
Target makes tolerable candles, but you have to watch which scent you get. I have also always liked Illume and Aromatherapy of Rome.
And Enrique, that tip goes for all candles, not just soy.
bed bath and beyond, the mason candles. 60 hours burners and strong strong strong
I don't think there is any substitute for Diptyque Candles (www.diptyque.tm.fr). They cost a fortune but they are so worth it...I've tried Votivo and other good quality candles but none have even been a close second. They are fairly widely available online - and in NYC. Save up and try one - with 53 different scents you'll never be at a loss for a new scent to try.
I 2nd Votivo candles. My favorite is tumbleweed. They have them at Ricky's.
I second the comment on diptyque. The fragrances are amazing (and they're pretty to look at, with their simple french labels). The only problem I've had with them (other than the astronomical price) is that I've had one or two that did not burn evenly. For less money, I recommend the henri bendel candles from Bath and Body Works (formerly called something like "world's best" or "ultimate" candle). I especially like the earthy scents, like amber and firewood.
I am such a fan of the Red Flower line - they have a shop in Nolita and also sell at ABC, Barneys NY and other stores. I love their true flower smells and each candle comes with dried petals of the same flower or plant. Joy.
My new favorite is the From the Pantry series, by Time & Again (timeandagain.com). I don't know where you can get them in NY, or how their cost compares to any other candles, but I've got one here called Olive & Parsley, and another called Lemon Verbena, and I've finished burning Herbes de Provence. I can attest that they all smell great, and are quite strong.
Um, should I be embarrassed to admit my predilection for Illuminations among you hard-core candle connoisseurs?!
Scent-wise, I love their "Pour Homme" candle. It used to come in a sexy matte black glass container with black wax, and smells like aftershave. Now it comes in a wider range of sizes, but no longer the hot black-on-black look. Good thing the hoarder in me prevailed... I'm set for awhile!
Some quality points for scented candles:
-Make sure they use food grade wax. Lower grades burn with a petrol smell and produce a lot of sooty smoke
-Make sure they use all-natural scent. Chemical fragrences have a pungent, sour top note.
The cheaper candles may not have these quality points. Pacifica has nice scents. And, consider pure beeswax which has a nice honey scent.
I second the Pacifica vote. Their 10.5 oz. soy candles –about $20– are great and the Spanish Amber is the best sandalwood-resiny scent ever.
In my humble opinion, Diptyque truly is the best. I do remember liking Votivo, but that was before I started receiving Diptyque as gifts.
They last a long time, and they're lovely, too.
glade cinnamon apple. absolutely fabulous.
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