Best Places to Buy Candles Online
This candle gift set may be your solution.
Candles are a self-care, home décor, and home fragrance staple and the Internet has made it easier than ever to buy candles online. It’s no wonder that retail sales of candle products in the United States are over $3 billion each year.
By 2023, 91% of the country’s current population is expected to shop online, up from 69% in 2022. That’s a whole lot of online shopping—and a whole lot of candles!
Here are our recommendations for the best places to buy candles online, plus five tips on what to look for to pick the best candles for a gift or for your home.
PERSONAL OR CORPORATE GIFTING
Here’s 5 reasons why a candle gift set makes the perfect gift:
A Guide to Buy Candles Online
Shop Candle Round Ups from Magazines
Many online publications and magazines do what’s known as ‘product roundups’ of the best candles. Think “The 14 Very Best-Smelling Candles” by New York Magazine’s The Strategist.
Editors at these publications typically receive candle samples to test in their own homes to determine who makes these lists. Real people (the editors) try a lot of candles, and it’s in their best interest as respected publications to feature the best of the best.
Following the roundups from publications will typically direct you to the brand’s website, where you can buy candles directly from the brand online.
RELATED: Here’s 5 Reasons Why Editors Love Spoken Flames Candles
Shop for Candles on a Curated Marketplace
The key word here is to shop on a ‘curated’ marketplace.
Have you ever heard of a little site called Amazon? Well, it’s an online-shopping behemoth. But, just because you can get your undies, candles, and a romance novel all on one site, doesn’t mean that you should.
The e-commerce giant is home to a lot of third-party sellers. Not all sellers and products, in this case, candles, have been vetted. Almost anyone can sell items on the Internet’s superstore. It can be a real gamble buying quality candles on Amazon.
So consider shopping at a purpose- and values-driven, curated marketplace like The Verticale or The Fascination. These marketplaces exclusively curate high-quality brands that demonstrate ethical, sustainable practices and quality ingredients. Sites like these make it easier to buy candles online.
These curated marketplaces, much like the publications, test all of the candle products that they feature. Less gamble. Greater quality candles, which you can buy directly on their marketplace.
🏃 I’M READY TO GIFT - LET’S GO! 🏃
5 Things To Look for When You Buy Candles Online
When you buy candles online, consider these five factors:
1. Ingredients
It’s important to know what’s in your candle. The candle flame will vaporize the ingredients inside your candle; this is how scent fills your space. So whatever is in the candle will evaporate and be what you breathe at home. Ensure that the candle contains no toxic ingredients, and phthalate-free fragrances are key.
6. Candles can help increase focus in a work from home environment
The rise in WFH and remote work means our workspaces are full of comforts—and distractions. But why would anyone light a candle at their work desk? To keep those distractions at bay. From chatty co-workers (albeit via Slack) to social media, candles are a thoughtful corporate gift that can help us focus and create space for us to do our best work.
Consider it a productivity hack. 💡
The presence of a candle flame can set a calming mood. Wooden wick candles in particular have a unique soft-crackling sound, which can serve as natural and relaxing ambient sound in one’s space. Plus, select scent profiles, like citrus, woody or a floral scent of a scented candle can influence physiological responses that help keep the mind on track.
7. Candles can be an environmentally responsible gift choice
First, it‘s a candle, next it’s their favorite whiskey glass. 🥃
Depending on the candle’s vessel, most candle jars can be upcycled after the burn cycle of the candle. It can be used as storage, glassware and more, so you can feel good knowing that your gift will keep on giving! And your candle gift (once upcycled) can be a pleasant reminder, if not a conversation piece in their home, of your thoughtfulness.
A candle gift set solves my gifting needs—but wait! I don’t know what candle scent they may like 😟
Bonus tip: How to pick a candle scent for a gift
So a candle gift set meets your needs, but you’re not sure what scents they like 😟 Pro tip: consider an unscented candle or a gift set that offers a variety of scents.
The unique thing about Spoken Flames’ Trio Sets is that each candle gift set has a variety of scents with great range—from woody, citrus and floral in our F, Yes Collection, for example.
Your gift recipient would never get bored, and it increases your chances for satisfaction with a broad range of scents in their hands.
Because Spoken Flames candles are message-driven, our motivating candle statements (even without scent) mean that you’ll still win big with this meaningful gifting choice!
2. Quality and Complexity of the Candle’s Fragrance
The scent notes should be in the candle’s product description. Look for a clear or lively explanation of how the candle smells or an outline of the top, middle, and base notes for the candle’s scent. Ensure the fragrance is phthalate-free.
3. Candle Wax Type
All-natural and toxin-free are good indicators of a quality wax blend. Soy, coconut, and beeswax are common wax blends. We recommend looking for symbols or text that confirm that a candle’s wax blend is toxin-free and petroleum-free.
If you’re feeling extra curious, consider learning about the different types of candle wicks, too: cotton wicks vs. wooden wick candles.
4. Production Quality: Where, How, and Who Made The Candle?
Conscious shopping is in. No more mystery low-cost candle ingredients mass-produced at mystery warehouses. So be sure to know where your candle is made.
Sometimes brands will say ‘Made in the USA’ or, more specifically, say in which city or state the candle was manufactured—which is even better!
For example, Spoken Flames hand pours each candle in Brooklyn, New York. We take our craft seriously and are transparent that humans, not machines, make our candles.
5. Buy the Sample or Preview Sizes
If the scent is essential to your decision while shopping for candles online, look for sample sizes or preview product options. Spoken Flames, for example, offers a scent preview pack that includes a set of micro candles so you can try them before you commit to buying a full-size candle.
🏃 I’M READY TO GIFT - LET’S GO! 🏃
How To Buy Candles Online, In Summary
The best way to buy candles online is to discover reputable candle brands that editors, publications, or marketplaces have vetted. Then, take it a step further and learn what transparent production practices and ingredients are used. These factors will lead you to the best candles for your home or as a gift. Finally, if you’re hesitant on scent, get a scent preview pack to discover one, or more, of the candle scents you love!
