Cozy Up with These Fall Mantel Decor Ideas

Fall is many people’s favorite season, and even if it’s not, you can’t deny all the great decorations that hit the shelves before the first leaf even drops. Decorating your home for fall is exciting, and one area, in particular, can really make the living room pop: the mantel. However, the constrained dimensions of the mantel can also make it difficult to decorate, especially if you’ve never done it before. Below, we offer nine tips that will help you design the fall mantel decor of your dreams. Then, we offer 10 ideas that you can mix and match to create the ideal fall mantel decor–from live pumpkins to apple scented candles. Think about the space as a whole. Your mantel isn’t an isolated space. It has to work with the entire living room. Even if this is a seasonal display that you plan to change out regularly, you still want it to work well with the rest of your decor instead of clashing with it. Take a look at your living room aesthetic to see if there are any colors or design motifs that you can incorporate into your fall mantel ideas. For instance, if you have a lot of oranges and reds in your rug, you can use those colors as a basis for your mantel decor. If the artwork has a lot of plants and other natural motifs, you can make that your theme for your fall mantelpiece. Measure your mantel. We know you’re excited to buy things to decorate your mantel, but before you go on a wild buying spree, you need to measure your mantel to make sure that everything fits. Grab a tape measure and measure both the width and the length of your mantel. You should also make a note of how much vertical space you’re working with. Keep in mind that you probably don’t want to take things all the way up to the ceiling, which will make the mantel look crowded. Jot down these measurements and refer to them as you shop for fall mantel decor. Choose a color palette. Before you begin to buy things, you should also choose a color palette. Popular fall colors include reds, oranges, yellows, browns and muted greens, all of which mimic the colors of changing leaves. However, you can also make more unusual hues work, such as blues and purples. It depends on the other colors you already have in your living room, as well as whether you want a more traditional fall look or you’re looking to be adventurous. There’s no right or wrong color palette for a fall-inspired mantel. It’s whatever you like best! Decide on a focal point. Most mantels, especially large ones, have one single big object that acts as a focal point. In some houses, this will be the TV, if you have it mounted over the fireplace. In other homes, it may be a large mirror or piece of artwork. In bigger spaces, having a focal point helps anchor the eye and takes up more space so the mantel doesn't become cluttered with a bunch of smaller objects. You don’t have to have a focal point. In fact, if you have a small mantel, you might not want a focal point so you have more space to work with. However, if you decide to go with a focal point, you should choose that piece first so you can coordinate everything else with it. Work with different heights. As you purchase decor for your mantel, make sure that you’re buying objects in different heights. If everything's the same height, it’s all going to blend together and your eye won’t know where to land. For maximum visual appeal, place objects of different heights next to each other to create contrast and interest. If your mantel is wide enough, you should also style in horizontal layers, putting shorter objects in front of taller objects (for example, a candle in front of a framed print). Not every mantel is wide enough for this, but if yours is, working in layers is a great way to add some visual interest to your fall mantel decor ideas. Go symmetrical or asymmetrical. As you decide where to place everything on your mantel, you’ll need to decide whether you want a symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangement. Both can look fantastic, so it’s up to you which look you prefer. A symmetric arrangement is a good choice if you have multiples of the same object, while an asymmetric arrangement works if you have an eclectic bunch of different objects that you want to display. If you decide to go with an asymmetric arrangement, make sure that it still remains balanced overall and that you don’t have too many objects clustered to one side. Asymmetrical doesn’t mean lopsided! Don’t over-decorate the mantel… When decorating any space, it’s tempting to overload it with as many objects as possible. After all, you have tons of cute decorations and you want to show them off! But if you clutter your mantel with too many things, you won’t be able to see all of them or properly appreciate them, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of decorating your mantel. Choose what you want to display on your mantel carefully, and find homes for the other objects in different areas of your house. They deserve to have their own space to shine on a shelf or buffet, rather than being thrown together with a bunch of other stuff on the mantel. ...but don’t under-decorate it either. On the flip side, you don’t want a mantelpiece that’s too sparse. Yes, a minimalist mantel can work, especially in a small space, but it needs to be intentional. If you want a more minimalist mantelpiece, you have to choose your pieces with extra care because there are fewer of them, and thus they get way more attention than a more crowded decoration. Try going with a big piece of art as a focal point and then surrounding it with a few decorative objects to add some visual interest. With so little clutter on the mantel, the artwork will really pop and take over the space. Create a fake mantel with a shelf. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a fireplace, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make your fall mantel decor dreams a reality. A wall shelf of sufficient depth and length can be turned into a faux mantel with the right decorations. If you have very high ceilings in your living room, you can also extend the effect of the mantel by installing coordinating shelving about the real mantel and then decorating it accordingly. Make sure not to overload the shelf and check the weight limits for the screws and brackets before placing something heavy on it to prevent an accident. Now that you know how to decorate a mantel, it’s time to browse fall mantel ideas for inspiration: Pumpkins and Gourds No list of fall decor is complete without mentioning pumpkins and their cousins, the decorative gourds. You can get the real thing at local markets and farms, or get decorative versions made of wood, fabric or other materials that you can use year after year. You can also incorporate pumpkins and gourds into other pieces of decor, such as creating a wreath from mini versions. Pinecones and Branches If you want a natural motif, but you’re looking for something a bit more original than pumpkins,  then you can incorporate pinecones and branches into your mantel instead. You can collect them yourself or buy them pre-decorated from stores. Pinecones and branches are also a great complement to pumpkins, gourds, and other items on this list. Leaves Another classic fall mantel decor idea is leaves. You can scatter these across the mantel or look for leaf designs on other items such as leaves and banners. Leaves die quickly once they’re off the tree, so if you want some to scatter around, you should probably look for fake leaves made of fabric, plastic or other materials that will keep their color. Apples This classic fall fruit is a highlight of pies everywhere, but it’s underutilized when it comes to decorating. If you want a natural element that’s unexpected, you can’t go wrong with apples. Real apples will keep at room temperature for a few weeks, or you can get some fakes one for a look that will stay fresh all season long. Garlands and Banners If you want to add some swag to your mantel, you can do it literally with a garland or banner hung from the corners. Use push pins to hang them up, or Command hooks for a temporary attachment. Make sure not to hang them too low if you actually use your fireplace. You don’t want them to accidentally catch fire, especially if they’re made of easily flammable material like paper. Candles Your mantel is the perfect place to display your best fall scented candles as soon as the weather turns. Place them directly on the mantel, or elevate them on pedestals to call attention to them. If you’re planning to burn the candles (and why wouldn’t you?), make sure to keep them away from drafts and don’t put any other decorations above them that might catch fire from the flames. Lanterns If you want to turn your candles into even more of a design statement, you can put them in a metal and glass lantern. If you’re planning to burn the candles in the lantern, make sure that you buy some that have good ventilation at the top. If you notice soot forming on the glass, take care to wipe it down regularly; otherwise, it will build up and obscure the glass. Wreaths If you don’t already have something hanging above the fireplace, a wreath is an excellent way to take up some of that wall space and create a focal point without having to rest something on the mantel and block shelf space. Choose a seasonal wreath made from other materials on this list, such as leaves, branches, pinecones and burlap. If you’re feeling especially crafty, there are also many tutorials that explain how to DIY your own. Signs, Prints and Frames Art is a great addition to any kind of mantel decor, no matter the season, and there are so many fall-themed pieces out there that you’re sure to find something that you like. Choose one big piece of art to anchor the whole thing, or do a cluster of smaller pieces for a gallery effect. You can even place empty frames for an artistic and unexpected look. Fabric Choosing accents made from fabric can add texture and visual interest to your mantel. If you want more of a luxurious look, opt for velvet. Fabric pumpkins made of velvet are a particularly nice touch. If you’re going for more of a rustic aesthetic, burlap will fit the bill perfectly and is easy to make into banners, wreaths and other decor. Creating a gorgeous fall mantel takes a little bit of advance planning, but it’s so worth it to see the end result. Follow this guide to create a fantastic fall mantel decor. If you’re still looking for inspiration, make sure to shop our fall favorites collection, which includes seasonal classics such as Pumpkin Picking and Apple Orchard. Image Credits Source: Kristen Prahl/Shutterstock.com Source: Missy Yost/Shutterstock.com Source: Seregam/Shutterstock.com Source: domnitsky/Shutterstock.com Source: ElenaPhotos/Shutterstock.com Source: osonmez2/Shutterstock.com Source: Mariia Smeshkova/Shutterstock.com

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The Many Benefits of Candles

Candles don’t just smell nice and look pretty–they’re good for you as well. Not sure how a candle can help improve your life? Here are nine benefits of candles, and aromatherapy more generally, that you definitely need to know about: Ambiance The most obvious benefit of candles is the ambiance it creates, both visually and olfactorily. Whether you’re looking to have a candlelit yoga session by yourself or to stage a romantic dinner for two at home, the right candle scent can help you create the mood you’re going for. Plus, the natural light of the candle flames looks amazing no matter what, especially when you dim the lights. By icsnaps / Shutterstock.com Relaxation If you’re looking to unwind after a long day, you should definitely light a candle as part of a relaxation routine. Bright overhead lights can be really harsh on our eyes, especially if they’re fluorescent. Instead, dim the lights and let the flickering flame of the candle soothe away your daily worries while the pleasant scent helps you relax. Just make sure that you don’t calm down so much you drift off to sleep while the candle is still burning! Focus and Concentration There’s a reason why many people like to burn candles when they meditate. It can help increase focus and concentration, not to mention promote a lower stress atmosphere that contributes to better meditation sessions. Whether you’re new to meditation or a seasoned veteran, consider adding some candles to your routines to enhance the experience. Energy and Alertness While we mostly associate candles with relaxation, certain scents can actually help you feel more energized and awake. This is especially true of the citrus family of fragrances, which many people find increases their alertness. If you only burn candles at night to help you relax, try getting a more energizing scent and burning it in the morning as you prepare to go about your day. By Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock.com Reduces Stress If you’re under a lot of pressure, burning a relaxing candle scent can help you chill out and start to release some of that tension. After all, there’s a reason that people often turn to aromatherapy when they’re under a lot of stress! To enhance the effect, practice some deep breathing exercises while inhaling your favorite scent to help calm you down physically and mentally. Better Sleep Less stress and more relaxation lead to better sleep. If you like to burn candles before bed, choose a soothing scent such as lavender to help you prepare to drift off to the land of Nod. Make sure to blow out the candle and fully extinguish the flame before you lie down to sleep. If you’d prefer to get the benefits of aromatherapy while you sleep, opt for a reed diffuser, room spray or an electric diffuser on a timer. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and definitely don’t go to sleep with one lit. Improved Mood Another cumulative benefit of all these effects is an improved mood. Because of the reduced stress, better sleep and increased concentration and energy, you’ll probably feel your overall mood begin to lift as well. A candle isn’t a one size fits all solution, but when combined with other lifestyle changes, aromatherapy can have a positive effect overall on your mood. By Luca Flor / Shutterstock.com Remembrance While we often associate memories with visual cues, such as looking at photos, smells are actually a very powerful trigger for memories as well. If you’d like to recall a pleasant memory, try burning a candle with a fragrance that you associate with that event. For example, if you want to recall baking pies with your grandma, you might choose a sugar or apple scented candle. Masking Unpleasant Odors If your home smells a little funky, burning a scented candle can help mask the smell. However, before you try to cover it up, you should try to locate the source of bad smells in your home and do your best to remove the cause. A candle can cover up a little bit of mustiness, but it can’t make your home smell like something else. Of course, candles make your home smell great and the flames are pleasing to watch as well. But candles provide so many more benefits beyond just looking and smelling nice. Keep these nine benefits of candles in mind the next time you’re wondering whether or not you should buy another candle. If you’re looking to give a candle as a gift, check out our personalized candles to find something for all your friends and family.

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Our Favorite Fruit Scented Candles

Fruit scented candles are popular for a reason: They can be sweet or tart, rich or refreshing. Whatever type of fragrance you prefer, there’s a fruit scented candle out there for you. If you’re in the market for one, here are eight of our favorite fruit scented candles to check out: Let’s Toast Candle While you might not think of “champagne” when it comes to fruit candle scents, this candle incorporates many different types of fruits for an elegant and refreshing fragrance. Base notes of champagne grapes combine with mid notes of apple and pineapple. Top notes of mandarin, grapefruit and orange finish off this candle for a well-rounded scent profile. If you want a more unique fruit candle scent, definitely check this one out. Apple Orchard Candle No list of fruit candle scents is complete without mentioning an apple candle. Our ever-popular apple orchard candle actually starts with a base of pomegranate and sugar cane to create a sweet yet tart scent. Pears, cloves and cinnamon sticks make up the mid notes, while red apple and mandarin leaf add that classic fall scent to this candle. If you want a classic apple candle that’s not too sweet, this is an excellent bet. Grandma’s Kitchen Candle If you do want an apple candle that smells a bit sweeter, consider the Grandma’s Kitchen candle. This candle takes sugar cookie and vanilla, combines them with cinnamon and clove and then adds in a dash of butter, apple and cream for a rich fragrance that smells rather like an apple pie baking in the oven. It’s a great gift to give to your grandma, or to buy for yourself if you love the scent of apples. Florida Candle Florida is known for its orange groves, so of course we had to include it on our list of fruit scented candles. To make this scent, we started with a base of vanilla, amber and musk for a sweet yet woody fragrance. Then, we added in notes of mangrove wood and orange to add that citrus scent, and finally finished it off with Spanish moss and bergamot (another type of citrus). If you’re looking for an orange candle that’s not too overwhelming, this is a great one to choose. North Carolina Candle This fragrance includes not one but two fruit fragrances, peach and blackberry. We also added a third top note, tobacco, to call to mind smoky barbecues on a late summer night. For the base, we combined vanilla, amber and tonka bean and then layered in cinnamon, sugar and clove to really round out the fragrance profile. Our North Carolina candle definitely stands out amidst other more classic fruit scented candles like apple and orange, so be sure to check it out. Alabama Candle The candle incorporates blackberry, another less common but delicious smelling candle fragrance, as well as orange. Vanilla, sugar and musk form a solid base note that supports mid notes of pecan, orange and caramel for a sweet but nutty scent. We finished off the fragrance with notes of maple and blackberry to fully capture the scents of the state. Road Trip Candle If you’re looking for a more masculine, deeper scent with just a hint of citrus, check out the Road Trip candle. Musky base notes of amber and jasmine mix with fresh air and cedarwood to capture that feeling of driving down an open highway on a road trip to remember. Hints of lime help round out the scent alongside leather and marine fragrances for a candle scent that you’ll love year-round. New York City Candle While you might not have guessed from the name, our New York City candle incorporates multiple citrus scents for a fantastic fragrance. Top notes of bergamot, lemon and grapefruit really bring the citrus fragrance to the forefront, while scents of jasmine, concrete and water lilies help keep it from being too tart. The base notes of oakmoss, sandalwood and musk help ground the fragrance and add complexity. If you’d like to get yourself a new candle scent, you can’t go wrong with a fruit scented candle, starting with the ones on this list. If you’d like to explore even more fruit fragrances, check out our roundup of citrus scented candles.

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Where Does the Wax Go When You Burn a Candle?

You know that candle wax burns down and disappears whenever you light a candle. But where exactly does that wax go, and are you breathing it in? Today, we’re delving into the science of burning soy wax candles to learn about combustion reactions and discover where wax goes when you burn a candle. We also explain why incomplete combustion reactions can cause your candle to smoke and explore what the colors of a candle flame mean. Source: Vomirak / Shutterstock.com Where Does the Wax Go When You Burn a Candle? No matter what type of wax your candle is made of, it’s essentially composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms, aka hydrocarbons. When you light the wick, the wax heats up until it melts and then is soaked up by the wick. The melted wax acts as a fuel to keep the candle burning. Specifically, the heat of the flame turns the wax from a solid to a liquid, and then a liquid to a gas by breaking down the hydrocarbons into separate molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. Once the wax has been vaporized, the hydrogen and carbon molecules are pulled up into the flame. While there, they interact with the oxygen in the air into heat, light, water vapor and carbon dioxide. About 25 percent of the energy created by the combustion reaction is given off as heat. This is enough heat to melt more wax and keep the combustion reaction going until you blow out the candle or the wick burns down. Source: Gilang Prihardono / Shutterstock.com Why Does the Candle Flame Stutter or Smoke? Sometimes, the combustion reaction doesn’t go perfectly, and the candle gets either too much or too little fuel or air, resulting in incomplete combustion. This incomplete combustion can cause the flame to stutter or soot to form. This is more common right after you light the candle, while the combustion reaction is still stabilizing. After a few minutes, the candle flame will usually begin to burn steadily. However, if the candle flame still continues to stutter or smoke, you should check the candle to make sure it’s burning properly. If the wick is too long, the candle will soak up too much fuel (i.e., melted wax) which is why you should always trim the wick down to ¼-inch each time before burning. Take care to keep the candle flame away from drafts and gusts, which will also cause it to burn unevenly. If you’re worried about breathing in candle wax, don’t be. The vaporized wax exists only right around the candle flame and quickly dissipates once the candle is extinguished. That being said, you should take the steps outlined above to ensure that the candle flame burns cleanly and doesn’t create too much soot, which can be unpleasant to breathe in. Source: Rido / Shutterstock.com What Else Can a Candle Flame Tell Us About the Combustion Reaction? At the base of the flame, you will find a blue area where the hydrocarbons vaporize into their component particles. This area is very rich in oxygen, and as the hydrogen separates, it interacts with the oxygen to form water vapor. Meanwhile, some of the carbon burns to create carbon dioxide. The next area of the flame is a dark orange-brown color and relatively low in oxygen. In this area, carbon continues to break down and forms hardened particles to create soot. The next section of the flame is the yellow color we traditionally associate with candle flames. In this part, soot formation continues until the particles ignite. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the candle flame has a thin blue halo. This blue edge is where the flame makes contact with the oxygen in the surrounding air and is the hottest part of the flame. Just like the base of the flame, the blue color comes from the presence of oxygen. As the candle burns, hot air moves up the flame and cooler, oxygen-rich air rushes in at the base to replace it. This continuous cycle of moving air is what gives a candle flame its elongated shape and makes it point up. Without gravity, hot air doesn’t rise. Candle flames are spherical and mostly blue. Candles are very simple devices, but the science between them is fascinating. To learn more about candles and making the most of them, check out our guide that explains how to burn a candle all the way down. The next time you light a candle, you’ll have a new appreciation for the science behind the illumination!

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6 Surprising Benefits of Candles

You know that candles smell good, but did you know that’s not all they have to offer? Yep, candles provide all sorts of benefits, from helping you to relax to promoting concentration. Read on to discover six surprising benefits of candles that you might not know about: Source: Gekko Gallery / Shutterstock.com Calming Ambiance There’s a reason why massage therapists and yoga studios often burn candles during appointments: They’re extremely calming. The soft light provides just the right amount of illumination while allowing you to relax. Meanwhile, the scent soothes you and helps you let go of your daily worries. You can get the same ambiance at home by lowering your overhead lights and lighting a bunch of candles instead. Just make sure to space them out and keep them away from a draft, as well as anything that might catch fire (i.e., curtains and tablecloths). You’ll have your whole home feeling like a boutique yoga studio in no time. Aromatherapy Fragrance While you might not even be aware of it, you engage in aromatherapy whenever you light a candle and inhale its scent. “Aromatherapy” may sound fancy, but it really just refers to the practice of using scents to encourage positive feelings and relieve negative ones. For example, lavender scents can help ease anxious tension, while citrus scents promote energy and alertness. Aromatherapy can help you wake up in the morning, focus during the day and wind down at night. Whatever effect you’re looking for, there’s a fragrance—or a combination of fragrances—that can help you encourage it. Source: MintImages  / Shutterstock.com Memory Jogger While you might mostly associate memory with sight, such as looking at old photographs, smell is also a powerful trigger for memory. A whiff of a campfire scented candle can take you back to childhood nights spent around bonfires, while a floral scent might remind you of your first Valentine’s Day with your partner. Smell can also be an important component in forming a memory in the first place–for example, if you’re burning a very distinct candle smell during an important event. Seek out candle scents that you associate with pleasant memories to help you relive your recollections every time you light them. Meditation and Focus If you’ve tried meditation before, you know it can be hard to maintain your focus during your routines, especially if you’re new to meditation. To help them meditate, many people like to light a candle to clear their minds and promote focus. Choose a scent that helps you concentrate, but that you don’t find too distracting. Lavender, vetiver, ylang ylang and sage are some popular options. As you will likely be closing your eyes during meditation, take extra care to place the candle in a safe, secure place where it can’t be tipped over and the flames can’t touch anything. If you’ve been meditating so far without a candle, we highly recommend adding one to your routine! Source: Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com Tasteful Decor Your room decor could always use a few more candles. Candles are a versatile decorative object that goes with any decor, not to mention they come in many different colors and scents to suit any aesthetic. Candles are the perfect thing to fill up that weird empty space on a side table or shelf, or to create a low centerpiece for your table. Rotate them seasonally, or choose versatile scents that you can use all year round. Once you’re finished burning the candles, you can keep the jars and repurpose them into still more decor ideas. Romantic Atmosphere Nothing says romance like a candlelit dinner. If you’re trying to recreate a romantic atmosphere at home, you should definitely set up some candles and light them up. Choose scents that are meaningful to you and your partner—for instance, a beach cottage scented candle might recall your first vacation together. When in doubt, you can also go for classic romantic scents like roses and champagne. You might be surprised how much a small thing like candles can help set the mood, but it really does make a difference. Burning candles just because they smell good is perfectly valid, but they also do so much more than just that. Keep these six surprising benefits of candles in mind whenever you go to light your next wick. If you’re looking for more ways to make the most of your candles, check out our guide that explains how to burn a candle all the way down.

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How to Light a Candle without a Lighter

Psst. Don't forget to shop our best sellers after you learn more below. Shop HERE. You have a favorite candle that you’d like to light, but you can’t find your lighter or it’s out of fuel. Never fear, all is not lost. There are several different ways that you can light a candle without a lighter. Here are five different ways to light a candle without a lighter, from easiest to hardest: Source: Andrey Zhar / Shutterstock.com Matches If you don’t have an electronic lighter, matches are the most traditional and easiest alternative to them. While not as convenient as an electronic lighter, they are still pretty easy to use and light candles quickly, especially new candles where the wick hasn’t burned down too far. Matches are also very widely available and can be picked up at almost every grocery store whenever you’re out running errands. If the candle has burned down very far, it can be a bit tricky to light with a match, especially if you can’t fit your hand into the container. If your candle has burned down too far to use a match, or you don’t have matches on hand, you can try one of the other alternatives on this list. Heating Elements If you don’t have matches, the next best thing is to use the heating elements in your house. The most convenient thing will be to use a stove burner, but you could also use your oven, toaster or space heater. Turn on the burner and wait until it gets red. Then touch a long, skinny candle to it–a taper is best. The wick should catch fire immediately, and then you can use the long, skinny candle to light all the other candles in your house. If you don’t have a taper candle that you can use, you can use a piece of dry spaghetti, but you must be very careful as it will catch fire easily, creating a makeshift match. You can also use a cotton swab, but the extra length of the spaghetti strand will give you more time to light other candles before the flame gets too close to your hand. Source: Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com Battery and Foil If neither matches nor heating elements are an option—for example, you have a power outage and therefore none of your appliances work—there is another option: a battery and aluminum foil. Be sure to use caution with this method, as you can actually start a fire if you’re not careful. For the battery, you can use an AAA, AA, C or D battery, depending on what you have at the house. Cut a ¾-inch strip of aluminum foil about twice as long as the battery and then fold it in half and pinch the middle. Match up one end of the strip to one end of the battery. The current will travel through the aluminum strip, instantly heating it up. Take the middle of the strip (the part that you pinched) and touch it to the candle wick. It should be hot enough to light the wick very quickly. Remove the foil and battery as soon as the wick lights. Magnifying Lens This method is a little tricky, but it can work if you’re outside or have a lot of natural light. You can use a magnifying glass to focus the light on a curl of paper until it catches fire. If you’re having trouble, adjust the angle of the lens until you see a bright spot of light on the paper. It may take a while to get the right angle, and you may have to hold the light on the paper for a moment until it heats up enough to catch fire. Make sure to extinguish the paper after you light the candle to avoid accidentally starting a fire. Source: knyazevfoto / Shutterstock.com Flint Another method that you can use to light a candle while you’re outside involves flint. If you strike the flint against something metal that contains iron, it will create a spark. If you put some paper in a fireproof cup, you can light the paper and then use that to light the candle. Again, make sure you put out the fire once you’re done lighting the candle so that you don’t accidentally start a larger fire. Follow these five strategies (with caution) if you’re looking to light a candle without a lighter. If all else fails, you can make your home smell great without having to light a candle. You can plug in an electric aroma diffuser, or if you don’t want to use power, set up a reed diffuser that will passively spread fragrance 24/7.

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The Best Candles for Selling Your House

Summer is home buying season, and many homeowners are wondering what they can do to help sell their place. Fragrance is one of the many tools in the home seller’s arsenal, and while it might be a more unusual one, it definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. Below, we offer our three top tips for using scents to sell your home, and then round up the best candles for selling your house. Tip no. 1: Start with a neutral scent. A candle won’t do much good if your house smells funky due to mold, mildew, or other gross factors. We put together an ultimate guide on how to make your house smell good, but the basic gist of it is to clean the entire place top to bottom, paying special attention to trouble areas such as the kitchen and bathroom. Before you burn any candles, you should walk around and do a smell test with your nose to make sure that you’ve taken care of anything that smells bad. Remember that candles and other scents are there to enhance, not to cover up. Source: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com Tip no. 2: Choose one scent for the whole home. Buyers will appreciate a whiff of the scent, but you don’t want to overpower them with a distracting fragrance. When you’re on your own relaxing at home, you might like to have different scents for each room, but this can be overwhelming during a house showing. Choose one base scent that you can use throughout the house to provide a cohesive scent experience. Tip no. 3: Decide how to deliver the fragrance. Burning candles is an excellent way to make your home smell good, but it’s not the only one. Think about the best way to release fragrances all around your home. For example, reed diffusers are great for smaller areas like bathrooms and entryways, and they don’t require an open flame or power cord. If you’re worried about leaving open flames around, you can opt for an electric diffuser that automatically shuts off after a certain amount of time. Also remember that you don’t have to have a candle or diffuser in every single room — choose just a few key areas and let the scent drift through the other rooms. Now you’re ready to choose the best candles for selling your house. As you try to decide on a scent, look for these fragrance families, which will help your home make a great impression on potential buyers. Vanilla. One of the home selling tricks is to bake a fresh batch of cookies right before buyers arrive to make the space feel more home-like. Burning a vanilla candle can help create a similar effect without running the oven. The sweet yet mild scent of vanilla will also keep it from becoming too overpowering. Spices. Speaking of baking cookies, spice-centered candles are another fantastic way to recreate that feeling of hominess. Look for spices such as ginger, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg as you shop for the best candles for selling your house. We especially love cinnamon scented candles for a sweet-yet-spicy fragrance that’s warm and inviting. Citrus. If you want a fresher, more energizing scent, citrus scented candles are the way to go. Fragrances such as lemon and orange will make your home smell clean and refreshing while gently boosting the energy of any prospective home buyers. Citrus is an especially good choice for the summer months when everyone could use a bit of extra invigoration due to the heat. Herbs. If savory is your preferred scent family, look for an herbal diffuser or candle for selling your home. Popular herbal scents include basil, rosemary, and sage, and many candles blend several together for a more nuanced fragrances. Some herbal candles can be quite pungent, so make sure to do a test run to ensure that they won’t overpower buyers as they walk through. Woods. For a deeper, more complex scent, seek out woods such as pine, cedar, and sandalwood. Candles scented with these fragrances will offer a more nuanced yet musky scent that make your home smell of nature. These fragrances may also be used as base scents and paired with other fragrances on this list for added complexity. Follow these tips to choose a candle scent that will sell and to increase your house’s chances of winning over potential buyers.

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What to Put in a Care Package

Your friend or family member lives far away, and you want to send them something to cheer them up. Only problem? You have no idea what to put in a care package. Assembling a care package does take some thought and planning, but you’ve already done all the hard work, which is getting to know the recipient. If you need help brainstorming some ideas, or narrowing down all your options, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 17 ideas to help you decide what to put in a care package: Photos and Frames Digital cameras have made it easier to take and store photos than ever before, but there’s something so appealing about having a physical picture to see and hold. Print off some of your favorite photos of your loved one and put them in a photo album or some small frames to keep them protected in transit. If you want to get really fancy (and have a bit of a bigger budget), you can also give them a digital picture frame with your favorite digital images already loaded onto it. They’ll think of you every time they see the frame! Non-perishable Snacks Everyone can always use more snacks, which is why they’re a great addition to any care package. Opt for hard-packaged goods that won’t get crushed en route, and try to avoid items like chocolate that might melt in the heat if you’re shipping during the hot months. If your items are shipping in bottles or other containers that might leak, seal them up in some plastic bags before packing them up so they won’t ruin other items. Jerky, trail mix and other dense, non-fragile snacks are better choices than potato chips or glass bottles. Coffee and Tea Coffee and tea are some of the most popular beverages all over the world, making them a solid contender for your care package. Give your loved one their favorite flavors, or help them branch out with a sampler from their go-to brand. You can also include related accessories, such as mugs, teapots, tea strainers, coffee filters and more. Make sure that you’re not giving your loved one caffeine if they only drink decaf–and vice versa. If your recipient isn’t a fan of coffee or tea, you can also send them some artisan hot chocolate with extra fluffy marshmallows instead. Alcohol Alcohol is a bit trickier to ship than other beverages because it’s restricted in some states. Rather than mailing it yourself, you might have better luck ordering directly from a beer, wine or liquor supplier and having it shipped straight to your recipient. (That way you also don’t have to worry about packaging up the glass bottles yourself.) Shipping over state lines can get complicated, so you might have better luck locating a retailer within your recipient’s state and shipping from there. The website should advise whether or not you can ship to your intended destination. It’s also a good idea to do a quick Google search beforehand so you don’t spend forever searching for the perfect bottle, only to realize that you can’t ship it to your intended destination. Books and Magazines If your recipient is a big reader, they are sure to appreciate a care package that includes some reading materials. If you can, purchase it from your (or their) local bookstore and have it shipped to your recipient. Bookstores often have other small items for sale such as fun socks, tote bags and pins, so you can create a whole care package just by shopping online. If size and weight are a problem—for example, you’re shipping overseas—consider smaller paperback books or magazines that will be cheaper to ship than a full-sized hardback book. Candles Scented candles are a great solution if you’re wondering what to put in a care package. Choose a nostalgic candle scent that will remind the recipient of their hometown or state, or give them a calming scent that’s perfect for relaxing. Most candles come in glass or ceramic containers, so you do need to be careful to wrap them completely before shipping so they don’t break in transit. (If you need to learn how to wrap a candle for a gift, we’ve got you covered!) Bath and Body Products Help your loved ones pamper themselves by sending them everything they need for an at-home spa night. Think bath bombs, foot scrubs, moisturizer, nail polish, face masks or a manicure set. If you’re sending them liquid items, make sure to seal them carefully in case they leak in transit. You can send them other accessories, such as loofahs and nail files, if you don’t want to bother with shipping liquids. Make sure to ask your recipient if they’re allergic to any fragrances or have any other sensitivities before you make your latest beauty haul. Phone Accessories If your friend is a digital native who can’t be separated from their phone, they'll be sure to appreciate some accessories to enhance their experience. Get them a cute case if they’re always dropping their phone, or a clip-on camera lens to help them take that perfect Insta. If they’re always running low on battery power, get them a charging cord and maybe a charging bug while you’re at it. If they drive a lot, a car changer might be more useful, or a stand to place their phone in so they can watch directions while they drive. Stationery The next best thing to buying cute stationery for yourself is buying cute stationery for other people. If you already have more cards, notebooks and pens then you can use in a single lifetime, you might want to consider buying them to give to friends instead. If your friend isn’t quite as dedicated to stationery as you, most stationery stores will have other gifts for purchase as well, so you can put together an entire care package with only one stop. (And maybe get yourself another notebook while you’re at it. We know you want to.) Plants Live plants are all the rage right now, and with good reason. They look fantastic, add color to a space and purify the air. While shipping a plant on your own isn’t the easiest thing in the world, you can order them from experienced companies like The Sill, which will take care of the shipping for you. If your friend always has more plants than they know what to do with, you can always get them some cute pots, baskets or hangers to show off their new beauties. Garden accessories such as gloves and trowels are also a good option if your friend doesn’t need more pots. Fuzzy Blanket There’s nothing more soothing than curling up under a fuzzy blanket at the end of a long day with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Besides, you can never have too many blankets, so your friend is sure to appreciate getting one. Try to choose a color or pattern that will fit in with your loved one’s chosen decor. If your friend already owns a ton of blankets and you want to help them upgrade, you can get them one of the uber-popular weighted blankets, which can help with anxious thoughts and certain sleep troubles. Fun Clothing Buying new clothes is fun, and it’s even better when you don’t have to spend your own money. Cheer up your loved one by sending them a new shirt, dress or skirt that’s exactly to their style. Now, giving clothes can be a bit tricky if you’re not good at knowing what style someone will like–or guessing their size–so this care package idea isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a fashionista who’s skilled at picking out clothes for yourself and your friends, garments make a great centerpiece for any care package. Jewelry and Accessories If clothing is too large to ship, or your loved one is already kind of a clotheshorse, you can still send them smaller accessories such as scarves, jewelry, gloves and hats. Just as with clothes, you should make sure that you really know your loved one’s style and color palette before purchasing them accessories; otherwise, they’ll just end up gathering dust at the back of their closet, or end up donated to a secondhand store. However, if you have a good grasp of what your friend likes to wear, a tasteful necklace or a cute scarf can be the perfect care package gift. Games of All Kinds Whether your friend loves a good card, board or video game, any of these options is a fun complement to your care package. Card games are usually the easier to ship in terms of their size and weight, followed by video game discs or cartridges. Board game boxes are a little bit bulkier to ship, but well worth the extra effort if your friend is a big fan. There’s also a lot of tie-in merchandise related to various game properties if your friend already owns every game known to humankind. Handmade Gifts If you’re skilled with your hands, a custom made gift is sure to impress any care package recipient. Even a handmade card is a nice touch for a care package otherwise full of bought items. If you are more skilled than that, you can make your care package recipient a t-shirt quilt or a handmade scrapbook filled with pictures of your favorite memories together. This care  package is more time-consuming than the others on the list, but the end result will be an unforgettable item that your loved one is sure to treasure for all time. Local Items If your gift card recipient has moved away from home and misses it fiercely, you can help them feel less homesick by sending them a care package full of their favorite things about home. Feel free to draw inspiration from the other items on this list. For example, maybe you could get some coffee beans from their favorite coffee shop, a t-shirt from their favorite boutique and a body scrub from a local beauty store. You know your loved ones best, so think about what they like and follow your gut. Gift Cards Many people regard gift cards as a rather careless present idea, like they’re what you give someone when you don’t know them very well and have no idea what to give them. However, gift cards can be a fantastic idea when used right, especially if you are sending them from afar. They’re small, easy and cheap to ship in an envelope, not to mention the recipient gets to choose to spend them on what they want or need. If you’d ordinarily bring your friend over a homemade dinner, give them a gift card instead that they can spend on takeout or delivery. Deciding what to put in a care package can be fun, especially if you love gift-giving. Remember to stick to your budget. A care package doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. Always keep in mind what your friend or family member would like. Give them gifts they want to receive, rather than what you want to receive. You’ll be sure to make their day as soon as they open the box. Don’t forget to include their favorite Homesick scented candle for the final finishing touch. Image Credits Source: Maglara/Shutterstock.com Source: Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com Source: panattar/Shutterstock.com Source: Daria Minaeva/Shutterstock.com Source: dreamerve/Shutterstock.com Source: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock.com Source: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com Source: Magdalena photographer/Shutterstock.com

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Candle Wick Too Short? How to Prevent and Fix a Short Candle Wick

You were all ready to light your favorite candle, only to come to a disappointing realization: The wick is too short to light. Don’t give up yet, though, because there are things you can do to both prevent and fix a short candle wick. Read on to discover what to do about a too short candle wick. Source: Michael L Britton/Shutterstock.com How to Prevent a Short Candle Wick To promote an even burn, it’s important to trim the candle wick to between ⅛” and ¼” before you light it each time. However, be very careful not to cut the wick too close or else you might end up having to utilize some of the other tips on this list in order to fix it. You can use scissors or nail clippers to get the job done, or purchase a dedicated candle wick trimmer if you’re feeling fancy. Whenever you light the candle, let it burn for long enough to completely melt the top layer of wax (though never let a candle burn longer than four hours, which can cause the wax to overheat). This prevents tunneling, whereby only the centermost portion of wax is melted. Wax has memory, and after the first few times, tunneling is hard to stop. Not only does tunneling burn down your candles faster, it also causes issues with wicks and may result in the wick becoming too short. To promote an even burn and prevent tunneling, you should keep the candle away from draft, which can cause the candle to burn unevenly or blow out the flame before the entire top layer of wax has time to melt. Trimming the candle will also help promote an even burn. If you leave the little “mushroom” curls at the top of the wick, you will end up with a lumpy flame that does not burn evenly. So trim that wick and bask in the glory of your perfectly shaped candle flame! Source: D K Grove/Shutterstock.com How to Fix a Short Candle Wick Maybe your candle wick is already too short, and you’re wondering how to fix it. Try these methods depending on how short the wick is: If you can still light the wick: Light the candle and let it burn for 20 to 30 minutes while keeping an eye on it to see how it’s doing. If the problem doesn’t resolve itself, carefully blow out the candle and pour out the wax on a disposable plate or bowl. Let it cool and then dispose of the wax. You can also soak up the melted wax with paper towels if you don’t want to pour it. Relight the wick on the candle and leave it to burn. Check in on it periodically to see how the flame looks. If the candle seems to be doing well, leave it to burn until the first layer of wax is completely melted. Remember that you don’t want to create any candle tunneling! Once enough wax has melted, blow out the flame and leave the wax to cool around the newly exposed wick. If you can’t light the wick: Use a heat gun to melt the wax around the candle wick and then pour it out and repeat the process outlined above. If you don’t have a heat gun, you can soften the wax using a hair dryer or candle lighter and then scoop it out with a spoon or a butter knife. Don’t try putting the candle in the microwave, as a metal tab is used to hold the wick in place and it might catch fire. Source: Mic.H/Shutterstock.com If the wick is buried: Sometimes a candle wick is actually long enough, but it gets bent over while the wax is melted and then there isn’t enough left sticking out in order to be lit. Melt the wax around the wick using a heat gun or candle lighter. Once the wax is thoroughly melted, use tweezers to carefully lift the wick up out of the wax. Be careful not to break the wick as it might be fragile. Let the wax harden around the wick. You might need to prop the wick up while the candle cools. Trim the wick before lighting the candle next time to prevent this problem from happening again. If you have a candle wick that’s too short, don’t panic. Try one of these three methods to fix your candle and light it again. And don’t forget to follow the tips to prevent a too short candle wick from happening in the first place!

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Great Gifts for Friends Moving Away

Your friend is about to move away and start a new chapter of their lives, and you need a proper send-off present. What to give them? If you need inspiration, check out this list of 18 great gifts for friends moving away, from scented candles to wine subscriptions: Custom Photo Album Help your friend relive your best memories together by gifting them a custom photo book full of your top moments. You can make them a traditional scrapbook, or get them a professionally printed bound book that they can leave out on their coffee table. If you’re part of the same friend squad, crowdsource pictures from the whole gang and split the costs for an affordable yet heartfelt group gift. Whenever your friend starts missing you all, they can look through the photos and recall all the wonderful times you had together. Digital Picture Frame If your friend is a little more technologically inclined, instead of getting them a physical photo album, you can splurge on a digital picture frame that will rotate through their favorite photos. You can get a small frame for under $50, though a bigger one can cost upwards of $100 or $150. So if you want to go big, this might be a better candidate for a group gift. Make sure to choose a frame that matches their color scheme since they will want to display the frame in a prominent place in their new home. Travel Mugs A quality travel mug can make moving go so much easier. It keeps hot beverages warm and cold drinks cool, and stops spills from happening. If your friend doesn’t already own a quality travel mug, they will be sure to appreciate a gift of one, especially if they will have to travel far to get to their new home. If your friend already has a nice travel mug, you can get them another sturdy beverage holder, such as a good water bottle or insulated wine glasses they can take outside. You can add to the gift by including their favorite coffee, tea or wine along with the mug. Local T-Shirts and Other Items Help your friend show off their hometown pride in their new city by giving them some near gear featuring their favorite shops and town. Local t-shirts, stickers, bottle openers and other branded accessories are a great way to remind them of home and give them something practical. If your friend already owns way too many t-shirts, you can put a new spin on this gift idea by having a t-shirt quilt made out of the local shirts. Raid your closet and ask friends to donate local t-shirts that they no longer wear and then get them made into a quilt (or get crafty and do it yourself). Scented Candles Scent is a powerful trigger for memory, and you can harness that power by giving your friend a scented candle that reminds them of their hometown. Get them a state scented candle that smells like their whole state, or opt for a city candle that represents their hometown. You can also get them a candle that’s tied to a specific memory, such as going to the beach together or picking apples in an apple orchard. If you want to be super timely, you can also give them our New Home candle to help them make new memories in their next place. Keepsake Jewelry Think friendship bracelets, but for adults. Websites like Etsy offer many high quality, handmade sets of jewelry, including necklaces, earrings and, yes, bracelets. Choose one with a meaningful inscription, or get it personally engraved so it’s totally unique to you and your friend. You can also get more creative if neither of you wear a lot of jewelry—for example, get matching keyrings. Make sure to get something that’s actually your friend’s style. You don’t want to buy them something that just sits in the bottom of their jewelry box. The whole point is to get them something they’ll wear often so it reminds them of you! Self-Care Kit Moving is stressful, and your friend could definitely use some self-care before, during and after the move. Help them chillax by giving them a curated self-care kit gift basket full of all their favorite products. Think bath bombs, face bombs, scented soaps and lotions, fuzzy socks, a fluffy bathrobe—everything they need to pamper themselves. If you really want to spoil them, get them a gift certificate to a spa or massage therapist in their new city. Make sure to do the research and pick a place that has good reviews, or ask your connections for recommendations in the area. Art and Decor This category can be a bit tricky because you need to know your friend well and have a sense of what decor they have planned for the new place. But if you’re best buds, giving your friend some art or decor for the new place can be a great way to remind them of you and help them decorate their new place. See if they have any Pinterest boards you can snoop on, and ask whether they’re planning to repurpose their current decor or get something new. When in doubt, you can always get them a gift card to their favorite home decor store. Games and Activities Do you always play Apples to Apples whenever your friends come over to your house? If so, give them a copy of their favorite board or card game so they can use it to entertain friends at their new place. If your friend has some young children, you can also put together an activity bucket for the kids to keep them occupied while their parents pack. Include coloring books, jigsaw puzzles for adults and other age-appropriate activities that won’t make a mess and that kids can do on their own. Trust us, your friends (and their kids) will be super grateful for this going away gift. Travel Gear If your friend’s future involves lots of travel, they will be sure to appreciate any helpful gear or cute travel accessories you can get for them. A lot of the gifts will depend on where your friend is moving to and what they are planning to do. For example, if they’re planning to do a lot of international travel, a universal power adapter will keep all their devices charged and ready to go. If they’re planning to camp a lot, equipment like a solar-powered light or a cooler will come in handy. Packing Supplies While more practical than some items on this list, you can be absolutely sure that a gift of packing materials will be put to good use. Typical items include cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, moving blankets and permanent markers. Take stock of what materials your friend already has and then offer to fill in the gaps. Better yet, bring over the supplies and offer to help your friend pack up their place. As you work, you can write them nice notes on the inside of the box flaps to give them some encouragement as they unpack. Household Tools If your friend has never moved before, they might lack some basic household tools that will really be helpful when they move into the new place. A basic tool kit might include a hammer, a screwdriver and a tape measure. You can also get them hardware such as Command strips or a picture hanging kit. If you do go with this idea, make sure to also get your friend a sturdy bag or a rugged plastic case so they can carry everything around easily. They’ll think of you every time they hang a picture in their new home. Cleaning Kit Cleaning supplies are basically the first thing you need when you arrive at a new place, but it’s all too easy for them to get lost in the move. Get a large crate or two and fill it up with basic essentials that your friend will need right away: paper towels, disinfectant, all-purpose cleaner, rags, dish soap, sponges, hand soap, toilet paper, toilet bowl cleaner, etc. Make sure that the crate gets packed last so they can easily access it as soon as they arrive. Kitchen Appliances This idea is best for people who are just moving out on their own and getting established. If your friend has always shared a kitchen with someone else before, then they will definitely need to get some of their own appliances. Ask them for a list of what they need. Tea kettles, blenders, food processors, rice cookers and toasters are all likely to be on there. Many of these products are available for $50 or less and aren’t too big to transport. If you’re looking for something a bit more fun, coffee accessories or at-home bar kit gifts are also fantastic ideas. Food and Beverage Delivery During a move, feeding yourself is just one more hassle on top of everything else. Look into getting food and beverages delivered to your friend’s new place so they can cross at least one thing off their to-do list. See if any of their favorite hometown businesses ship goods to their new address. A pint of their favorite local ice cream or a glass of their favorite hometown wine is sure to put a smile on their face after a long day of unpacking. Gift Cards If you’re not sure what else to get your friend, go with a tried-and-true backup and give them a gift card. Then, they can use it to buy whatever they want, whenever they want. If a gift card feels a little impersonal to you, pair it with a heartfelt handwritten card and a smaller gift, such as a travel mug or a scented candle. While gift cards may seem boring, they’re way better than giving the recipient something that they simply won’t use, so don’t be afraid to fall back on this idea. Cards and Letters Speaking of a handwritten card, you can turn this into the main event of your goodbye gift. Instead of only writing your friend one card, write them one letter a month for a year, for a total of 12 letters. Put a date on each one, indicating when your friend should open it. You can just make it simple and have the dates be at one month intervals from their move in date, or schedule them around events such as their birthday. This is the goodbye gift that will keep on giving, and all it takes is a paper, a pen and some time. Help with Moving When a friend is moving away, one of the best gifts that you can give them is your time. If you’re on a budget that doesn’t really allow for gifts (or even if money is no object), helping your friend pack up and load the car will be a huge help to them. They will appreciate not only the assistance, but also the chance to spend a few last hours with you before they move. Spend the afternoon boxing things and then order pizza, open a bottle of wine and celebrate your last few moments together—until you can visit them at their new place, that is. We hope that this list helped spark some ideas when it comes to gifts for friends moving away. Having a friend move away can be bittersweet, but you should take time to celebrate this milestone in your friendship (and to plan a trip when you can see each other again!). Change is hard, but having friends who support you–even from afar–will make it much easier.

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How to Make Your Candles Last Longer

We all have our favorite candle scents, and it’s understandable that you would want to make the most of your candle and burn it for as long as possible. So how can you make your candle last longer? Follow these six candle care tips to maximize your candle burn time: Burn it for the right amount of time. You might have noticed candle tunneling before, which occurs when only the center part of the wax burns down. Candle tunneling occurs when the candle isn’t burned for long enough or the wick is too small for the candle. Because not all the wax is being burned, candle tunneling shortens the life of your candle. To prevent candle tunneling, burn the candle until the entire top layer of wax is melted. However, don’t let the candle burn for longer than four hours, as this can cause the wax to superheat. Source: Su Nitram/Shutterstock.com Trim the wick. Another thing you can do to prevent tunneling is to trim the wick before each burn. Trim it down to ⅛” to ¼”, but not so short that you can’t light the candle. This ensures that your candle has just the right amount of wick to burn, and also that the flame will be evenly shaped. You want to remove the little mushroom curls (black curly shapes) at the top of the wick, as these will result in a lumpy flame. A short, clean wick will promote an even burn and keep your candle looking nice. You can use scissors, nail clippers or a dedicated wick trimmer to keep the candle trimmed. Avoid drafts. When lighting a scented candle, you should also avoid drafts, which can cause candle tunneling and even result in the candle being blown out. Watch out for vents, windows, fans and other sources of air. If you notice the candle flame flickering, check for air movement and try moving the candle to a spot that’s not in the path of the vent. However, you also want to make sure the space at large is well-ventilated in case any soot does form–that way, it will disperse. (More on soot in the next section.) Source: roundex/Shutterstock.com Clean the glass periodically. If you follow the other tips on this list, your candle shouldn’t produce too much soot–if much at all. Soot occurs when the candle draws on more fuel than it needs to keep the flame going. Trimming the wick will help keep this under control. However, you might get a little soot here and there, which is nothing to be concerned about. Once the glass container has cooled completely, wipe it off with a wet cloth. If a damp cloth isn’t cutting it, you can put a tiny bit of dish soap on it or use some glass cleaner to wipe off the soot. Store your candles properly. When you’re not using your candles, you should keep them free of dust and debris by storing them properly. If the candle came with a lid, let the candle cool completely and then replace the lid. If it didn’t, place the candle in a covered cabinet or box to keep out the dust. You should also keep the candle out of the sun whenever you’re not using it since UV radiation breaks down particles and causes scents and colors to fade. This will further prolong the life of your candle, especially if you don’t burn it that often. Source: Daria Minaeva/Shutterstock.com Keep debris out of the candle. Keeping debris out of the candle is important because it can compromise the structure of the wax and also contribute to an uneven burn. If you get dust or debris on top of the candle, gently wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth before burning. If you get debris inside the melted wax—for example, you accidentally knock off part of the wick when you blow out the candle—then you should fish out the particle with a pair of long- handled tweezers. Be careful as the container will likely be hot. Follow these six tips to make your candles last longer and get the most burn time from them. If you want to get even more from your candles, check out our guide that explains how to burn a candle all the way down.

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Our 15 Most Popular Candle Scents

While we love all our scented candles—we wouldn’t sell a fragrance that we didn’t love—it’s true that some of our products do sell better than others. There are simply some candle fragrances that we just can’t keep on our warehouse shelves, no matter how quickly we work. Today, we’re taking a look at our 15 most popular candle scents and breaking them down to see why everyone loves them so much. Without further ado, here are 15 of our top best-selling candles: Thank You, Mom Candle This candle sells out year-round, not just on Mother’s Day, and with good reason. Your mom deserves a show of appreciation no matter what time of year it is! The fantastic smell of this candle doesn’t hurt either. Sandalwood and musk form a base for sweet mid notes of jasmine, ylang ylang and white lily for a floral scent. Hints of clove add a tinge of spice, while touches of bergamot, lavender and sage finish off the scent. The packaging itself is beautiful enough that it doesn’t need to be wrapped, and the design includes blank spaces so you can personalize a note to Mom. (Though this candle smells so good that we won’t blame you if you grab one for yourself, too.) New York City Candle It stands to reason that the Big Apple’s fragrance is one of our most popular. Whether you love the bustle or hate the crowds, it’s an absolutely iconic metropolitan whose scent is recognizable anywhere. We took only the best parts of NYC’s fragrances to come up with a candle that smells like Central Park, concrete skyscrapers and department stores all in one. Base notes of oakmoss, sandalwood and musk are layered together with jasmine and water lilies for a floral overtone. Notes of bergamot, lemon and grapefruit round out the scent and provide a refreshing note that will energize you just like the city that never sleeps. New York State Candle While New York City gets a lot of attention, the state itself is also beloved, and we totally get why. New York has so much more to offer than just one metro area. We captured the rest of the state in this fall-inspired candle that calls to mind long hikes in the Adirondack Mountains and the leaves just beginning to turn. We chose tonka bean and musk for the base and added notes of cloves, cinnamon and pumpkin for that peak fall scent. Notes of hay and river evoke farm visits and leaf-watching excursions in the forest. We topped the scent off with a few hints of apple peels and nutmeg for a sweet yet spicy scent. New Jersey Candle While New Jersey often gets rolled into the Greater New York Area, it’s a separate place with its own distinct culture and attractions. Many people like to dunk on New Jersey, but the Garden State does have many things going for it, and we embraced them all as we designed a scent for this state. For this candle, we were inspired by the scents of a hot night beside the Atlantic coast, as well as summer carnivals. Mid notes of the beach and seaside are layered over fragrances of cotton candy, vanilla and musk. Notes of candy apple and cranberry finish off the scent for a sweet but tangy aftertaste that adds complexity to the candle’s scent profile.  Northern California Candle While the East Coast candles are understandably best sellers, the opposite coast also gets a lot of love from our customers. Our Northern California candle is another one of our most popular candle scents. To formulate this scent, we had to start with the iconic fragrances of wine country and redwood forests, as well as the amazing cuisines that the region is known for. We started with a complex fragrance base of sugar, vanilla, tonka bean, amber and musk. Then we added notes of cinnamon, clove, pear and apple for a truly delicious-smelling candle that captures the full breadth and depth of the northern half of the state.  Southern California Candle Obviously, we couldn’t create a candle for Northern California without making one for Southern California as well—and our customers seem to love them both equally. For this fragrance, we took our cues from the fresh sea breezes and abundant citrus crops that the region is known for. A base of vanilla, tonka bean and musk provides the perfect foundation for mid notes of sea breeze, rose, jasmine and clove. We topped the scent off with hints of orange and lemon to help balance out the other sweet and floral scents and add a bit of energizing power to the fragrance. If you want a candle that’s as refreshing as a walk along the Pacific coastline, you should definitely consider this candle. Los Angeles Candle Given that the most populous city on the East Coast (NYC) is one of our most popular candle scents, it’s no surprise that the largest city on the West Coast is also one of our best sellers. This candle smells like all the best parts of the City of Angels, with base notes of jasmine and musk forming a sweet foundation. Rose and ylang ylang make up the mid notes for a complex floral scent, while hints of orange, lemon and bergamot add citrus zest to the fragrance. A few hints of coffee add a slightly more savory edge to help round out the scent and temper some of the sweetness so it’s not overwhelming. Texas Candle Texas is basically a region unto itself (and let’s be honest, it’s big enough to count as its own region). Thus, it’s no surprise that our Texas candle has an equally large following, making it one of our top sellers. This masculine candle captures the wide-open expanses of the Lone Star State and the electric energy of a summer night’s rodeo. We started with a base of moss, musk and cyclamen, which is a flowering perennial that smells a bit like lily of the valley. We then added in some leather and cedarwood to deepen the scent and topped it with pine needles and lime to finish the fragrance off. We’d never claim to capture such a big state in a single candle, but we came pretty darn close with our Texas fragrance. Library Candle Does anything smell better than a room full of books? We don’t think so, and our customers agree. Our library candle frequently sells out, and it’s all we can do to keep it in stock. Whether you prefer paperbacks or leather-bound hardcovers, this candle captures the magic of being in a room full of books. The base of vanilla, balsam and amber mixes with notes of cinnamon, clove, sandalwood and, of course, books. We rounded out the scents with a pinch of orange and nutmeg to recall sipping your favorite cup of tea while curled up with your favorite book. If you can’t take your whole library with you, we think this candle will do nicely. Beach Cottage Candle Oh, to live in a little cottage by the sea! While this might not be possible for many people, you can make your house smell like a beach cottage no matter where you live or how landlocked you are. Notes of marine, beach, plumeria and bergamot float over a complex base of cedarwood, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber and musk. Whether your favorite part of the beach is coffee on the porch during sunrise or evening walks by the shore, this beach-scented candle captures the spirit of the seaside. It goes especially well with shabby chic decor and nautical-themed rooms. Road Trip Candle If you’d rather spend your summer on the road than lounging by the beach, then we’ve got the perfect candle for you. It’s hard to capture the spirit of flying down the open highway with the windows down, but we did our best, starting with a base scent made of amber and musk. Then, we added fragrances of paper, cedarwood and jasmine to evoke memories of discovering new places and experiencing the local foliage. We topped it all off with notes of lime, leather and water for a strong, masculine candle that’s perfect for the guy in your life (or anyone of any gender who loves road trips). Hawaii Candle Hawaii is a lush, tropical place filled with many delicious scents, and it was a challenge to narrow them down when we had so many fantastic options. We began with a versatile base of sugar, vanilla and musk and then added in a seashore fragrance as well as some floral notes of cyclamen. Of course, we couldn’t finish off the candle without a few hints of pineapple and coconut, two of the fruits that the islands are most known for (the Dole pineapple plantation is one of the more popular tourist stops on Oahu). As soon as you light it, our Hawaii candle will have you saying “aloha” no matter where you are in the world right now. New Home Candle Stumped about what housewarming gift to give your friends? This new candle is the perfect solution to your problem, and your friends will surely appreciate the thoughtfulness. New houses represent a fresh start and the possibility of making new memories, which is exactly the feeling we tried to capture in this candle. To do that, we took a base of oakmoss and musk and then added in some lime zest and sandalwood for a citrusy, woody scent. We rounded out the scent with some jasmine and cedarwood to add more interest and further evoke the sense of potential  that comes with moving into a new place. Backyard BBQ Candle No, this candle doesn't smell like roasting meat—it does one better than that. To create this candle scent, we drew inspiration from hickory smoking grills and brown sugar rubbed ribs to create a candle that smells both sweet and savory. To accomplish that, we started with a base of cedarwood, vanilla, sugar, amber and musk. Then, we added a layer of peach, maple, cinnamon and clove to evoke classic summer desserts like fruit cobbler. Finally, we finished everything up with touches of black pepper, cumin, nutmeg, vinegar and smoke for a fragrance that truly captures an evening around the fire pit. Apple Orchard Candle Speaking of fruit cobbler, we made a candle that smells like one—apple, specifically. If you want your house to smell like a fresh-baked pie or spiced cider–without the effort–then you need this candle in your kitchen. We started with sugar cane, allspice and pomegranate (trust us, it works!) and then added in some clove buds and cinnamon sticks. Of course, we couldn’t complete the fragrance without some red apple, and we also added some mandarin leaf for good measure. This candle can’t replicate the taste of a freshly picked apple, but it sure does smell like one. Our most popular candle scents are all bestsellers for a reason. They’re classic scents that are unique and perfect for burning year-round. If you see that any of these candles (or any other scents) are out of stock, don’t give up yet. We’re hard at work making more, and they will be back in stock soon. In the meantime, you can sign up for updates using the “notify me when available” black button. Once you give us your email address, we’ll send you a notification as soon as it’s back in stock so you can snap it up before it sells out again.

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