Casey Recommends: A Fancy Candle Budget
Because I want to live in a pine forest or a desert, basically
It was at some point early in the pandemic, when I was really attacking my debt and focusing on where I’d like my spending to go, when I made a goal for myself:
I said, “Self, I’d like to be the kind of person who has a fancy candle budget.”
Nearly five years later, I am completely out of credit card debt. And although I don’t have a specific line item in my YNAB budget for fancy candles, I can say in spirit that I have achieved my goal.
Because I am stacked and stocked with a fancy candle collection.
What is a fancy candle, Casey? Please tell us.
Fancy candles are not defined by a price tag per se.
Yes, they will likely be more expensive per ounce than the ones you would buy at one of those ubiquitous, overperfumed stores at the mall or in the aisles of your favorite all-purpose stuff store. 🎯
But you are paying for quality wax and fragrance oils that won’t make you sneeze or your eyes itch, and if we’re defining candles as bougie self-care (which… yeah, they are), then don’t you deserve to not be physically miserable?
A fancy candle, to me, is more special than that.
I’m not talking about the fancy conferred by status labels like Diptyque or DS & Durga (oh, can you tell I still have PTSD from my days in fashion PR?). Or that Blue Capri candle that makes every room smell like Anthropologie.
I’m talking about the evocativeness — the vibe of the scent and especially what the candle itself reminds me of. It’s way more fun to invest in a candle when you have a whole story about why you love it.
All our current favorite candle brands were discovered when we were poking around a local shop somewhere on one of our adventures.
So when I light one, I don’t just appreciate how good it’s making the house smell and how it’s covering up my ubiquitous cooking odors.1
I think about Maine when I burn my white pine candle from Near & Native, an awesome small Portland company that does refills — how freaking wonderful is that? (Just sent mine back for a re-up and am trying a new scent to boot.)
When I light Fall Festival or Foraging, I think about our trips to Cooperstown and to the gorgeous plant store The Local Bird, where we stock up on Vintage Thoughts candles every time we stop in.
And when I have JT Campfire or Cholla + Palo Santo going, I am mentally transported back to Joshua Tree National Park and the Joshua Tree Candle Company mini travel candles we found in the gift shop. Support your parks!
So you want to be a fancy candle person too?
Here’s my totally off-the-cuff way to get there.
First, think about your signature scents — what you always want your ambiance to be serving. For us, it’s pine, campfire, and desert. These will be your baselines.
Next time you’re out and about, sniff some candles. Ideally, find two scents within your signature range from the same brand and buy them both.
Take them home, try them out, see if they fit you. Over time, you’ll start to recognize when a pine candle, for example, truly smells like a forest floor and when it’s giving more “air freshener.” Way harsh, Tai.
Also note: How does it burn? Does the wax liquefy evenly across the surface or does it make the dreaded tunnel2 — even after it’s been going for hours? Candles that don’t burn evenly get the boot in my book.
Once you found a brand you like, order a few other scents from them and see how they appeal to you too. At this point, I trust our go-to brands so much that I’ll confidently order scents without needing to sniff in person.
Congratulations! You’re now part of the Fancy Candle Club.
Why does our bedroom trap smells from the kitchen when it’s nowhere near the kitchen? That is a mystery for the ages.
This video makes me LOL because I found this particular IG-trendy brand sooooo disappointing. The scents were phenomenal, but they all burned unevenly and left way too much wax in the bottom when the wick fizzled.
bad wax! Who knew? thanks for the links!!