Cheap candles so often stink of air freshener that they represent a false economy
The world is divided into people who believe scented candles are laughably pointless – the almost literal act of burning money for at best ephemeral reward – and those who love the sheer decadence of scenting a room, who find the dim glow comforting and relaxing. I fall into the latter camp, but my preference for insanely expensive candles by Diptyque, Jo Malone and Bella Freud means even I struggle to justify lighting them regularly.
But cheap candles so often stink of air freshener (my worst smell: I’d genuinely prefer to inhale whatever unpleasantness it’s attempting to mask), or offer such limited “throw” (the radius of the candle’s scent), that they represent a false economy. A bargain version that still feels indulgent is as rare as hen’s teeth, which is why I urge candle-lovers towards Aldi for a jumbo, two-wick, silver-lidded candle in No 3 Pomegranate Noir for just £3.99. The smell isn’t too sweet or obviously synthetic, and the throw is good (suggesting that the perfume oil goes all the way through the wax, rather than being used only in the upper level, a sneaky, cost-cutting practice adopted by some manufacturers). Mine has burned evenly and cleanly over several baths, and the price meant I extravagantly kept it lit longer than I might otherwise have. Less excitingly, but more usefully, I recently bought some Price’s Anti Tobacco Jar Candles (£5.26) for an outdoor party. They worked a treat and gave off a lovely orange and clove scent that I decided to keep long after cigarettes had been extinguished.
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