Tricks with Wicks: Using Scented Candles for Home Decor

Nothing fills a home with fragrance quite like scented candles. These candles, which come in a wide variety of colors and scents, can be used in a number of ways to add a perfect accent to any room, no matter what the season. In the living room, the guest room, the bathroom: no matter where you choose to put them, they please both the eyes and the nose of your family members and guests. If you would like to use scented candles to decorate your home but you’re not sure how to arrange them or which colors or scents you should use, follow the guide below to fill your home with the beauty and rich scents that these candles provide.

For the Bathroom

If you want to use scented candles in order to spruce up your bathroom, keep in mind that you will probably need to utilize a smaller space, but you can do so by using smaller candles on a decorative curved tile. The edges will keep the wax from spilling onto your countertops and will keep the candle stable. If you want to create the illusion of having a bigger bathroom, put some candles in front of a small mirror. The reflection of the flames will make the room look not only bigger, but brighter, too. Make sure that you keep the candles well out of reach of hanging towels and curtains. You can color coordinate this room by using candles that are the same shade as your walls or linens. Some popular scents for the bathroom are pine and vanilla.

 
In the Guest Room

When it comes to decorating a room that no guest will ever want to leave, you can use scented candles in a variety of ways. If your guest room is at a beach house or cottage, use some ocean water or beach grass scented candles on a small table in the corner, along with some matches or instant lighter as an invitation to use them. Many guests are hesitant to light scented candles because they think they’re only for decorative purposes, so make sure you let them know it’s okay to enjoy them. Place the candle on a square tray and surround the base with small seashells or dried starfish. If your guest room is in a country home, add a spray of berries or grapes to the base to a matching candle. Apple pie or cookie scented candles will make them feel right at home.

Seasonal Candles

When you’re using scented candles to decorate your home during the holidays, color and scent should be used together to create an effect that will have your home looking and smelling great. Use green, red, and white candles for Christmas and pick scents like pine, peppermint, and gingerbread. Use both tall and short candles to create groups on Christmas themed trays throughout your home. Decorating with scented candles not only beautifies your home, but it allows you to use your own creative ideas to create fun and festive looks your guests will love.

How to Host a Scented Candle Party

Almost everyone enjoys the smell of a scented candle. From vanilla to cinnamon and jasmine, there is a huge variety to choose from, and they all provoke different memories and images for each person who catches their scent. These candles are growing in both variety and popularity, and if you’re looking for a way to have fun at your next gathering, there is no better way than to have a scented candle making party. These candles are fun and easy to make, and even younger people can manage, with adult supervision. If you want to host a candle making party, there are several steps that you need to take in order to make sure it’s a success.

Planning Your Party

The first thing you’ll need to take care of is a little bit of planning. Sit down and ask yourself a few questions, such as how many people you’ll plan to invite, whether or not it will be an adults only event, and what kind of food you’d like to serve. Will people bring their own candle kits, or will you collect money from them and then supply everything? Usually, people will want to pick out their own kits and decorations, so it’s best to let people choose the candles they want to make and provide a few extras, such as spare bottles of scented oils, wicks, and other supplies. Make sure you let people know well in advance about your party so everyone can plan to come. For a bit of extra fun, you can send out scented invitations. 

Setting up the Kitchen

You’ll probably want to eat before you start your candle making, so plan to have something quick and easy so there won’t be too much trouble with cleanup. Have people bring a dish or a dessert so it’s a potluck affair and you won’t spend the whole day cooking before you host the party. Once everyone eats, prepare the candle-making area by spreading out everything you’ll need: the paraffin, scented oils, wicks, and other supplies. There are several different kinds of waxes that people can choose from, including the kind that’s made specifically to be poured into glass containers, soy wax, gel wax, and even wax that produces a kind of sparkly effect when it dries. Set up a kind of production line so your guests can use the stove one person at a time.

Creating the Candles

While each candle-making kit will come with different instructions, there is a basic formula for making scented candles. First, you set the wick into the mold. Next, melt the wax as instructed by your kit and add the scents and dyes. When it gets to the right temperature, pour it carefully into the mold. Repeat to fill in any cracks. Once the candle is cooled, remove it from the mold and enjoy. Scented candle parties are a fun way to get together with friends and make beautiful candles for your home at the same time.

Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day with Scented Candles

With Valentine’s Day coming up, you might be wondering how to make your spouse or honey feel special. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a big meal at a crowded, overpriced restaurant on Valentine’s Day; instead, you can make it special right in your own home with just a few creative ideas that involve scented candles. Not only are scented candles beautiful and enhance your home with a variety of wonderful smells, but they can also put you and your partner in the mood for love this Valentine’s Day.

Before your spouse or partner arrives home, give your house a quick cleaning and then set out a variety of scented candles. There are three scents that you can use for the evening, each in a different part of your home to set the mood. Use vanilla to create a soothing effect so the scent will gently envelope and calm them when they first step inside. There is nothing more relaxing than this simple but enticing scent, and it will set the mood for the rest of the night. 

When it’s time to eat, let the smells of dinner take over for a bit. Have a light meal that won’t leave you too full for romance afterward. A glass of wine or two will help you unwind as well. Take your time with the meal and engage in some casual conversation. When dinner is over, it’s time to retire to the bedroom. Draw a warm bath for you both and light several ylang ylang scented candles, making sure they’re in an area where they can’t be knocked over. This scent has been a favorite for lovers all over the world for decades, and its light, clean scent is a definite aphrodisiac that will have you both in the mood for love in no time. Scented candles are a perfect way to enhance your romance not only this Valentine’s Day, but any time you want to put your partner in the mood for love.

Smart Scents: What You Should Know About Candle Safety

Scented candles are the perfect way to make any home smell fresh year round, from delicious smells like baking apple pies and cookies to outdoor scents like fresh laundry right off the line. They are growing in popularity as more and more scents become available. However, every year, several thousand fires occur in homes across the country because people are not aware of candle safety. While candles can be a great choice for home décor, they are capable of starting a fire if you’re not careful, so before you set out some candles in your home, here are a few tips that will allow you to enjoy your scented candles safely.

When you set candles out and have your windows open to let in fresh air, make sure that your lit candles are not in reach of your drapes. Fires can start when gusts of air cause curtains to fan out, and they may catch fire when they come in contact with your candles. Keep them far out of reach of any windows so the risk of fire is reduced. 

Scented candles in the bathroom are a great way to enhance a nice long soak in the tub, but if you’re going to set candles along the rim of your bathtub, make sure that they are not close enough to you that they can singe your hair or accidentally burn you when you reach for the soap. Burns from candles most often happen in the bathroom, so it’s best to keep them on a shelf away from the tub or on the toilet tank in a ceramic dish, where they can’t be knocked over.

Family members that are burned most often by scented candles are young children who are attracted by the smell of baking cookies or pie. If you have little ones around, ensure that your scented candles are well out of reach and that they are taught never to try and touch them. Flames and hot wax can make for a moderately serious burn. Scented candles are a wonderful addition to your home, but you should take steps to ensure that they are used safely.