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Budget vs luxury candles: is there really a difference? You’ve probably walked into a store and spontaneously bought a candle for €10 to €20, lit it at home and watched the wax melt away after a day. You maybe wondered whether if it was worth the price. Maybe you wondered if it was worth it, or if a more expensive candle would be better. Here’s what separates budget from luxury candles, and what your money actually buys.
The comparison differences
To find out the difference, we are comparing candles across 3 categories that are important: wax type and ingredients, burn time, and scent. These help make the decision of whether the price is worth the candle.
Budget vs Luxury Candles: Wax and Ingredients
Most budget-friendly candles range between €10-€20 and are usually made out of paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. In other words. The sludge that is left over after crude oil is refined into gas. It is used in cheap candles because it is inexpensive to produce and absorbs fragrances well.
Luxury candles tend to be on the higher end, between €50-€100, and either use soy wax or beeswax. Both of these waxes are better and healthier than paraffin. Soy blends tend to burn cooler and produce less soot. However, watch out when buying because some brands mix soy and paraffin wax to reduce costs, and even fully soy candles can be filled with synthetic fragrance oils, which have negative effects on your health.
Beeswax is top-of-the-line and is also the oldest method used in making candles. It is the cleanest option, with no extra chemical process needed. Beeswax comes directly from bees producing honey, so by buying products with beeswax, you are contributing to the beekeeping operations. But that is also the reason why candles using beeswax are more luxurious, as the supply is limited. There are only so many beehives, unlike paraffin.
Burn Time: Do Luxury Candles Last Longer?
When comparing how long budget candles last compared to the more luxurious ones, we can see that the budget ones tend to burn faster; that is because paraffin has a lower melting point. This means that the wax melts into a liquid much faster and burns faster than soy or beeswax. A standard 8 oz paraffin candle can burn around 40 to 50 hours a day. A soy candle of the same size burns between 50 and 60 hours. A beeswax candle of the same size also burns between 50 and 60 hours. This is because it has a higher melting point, which makes the wax burn slower.
Scent: Budget vs. Luxury Candles
Scent is an important part when choosing the right candle. Budget candles tend to perform well initially due to the paraffin holding the essential oils well while burning. However, that scent fades away after a while. Compared to beeswax, which has a natural sweet, warm scent. Moreover, the scent is also heavily dependent on the quality of the added fragrance. Budget candles mainly use high-concentration synthetic fragrance, which has a strong smell but also comes with the caveat of harsh chemicals. Compared to luxurious candles that use non-toxic fragrances, like MBur’s phthalate-free formulations, which are cleaner and have no side effects
What to take away: Do what you like
Buying candles does not have to be a mental challenge. Buying the budget candle occasionally is no issue if you’re not that into candles or only use them for decorations. But for everyday use, the premium is still suggested. It lasts longer and has chemicals mixed into it. Choose what fits your budget and enjoy the relaxing scents!