It has taken me many years to fall in love with candles again, but fall in love I did- there is nothing I love better now than to burn a beautifully poured candle while I’m working, relaxing or celebrating and I think there is nothing that makes a reception look more beautiful than plenty of candles and their flickering flames glowing as the sun goes down.
There are so many amazing and interesting candles popping up from Australian candle makers that inspire me – from the scents they come up with, to the packaging, to everything in between, that I think it can get a little overwhelming. Without further ado – here’s my Polka Dot Bride Candle Roundup of 2013. Do chime in and let me know your favourites (as I suspect I will need to do a second instalment before the year is out!)
Citizens Of The World Native Gardenia Candle
I am such a supporter of local businesses and Citizens Of The World have been a wonderful brand to deal with from the start. Off the back of their successful Dweller candle, I purchased “Native Garden” as soon as it was released (which was so long ago, their brand new Resort candle has already hit their store!). I love the clean chic packaging and with gardenia being one of my ultimate scents. Their take on it is fresh, not too floral and beautifully luxurious. Each candle is handmade in Sydney using eco soy wax.
The Citizens Of The World candle is definitely my pick for a luxury wedding gift. It’s classic, chic packaging would make a stylish addition to the newlywed’s home (and that gorgeous scent will be just the pampering they need after the wedding is over!)
Saint Cecilia “Green Tea & Lemongrass” Candle
I love this candle from Saint Cecilia – Green tea and lemongrass is never something I would have picked up but the scent is so Summery and so fresh. The quilted mason jar packaging makes these candles such a lovely option for vintage inspired, or handmade weddings. Handmade in Sydney, soy wax Saint Cecilia candles come in three sizes and a massive twenty three scents (including French pear, fresh coffee and wine & roses- they’ll even customise a scent for you).
This brand is my pick for rustic weddings – the pretty quilted jar would sit so elegantly next to old collected glass jars, filled with a bunch of freshly picked from the garden blooms or even next to sheafs of wheat in a disheveled woodshed. As favors, their metal, screw top lids make a nice handmade feeling alternative to jams and spreads.
Glasshouse Fragrances “Oahu” (Ilima Milk & Honey) Candle
Glasshouse Candles are always a favourite of mine (especially with their gorgeous reusable containers) and the range of scents is so wide and varied allowing you to pick a scent and even colour that suits your wedding style. I love the Glasshouse Mini Candles for wedding favors, the small classically shaped class jar is sweet and teeny tiny, but pretty enough to let your guests enjoy a good dose of pampering. The miniature collection comes in fifteen scents (including Montego Bay (coconut & lime), Monte Carlo (fig & guava) and Marseille (gardenia)) and is handmade in Australia using cotton wicks and non toxic wax. Oahu (Ilima Milk & Honey) is a beautifully sweet scent which has orange blossom undertones and creamy milk and honey.
Glasshouse Fragrances are my pick for wedding favors with such a wide range of scents (and with that colours) and the tiny, petite jar they are just the right size for place settings.
Master/Slave “Marie Antoinette” (Patchouli, Damask Rose, Bergamot) Candle
Long known for their avant garde fashion designs, the Master/Slave candles have somewhat of a couture edge to them – arriving in a printed metal tin, the labels and scents are complex giving the feeling that these are all about glamour and style. The Marie Antoinette is an intriguing blend of patchouli, damask rose and bergamot inspired by icons from the french aristocratic courts. The scent is complex, but inviting. Each candle is hand poured (this particular collection comes in four varieties including Louis XIV, Voltaire and Molière) using lead free wicks and 6% French oils.
The Master/Slave range is my pick for formal weddings. Think black tie, evening affairs with floor length gowns and plenty of glitz and glamour. The elegant white tins with black printing give an almost French baroque feel- just the ticket for a formal celebration.
Sapone Lucia “Mandarin & Tomato Flower” Candle
Sapone Lucia certainly introduced me to a new scent I never would have dreamed. The scent of Mandarin & Tomato Flower evokes imagery of a long table filled with fresh produce, flowers spilling every which way and loaves of crusty bread. The scent itself is divine (Sapone Lucia candles come in 15 scents including olive blossom & laurel leaf, thyme flower & coriander and goat milk & linseed), with a beautiful freshness without the typical overpowering floral scent. Each candle is made from organic soy wax and the understated, packaging of the Lucia candles make them a great option for wedding decor-adding a scent and glow without determining the style. If you prefer to give them as favors, the candles come in a bright and bold looped printed box.
This is my pick for garden weddings, but also for food lovers. I keep imagining amazing food and wine, under orange trees dappled shade and warm sunshine with these little beauties glowing and flickering in the wind.
Mor Candles always smell divine and their petite size is so lovely for a wedding, and their Marshmallow scent remains one of my favourites (in fact I have the hand cream in the same scent on my desk!) The Marshmallow scent is one of their “Little Luxuries” collection (also available in Belladonna, Snow Gardenia, Lychee Flower & Blood Orange, all soy wax with cotton wicks) and comes gift boxed in the prettiest of packaging featuring gold foil and an oval cut out.
I love the pretty, girly packaging of these candles but the simple colour with gold rim makes them an understated but effective choice for wedding favors and decor. Marshmallow, with its sweet almost musk scent is so feminine and my pick for a gift for your bridesmaids.
Palm Beach Collection “French Vanilla” Candle
Based in Sydney, Palm Beach Collection has long been a favourite of mine for chic, simple yet beautifully done candles. The French Vanilla scent (Palm Beach collection produces 14 scents for their mini candles including clove & sandalwood, coconut and lime and mint leaf & avocado) is a classic, clean vanilla scent and the clean, modern packaging is just the ticket for a casual, laid back, chic wedding. The candles are made from soy wax and scented with essential oils.
This is my pick for relaxed weddings. I love the idea of these mini candles as wedding favors, or glittering amongst tables of fresh white blooms, a top tables of crisp white linens. Water views and balmy Summer nights. Relaxed beauty.
Voyager “Belleville” (Amber, Guaiacwood, Vanilla, Lavender & Coumarin) Candle
The ultra chic double wall glass that is a trademark style of Voyager makes these candles a chic, modern option (and almost enchanting with how cool that double wall is!). The Belleville is such a warm scent, with a spicy undertone, inspired by Paris. A fine choice too for winter weddings with that spiciness reminding me of burning fires and all the spices I have come to love so much during the cooler weather. Each Voyager candle is inspired by a different place – Augusto (Capri), Alexandra (Melbourne), Tira (Bali) and Imperial (Tokyo). Each a blend of different floral and spices to create a carefully curated beautifully smelling candle.
Voyager is my pick for a chic, modern wedding. I see them set out on a sleek modern table surrounded by modern floral arrangements.
Images by Ms Polka Dot. The Voyager Candle , Mor Candle, Lucia Candle, Master/Slave Candle, Palm Beach Candle and Saint Cecilia Candles were sent for editorial consideration in accordance with our disclosure policy.
I’d go for those Master/Slave Marie Antoinette ones. They might even be good souvenirs for hen parties. That’s a great selection by the way!
I love how Saint Cecilia customise scents. You could have so much fun with that!
Hello!
I love this article you post! I am very adept at burning candles. It’s a great feeling to be working in your office and feel the warmth and aroma of a candle.
As a wedding gift for guests usually indulge candles and cheap poor quality that they are just covered in wax alcohol. From here, I advise brides when buying candles for their guests are of quality but are a little more expensive because it gives extra value to your wedding. A kiss and I like to see more comments candles. –
I love candles, they are a perfect gift and have a gentle relaxing feel! Perfect for hen party gifts for your girlies!
I absolute love MASTER/SLAVE candles. I get them for my bedroom all the time. Adore Louis XIV 🙂