Cosy Candles for Autumn

We put seven of the top local and national candle brands to the test to discover the ultimate burn for your buck!

Get ready for an amazing scent experience! To make sure your candle fills the room with a strong, delightful fragrance and burns evenly without wasting any wax, follow these essential rules for the perfect burn.

• Trim the wick to ¼ inch or 5 mm before lighting to prevent the candle from burning too quickly and creating soot.

• When lighting a new candle, let it burn for at least 2.5–3 hours. You can also burn it for 1 hour for every inch of the container’s diameter.

• Keep candles away from vents, fans, and open windows to avoid quick burning and large flames caused by the wind and ensure it is on an even surface.

• Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame instead of blowing it out to prevent the wick from drifting and the wax from splattering.

• Always supervise a burning candle and never leave it unattended.

Meadow Farm

Candles start at £15 www.meadowfarmlifestyle.co.uk

Inspired by Yorkshire made in Yorkshire is this company’s motto, every product is handmade on Rachels farm in the beautiful Yorkshire Valley. Nature and the outdoors are the main inspirations for her candle scent ranges. The business has evolved into a lifestyle brand and expanded into reed diffusers, bath salts and food products such as pure honey and luxury granola.

Garys thoughts: I got to try Rachels signature “Yorkshire Bramble” candle with notes of blackberries, mulberries, magnolia, oak and vetiver. Don’t be fooled by the stylish simplistic packaging, as soon as I lifted the lid off the candle, this amazing fruity autumnal scent greeted me. After lighting within a short space of time the scent filled the room and I could still catch hints of the fruity fragrance throughout my apartment the next day. It is honestly one of the best candles I’ve ever experienced, no wonder Scary Spice aka Melanie B, is a fan of this brand. I must also give a special mention to the Into the Woods reed diffuser that they included in the press pack, the scent projection and fragrance itself are equally impressive.

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 5/5

Scent Projection: 5/5

Overall: 15/15

Leo & Lyn

Candles cost £28 www.leoandlyncandles.com

A small family-run business established in October 2020 in Belfast with many of its fragrances designed taking inspiration from areas of natural beauty in Northern Ireland. Rooted in the traditions of Ireland and inspired by the vibrant spirit of Belfast, their candles are more than just wax and wick. They can often be found with a stand in Forestside shopping centre throughout the year where Joe will happily help you find your perfect scent.

Our thoughts: We were blown away by the range of scents, choosing a favourite among the 3 they let us sample was no easy task. We were treated to the fruit and spice-based “Pumpkin Spice,” the rich peat and vanilla tones of “Bushmills,” and the captivating woody floral notes of “Dark Hedges.” Not only do these candles smell divine, but their exquisite packaging and white glass design make them truly stand out among their competitors. The range of themed scents makes these candles the perfect gift for family, friends or tourists. While each candle offered a unique scent experience, the one that stole the spotlight for all 3 of us was “Pumpkin Spice” with its warm and spicy projection. Who wouldn’t want their home to exude the cosy, inviting scent of a pumpkin latte in autumn?

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 5/5

Scent Projection: 4/5

Overall: 14/15

Good Boi Candles

Candles start at £25 www.goodboicandles.com

All about celebrating the queer experience and gay culture. It’s a queer-owned business with products entirely crafted by two queer friends and hand-poured in London. They use vegan, high-grade soy wax and focus on creating complex, sophisticated scents that celebrate queer joy and body euphoria.

Daniels thoughts: The “Morning Wood” candle packaging and glass give off a classy and seductive vibe. When you take off the lid and give it a sniff before lighting, you get this wonderful woody, salty, earthy scent. When lit, the scent subtly fragrances the room and isn’t too overpowering. I love the black glass paired with the white label detailing the scent. It’s also great to support an LGBT+ owned brand, and their candle names and descriptions are so clever. Definitely not something you’d give to your granny, but who buys their granny a scented candle called “Morning Wood,” right? Make sure to check out their newest scent “Cream Pie,” available from the website and their various stockists.

Scores on the doors:

Packaging: 5/5

Scent Combination: 5/5

Scent Projection: 3/5

Overall: 13/15