I used to burn incense as a teenager in the late nineties/early noughties.
That probably tells you a great deal about me and how I have now come full circle as an elder millennial who has rekindled a lot of my younger hobbies. So the ritualistic lighting of nag champa has found its way back into my life but with it, a new found love, candles.
Which are big business. The National Candle Association (yes, that's right, the NCA), points to the 1990s as the new rise in popularity and it can be seen more keenly during the Covid-19 lockdown where, according to data analysts Kantar, it is thought people in the UK spent £418m on scented candles from March 2021 to 2022.
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So while no one really has Jo Malone or Yankee money, and you would have to pay me to burn the Paltrow one, I am always on the lookout for some affordable wax to burn. Home Bargains has really leaned into the candle industry and most stock a good variety, but one, in particular, caught my eye - the Crackle Wick.
Just when I thought candles couldn't get any more relaxing, here comes Home Bargains and at just £5.99 for a huge 485g oval shaped candle, I was drawn in. And when I saw the same candle selling on Amazon for £17.99 I really felt like I had bagged a bargain.
The look, smell, burn and sound...
Aesthetics are important when searching for a new candle. Now, you can get them so they suit your decor, and I think these glass vessels and smoothly carved wooden lids are perfect for most homes. They look very much like the very expensive WoodWick branded candles that retail for around £30, but I have no frame of reference for their performance as I would never spend more than £8 on some wax.
There were only two varieties in the Home Bargains I went to, gardenia and sea blossoms and driftwood, I opted for the latter as in the jar it has a subtle fragrance. The glass is heavy and I was already thinking about ways I could reuse it once the candle was finished.
Lighting it seemed easier than a normal wick and immediately I heard it starting to gently flicker. It burned quite brightly and the glow of the flame looked beautiful against my fireplace.
With the soft crackle, my three-year-old and I sat listening to it and he fell asleep - I feel like that is a massive selling point for other parents with a, shall we say strong-willed, preschooler. The smell didn't really register at first, but as the wax started melting, it filled the room with a fresh fragrance with a base of cedar wood and soft, sweet notes.
I really enjoyed the smell as you came back into the room, although my husband said it smelt like an air freshener - but I guess that is the point, is it not? There are definitely nicer smelling candles, but this freshness coupled with the crackle of those wicks was where the extra sensory experience comes in. I prefer candles with smells like cherry or cotton, so I hope I can get a crackling wick version very soon as they come in a variety of scents.
It burnt well and even, but as with all larger candles, I know you need to be prepared to let it burn for a few hours so that the wax melts evenly and doesn't create wells. And for safety, once you get to the end of the candle you should discontinue use in case it overheats the glass, this is also stated on the label.
When looking for other fragrances, I was shocked to see the same candle on sale on Amazon for £12 more than I had paid and now I can't wait for my next trip to Home Bargains to stock up because after listening to the popping and glow of the wick, I am not sure I can ever go back to the cotton wicks.
You can buy the oval shaped 485g Crackle Wick from Home Bargains for £5.99 (or on Amazon for £17.99).
Never leave lit candles unattended.
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