By Lanna Britt
Giving good gifts is an art form. Knowing what people like is also important. However, you may be wondering what kind of gift is best if your loved one has everything. Maybe you are still learning what they like or dislike and feel the pressure of giving a good gift. Or it could be that you need a casual yet nice gift to give. Candles can be the perfect gift in these and a number of other situations.
They’re a Great Gift for Everyone
Did you know that the global scented candle market was estimated at $533 million in 2020 and is expected to grow 3% over the next five years? That’s a lot of candles! One reason candle gift sets are so great is that they can be given to just about anyone. Attending a bridal or baby shower and need a hostess gift? A small candle is easy and affordable. Invited to a birthday dinner for an acquaintance you don’t know very well? A nice candle is a solid gift choice. Some candles (like ours at Candlehouse) can be personalized for a close friend or family member so they can feel you went the extra mile to customize their gift. We are currently really excited about our custom family artwork candle. We take your child’s favorite artwork and turn it into a beautiful lasting candle keepsake. No fridge space required! It’s the perfect gift ahead of Mother’s Day. Same goes for the pet face custom candle. For your friend or relative who is *obsessed* with their furry friend, they’ll absolutely love this candle!
Gift They’ll Use Often
Some gifts people give are wonderful but usually only reserved for special occasions. Think of a nice pair of earrings or a scarf. They probably won’t use them every day. But a beautiful candle gift? They can light it every single day! Our 100% natural soy wax candles burn for up to 70 hours and contain no additives or dyes. And with our easy-to-order candle refills, there is no end to their candle enjoyment and every time they light it, they’ll think of you and your thoughtful gift. Candle health benefits are real too. This Travel + Leisure write up talks about the psychological benefits to scented candles. One cognitive behavioral therapist told them, “The soothing effect that candles have is based on how the brain processes smells. The smell of scented candles stimulates our limbic system, the part of the brain that is home to our memory and emotions. Hormones like serotonin and dopamine can be produced to help regulate mood. Therefore, our emotional state is influenced by the relationship that exists between scents, memories, and emotions." In addition to those mental health benefits, candles also can be used as decor. Just type “candle decor” in Pinterest and you can lose two hours (obviously not speaking from personal experience…) They don’t even have to be lit to be enjoyed!
Varied Price
Candle gift sets can be cheap or expensive, and everything in between! Depending on the type of candle you purchase, the price tag will vary. Big box stores sell candles for as low as $3. That’s less than your Starbucks order! There are also high end luxury brands like Jo Malone that sell candles for as much as $525 for a large 74 ounce candle. That is a fancy candle, for sure!
Whether you go the inexpensive route, or break the bank, candle gifts fit into any budget.
They can be Wrapped Beautifully and Easily
Confession: I am a terrible wrapper. Both the Eminem kind (Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?) as well as the present kind. I know *how* to wrap a gift but it just never turns out as well as I want it to. If you are like me and don’t enjoy wrapping? No problem! Enter the gift bag. One of the best creations, I would say. Candles are generally round and therefore tricky to wrap. The gift bag solves this issue. Stick it inside with some fluffy tissue paper and BAM - beautifully wrapped gift. There is also the option to use clear cellophane and tie with a big bow. BAM - also a beautifully wrapped gift. No tape required! If, however, you enjoy the challenge, the Paper Source has a full Wrap Shop that includes all you would need to create the perfectly-wrapped gift, including how-to videos.
It’s a Classic
There’s something to be said for the classics. I’m a classic girl. I grew up watching black and white movies, Alfred Hitchcock thrillers and Bing Crosby musicals. In the words of every grandfather, “They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.” The same can be said of gifts on the market today. Sure you could give your friend a cool tech gadget from this list or your favorite cookbook, but there’s the chance their tastes aren’t the same as yours. A candle gift is like your favorite little black dress. It has a variety of uses, can be moved from room to room, and doesn’t even have to be lit to be enjoyed. It’s not even a gift specific to females. This Esquire article offers a variety of male-targeted candles for gifts and tells its readers, “A good candle (a good candle) is truly a game-changer for your home, and by extension, your life.” We couldn’t agree more!
