Home fragrance and candle buying guide

• Make sure all the fragrance products are used away from vents, drafts and any flammable object.
• If you’re pregnant, asthmatic, or have underlying conditions, seek expert advice before using essential‑oil products. Follow NHS/midwife guidance.

• Keep all the home fragrance products away from children and pets.
• Place your candles, diffusers, or sprays on high, stable surfaces.
• Avoid any areas in the house where pets may jump or children may play.

• Trim the wick to 5–7 mm before each burn to avoid a high flame.
• Never leave your burning candles unattended; limit burns to 3–4 hours.
• Don’t place your candles under shelves as rising heat can ignite or damage surfaces.
• To extinguish safely use a snuffer. Never use water as hot wax can splatter.
• Let the wax cool before moving the candles away.
• Go here for more safety tips while using candles.

• Keep away from any heat sources and wipe all the spills immediately.
• Wash your hands after handling reeds.
• Use only recommended oils for electric diffusers.

• Spray away from your face, delicate surfaces, flames or ignition sources.
• Allow the mist to settle before your pets or kids re‑enter the room.
• If using an aerosol store and use as per the label. Keep away from heat sources, do not puncture or incinerate.

You can make your house smell good by opening the windows to let fresh air in, using fresh flowers, and bringing in refreshing scents using candles, diffusers or room sprays.

Trimming the candle wick gives you a cleaner burn and prevents any smoke. It helps your candle burn at the right rate and avoids wastage of wax. A well-trimmed wick also helps in spreading the scent evenly.

• Take a wick trimmer, a pair of scissors or nail slippers.
• Make sure the wax is solid.
• Cut the wick to leave about 5 -7 mm before burning the candle.
• Remove any debris.
• Keep checking the wick before using your candle to enjoy a clean burn.

Fix your tunnelled candle using an aluminium foil. Start with trimming your wick. Then light the candle, wrap a foil to cover the candle and make a small hole to ensure the flame doesn't go away. Let the candle burn for a couple of hours, so the built-up wax melts. Ta-dah! Your perfectly levelled candle is ready.

Upcycle you candle jars in these easy ways. But first, here's how to get wax out of the jar - place the jar in a bowl of warm water and simply wait for the leftover wax to melt so you can scoop it out. Then, clean it with water and dish soap. Your jar is ready to be reused in the following ways:

• Use it to store cotton balls or Q-tips in your bathroom
• Use the jar as makeup brush holder
• Store your bits and bobs in it
• Use it as a handy jar for everyday jewellery like rings and earrings
• Store your stationery items like paper clips, pens, and markers.

There are many types of candle wax. Here are the popular types:

Natural

• Soy wax: Made from soybeans, it burns cleanly and is renewable. Suitable for jar candles.
• Beeswax: Comes with a mild honey scent and burns cleanly for a long time. Suitable for pillar candles.
• Coconut wax: Has a low melting point and great fragrance. Suitable for jar candles.

Vegetable

• Palm: Made from palm trees, they have a clean burn. Suitable for decorative and pillar candles.

Gel

• It's transparent and is used in novelty and decorative candles.

The best smells to help you relax and reduce your stress levels are frankincense, lavender, neroli, rose, sandalwood and rose. Use them in your candles or diffusers to create a calming atmosphere.

Scents that help boost energy are peppermint, orange, mint, rosemary and lemon. You could include them in your home to create the an uplifting vibe by using electric diffusers, reed diffusers, candles or sprays.

As per the NIH, scents from essential oils of jasmine, citrus fruits, lavender and chamomile are effective in managing anxiety. You could use these in the form of a candle, diffuser or room spray to reap the benefits.

Many people use this simple trio to make their house smell good. It includes mixing water, baking soda and an essential oil in a spray bottle. Spritz lightly to create the ambiance of your choice.

Diffusers disperse essential oils to create an ambiance of your choice. This, in turn, can help uplift your mood, reduce stress levels, refresh the air in your space and promote better sleep.