Scented candles have become an extremely popular home accent and gift item. Walk into any home decor or gift shop, and you’ll find shelves upon shelves filled with scented candles in an endless array of shapes, sizes, colors and fragrances. While the standard cylinder or taper candle shape is always a classic, uniquely shaped candles offer a fun, whimsical element that many find hard to resist.
The unique candle shape trend began years ago with novelty candles shaped like animals, food, holiday symbols, flowers, and more. Part of the appeal was the cute shapes and the ability to tie into themes, holidays, seasons, etc. Over time, candle makers realized they could take the unique shape concept beyond novelty candles. Now we see high-end luxury candles in artful, creative shapes that add elegance and beauty to any space.
So what’s behind the allure and popularity of uniquely shaped candles? There are several factors at play:
Visual Interest – An unusual candle shape simply stands out more than a typical cylindrical pillar or taper candle. The unique form catches the eye and instantly becomes a decorative focal point. Shape gives an otherwise plain candle additional visual interest.
Artistry – Many shaped candles today are designed to be like sculptural art objects for the home. They attract the eye not just through the shape, but also through artistic details like textured surfaces, color ombré effects, gilt accents, etc. Luxury candle brands hire designers to create candles as wearable works of art.
Self-Expression – Candles allow us to easily change up décor and express different moods or styles. Unusual candle shapes often reflect the owner’s personality and taste through their sculptural, elegant, glamorous or playful forms. Shape gives candles more personality.
Variety – Shaped candles provide a lot more variety than standard cylindrical and taper options. There’s a much wider range of looks to suit personal style. From geometric to floral, abstract to figural, the choices are endless. The variety keeps shaped candles feeling fresh.
Gifting – The uniqueness of shaped candles makes them a popular gift item. Recipients appreciate both the beautiful shape and the lovely scented element. Shaped candles tend to feel elevated and special. They come across as a gift someone has put thought into.
Ambiance – While they provide visual appeal, shaped candles still serve the functional purpose of candles – giving off scent and light ambiance. The play of candlelight on an artistic shape only enhances the relaxed, cozy atmosphere candles naturally create.
Trend Factor – As with fashion and home decor, unique shapes are on trend right now for candles. They feel modern, contemporary and sophisticated. The trendiness gives shaped candles widespread appeal.
Affordability – Shaped candles can be found at all price points, from bargain to luxury. There are affordable options, allowing most people to participate in the trend. You can get the unique look without a huge investment.
Customization – Some luxury candle brands allow customers to customize their own candle shape, colors, scents and packaging. This provides the ultimate unique candle tailored exactly to personal taste. Customization options feed the shaped candle trend.
Beyond just visual appeal, one of the keys to the success of uniquely shaped candles is that they deliver on performance. Artful shapes mean little if the candle lacks fine fragrances and excellent scent throw when lit. Thankfully, innovations in candle wax blends and wick technology allow shaped candles to offer scent performance on par with standard cylindrical and taper candles. The marrying of beautiful forms and beautiful fragrances is the winning combination.
While shaped candles offer plenty of appeal, they come at a price. Intricate shapes with detailing are more complex and labor-intensive to produce, resulting in higher retail pricing. However, as consumers increasingly view candles as luxury decorative items, they are often willing to pay for artistry and uniqueness. For many, the specialness of a shaped candle makes it worth the splurge.
The popularity of uniquely shaped candles shows no signs of waning. If anything, the options are only expanding as candle makers experiment with ever more creative and innovative shapes, carved surfaces, color combinations, and fragrances. The variety and artistry of shaped candles satisfies the human attraction to objects that are visually interesting, aesthetically pleasing, and express individuality. With their sculptural beauty, ambiance, and appeal as gifts or personal treasures, it’s no wonder creatively shaped scented candles continue to shine bright.
