Psychologists say that the trends in candle making and purchasing will beneficial for our mental health. The candle industry has seen a sudden spike in interest and sales since 2019. The pandemic led to a trend of self-care, home decor and scented products. It’s never a bad thing to prioritise your safe space and to purchase luxurious goods to help you do that, that’s why the candle industry is a great industry to support.
Another great thing about candles is that they’re easy to make. With a rise in tutorial videos on the hit social media platform Tiktok, the search for the term “soy making candle kit” shot up by 3500%!
It’s obvious to see why this is trending. Customising an aromatherapy experience will always be a great way to indulge in self-care, and the spike in interest will be around for a while.
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Current Candle Facts
- The UK candle economy is worth £1.9bn pounds
- The candle making industry is set to reach 64 billion by 2027
- The Duchess of Sussex is a candle lover and is often seen on Zoom burning Jo Malone candles
- Many use candles as part of a spiritual practice called “manifestation”, a type of spiritual movement that has gained popularity through social media
- Candle making is an extremely popular hobby, and many have turned it into a side hustle during difficult times
- Candle trends have become more creative than ever
- Candles were suspected to have been invented in 500 BCE by the ancient Egyptians
- Using candles as decorative pieces only really became a thing around the 1990s
- Despite what some may believe, candles are not bad for your health and the smoke it emits is not harmful
Growth In The Candle Economy
The latest projections for the candle economy are looking mighty positive, and aren’t set to burn out any time soon. Something as simple as candle making can put you into an economy worth £1.9bn pounds, and the numbers have only been estimated to rise. This is all thanks to the trend in candle making and enjoying that has blown up during times of hardship and isolation.
Candles And Celebrities
During the infamous period of zoom meetings and announcements, we got a look into the homes of the celebrities in isolation just like the rest of the world. Kate Midleton the Duchess of Sussex, had a collection of Jo Malone candles behind her during her Zoom presentations. Scents like Orange Blossom were spotted, and the Jo Malone candles became a symbol of relaxation and calming energy during a chaotic time.
Other celebs have revealed their favourite self-care accessory and the Diptique brand reigns supreme as the ultimate and most luxurious candle to spoil oneself. Celebs like Taylor Swift, Victoria Beckham and Emilia Clarke have been known to light up the room with the Baies scent.
Candles And Manifestation
The “Witch-Tok” trend sweeping through social media has accumulated 19.8 billion views. If you’re unfamiliar, you may have not heard of the term “manifestation”. Manifestations are an act of praying and believing in something you desire until it “manifests” into fruition. A big part of this spiritual practice is the importance of lighting candles, much like many other religions.
Although there may not be much of a deeper meaning associated with candle lighting from a religious point of view, the point of candles is mostly to create an ambience, a soft glow within a room, and often ignite an aroma that takes you to a calm state of mind. This in turn helps with meditative states like preyer, as your mind often needs to be calm in order to focus on your spiritual side.
Candle Making: Hobby Turned Side Hustle
During the difficult times of the pandemic and the risen interest in candles and supporting local businesses, many turned to candle making as a hobby for peace of mind, and then a side hustle for that extra bread and butter income. Now more than ever, starting a small business has not only been a great idea for many entrepreneurs, but also a saving grace.
The candle market is only growing, and people are constantly coming up with new ways to light up a room with funky designs and delectable scents. The world e-commerce market for candle businesses is set to reach a promising 64 billion by 2027, so if you’re looking at getting into the business, now is as good a time as ever.
The Current Candle Trends
For those who just simply want to have their home look like an inviting and warm sanctuary, and aren’t planning on connecting to any spiritual side, the weird and wonderful candle trends of 2022 are exciting for any candle enthusiasts.
Scents aren’t the only thing that makes candles special. There has been a trend of unscented candles in interesting shapes taking over. The twisting and bending candles are one that is easy to make and shape at home. Other creative shapes include “body positivity” candles, which are more like sculptural pieces of figurines celebrating all different body types.
History Of Candles
The first candle was invented around 500BCE when it was discovered that fat, flammable wicks and fire can be used as a longer-lasting light source. Since then candles were used all throughout history for their convenient purpose, and you’d think the invention of electric light sources would have seen the decay in their purpose.
Although candles may not be used for necessary purposes, humans will forever continue to enjoy the ambience and comfort they bring to a room. Maybe it’s the aromatherapy, the aesthetics, or the feeling of being transported back to a time before electrical gadgets and white blinding light, which can help you feel more in touch with your meditative side.
The association of candles is something that can never be forgotten or modernised. Even in the 20th century, before candles became a major part of the homely aesthetics we know today, candles were big during times of sentimental or special moments. Christmas dinners, romantic evenings, birthday cakes or prayer, there’s no doubt that when a candle comes out it’s all about celebration or relaxation.
Using Candles With Caution
With fire comes risk, and although candles are often lit with good intentions, many people have experienced loss or damage due to candle hazards. It goes without saying that It’s important to be extremely vigilant when using candles. Candle related fires result in around 350 casualties per year in the UK alone, with 40% of them resulting in injury or death.
Although the fire of a candle might be hazardous, the smoke emitted is not. Candles emit a very small amount of smoke and do not cause any need for concern, despite what some people may think. Back when candles used lead in their formulations, there were signs of long term lead poising in those exposed, but that has been emitted from modern-day candles.
There’s no excuse not to indulge in a beautiful aesthetically pleasing decorative item like a candle. If you don’t like the scent, there are many unscented ones to choose from, and the designs available feel like you’re purchasing little works of art.
Nathan has always been captivated by numbers and patterns. With a Master’s degree in Statistics, he’s honed his skills to decipher complex data sets and discern market trends.
Over the past decade, Nathan has worked with various firms compiling and analyzing industry spending figures to forecast market movements.