Luxury Soy Candles: What Makes a Great Candle and Why Canadian-Made Matters

Short answer: A luxury soy candle is a candle poured in soy-based wax, with a wick chosen for the jar and a balanced fragrance, ideally made by hand in small batches. Judge any candle by its wax, wick, fragrance and burn habits. Ours are hand-poured in Toronto, Canada, in a paraffin-free coconut-soy blend.

Knightsmen Recommends

Muskoka | Scented Candle

Pine, fresh water, birch and clean air, inspired by the Canadian Shield. Hand-poured in Toronto, Canada in a coconut-soy wax blend with a crackling wood wick, and burns for approximately 75 hours.

Shop Now →

Key takeaways

• "Luxury" has no fixed standard, so judge a candle by its wax, its wick, its fragrance and whether the maker states a burn time.
• Soy wax is plant-based and renewable, while paraffin is a petroleum by-product. Our candles use a paraffin-free coconut-soy blend.
• The wick has to suit the jar and the wax: Jasper and Elysian use cotton string wicks, and Muskoka and Saffrona use wood wicks.
• Burn the first time until the melt pool reaches the edge of the jar, trim the wick to about a quarter inch before each burn, and keep sessions to four hours or less.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it away from drafts, children and pets.

Not all candles are created equal, and the difference shows up the moment you light one. Burn quality, fragrance development, scent throw and finish all vary with the materials and the craft behind a candle. If you have ever been disappointed by a candle that smelled nothing like its label, burned unevenly or tunnelled down the middle, the cause was usually a mismatch between the wax, the wick and the fragrance.

This guide covers what to look for when you choose a candle, how soy-based wax compares with paraffin, and how to burn any candle well. It also introduces our four hand-poured, Canadian-made candles.

What does "luxury" actually mean on a candle label?

"Luxury" is a marketing word with no fixed standard, so it helps to judge a candle by things you can check. Look at what the wax is made from, whether the wick suits the jar, how the fragrance behaves cold and while burning, and whether the maker states a burn time and the wick type.

As we use the term, a luxury soy candle is poured in soy-based wax, scented with a balanced fragrance, fitted with a wick chosen for its jar, and poured by hand in small batches. No single point on that list makes a candle great. Together they explain why two candles at different price points can smell and burn very differently, and why the care you take lighting and trimming a candle counts as much as what is printed on the label.

How does soy wax compare with paraffin?

Many mass-market candles are made with paraffin, a wax that is a by-product of refining petroleum. It is inexpensive, widely available and holds fragrance reasonably well. Soy wax is made from soybeans, so it is plant-based and renewable, which is why it appeals to people who prefer plant-derived materials.

Beyond the source material, the wax is only one of three things that decide how a candle burns. The wick and the fragrance matter just as much, and a poorly matched soy candle can burn worse than a well-made paraffin one. Our candles are poured in a paraffin-free coconut-soy blend. We explain the reasoning in our guide to coconut wax vs. soy wax candles.

How does the wick change the way a candle burns?

The wick controls how large the flame is and how wide the melt pool gets, so it has to suit both the wax and the width of the jar. A wick that is too small tends to tunnel, leaving unused wax stuck to the sides. A wick that is too large gives a tall flame, a hot jar and more soot.

Matching a wick to a wax, a jar diameter and a fragrance takes trial and error, so it is worth asking whether a maker says which wick each candle uses. Ours differ by scent. Jasper and Elysian use a cotton string wick that burns silently, while Muskoka and Saffrona use a wood wick that adds a quiet crackle as it burns.

What makes a candle's fragrance good?

A candle's fragrance shapes the whole experience, and a good one smells like its label both cold and while burning. Cold throw is the scent you notice from an unlit candle. Hot throw is how well it fills a room once it is lit.

More fragrance is not automatically better. A wax can hold only so much before the candle burns poorly, so makers balance the amount of fragrance against the wax and the wick. It also helps to read the scent description. We describe each of our candles by the notes in it, such as pine and birch for Muskoka or saffron and amber for Saffrona, rather than by vague adjectives, so you know what to expect before you light one.

What does hand-poured and Canadian-made actually mean?

Our candles are hand-poured in small batches in Toronto, Canada. Pouring in small batches lets a maker pay close attention to the pour temperature, how the fragrance is mixed in and how the wax cools, all of which affect how evenly a candle sets. All four are poured in the same coconut-soy wax; only the scent and the wick change.

Canadian-made matters in practical ways too. Orders placed before 12 pm ET on a business day ship the same day, and standard shipping is free on orders over $100 CAD within Canada. If you prefer to buy from Canadian makers, you also know exactly where your candle was poured.

Which Knightsmen candle should I choose?

All four candles share the same coconut-soy wax and are hand-poured in Toronto. They differ in scent, wick and burn time, so the choice comes down to the scent you want and the room it will live in.

A candle is also an easy gift for him or for her, and it pairs naturally with our grooming products. Browse the full candle collection.

How do I burn a candle safely and get the longest life from it?

Start with the first burn. Let the melt pool reach the edge of the jar, usually two to three hours depending on its width, because the first burn sets the pattern for later burns. If you put the candle out early, it tends to tunnel from then on.

• Trim the wick to about a quarter inch (6 mm) before every burn.
• Keep sessions to four hours or less, and let the wax solidify between burns.
• Keep the candle out of drafts. Open windows, vents and fans pull the flame sideways and make it burn unevenly.
• Place it on a heat-resistant surface, away from anything that can catch fire.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it away from children and pets.
• Use a snuffer, or blow gently, and wait until the wick stops glowing before you leave the room.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between soy wax and paraffin wax?

Soy wax is made from soybeans and is plant-based and renewable. Paraffin wax is a by-product of refining petroleum. Both can make a good candle, and the wick, the fragrance and the way you burn it matter as much as the wax. Ours are poured in a paraffin-free coconut-soy blend.

How long should I burn a candle the first time?

Long enough for the melt pool to reach the edge of the jar, usually two to three hours for a standard container candle and longer for a wider jar. Watch the wax surface rather than the clock. Once it has melted flat and level, the first burn has done its job.

How often should I trim a candle wick?

Before every burn. Trim the wick to about a quarter inch (6 mm) with small scissors or a wick trimmer. It takes about five seconds. An untrimmed wick burns hotter than it should, throws more soot and shortens the candle's life, so this small habit does a lot of work.

How long do Knightsmen candles burn?

Jasper and Elysian burn for about 70 hours, and Muskoka and Saffrona for about 75 hours. That is the total for the whole candle, not a single session, and it assumes a trimmed wick and sessions of two to four hours. Skipping either step can shorten it.

Where are Knightsmen candles made?

They are hand-poured in small batches in Toronto, Canada, in the same coconut-soy wax for all four scents. Orders placed before 12 pm ET on a business day ship the same day, and standard shipping is free on orders over $100 CAD within Canada.