Natural Candle Buying & Care Guide NZ

A natural candle is made from plant-based wax — such as soy wax or coconut wax — rather than paraffin, which is a petroleum byproduct. Natural candles burn more slowly and cleanly than paraffin, and when scented with pure essential oil rather than synthetic fragrance, they release no artificial chemicals into the air. At Lavender Backyard Garden®, our candles are hand-poured in Waikato, New Zealand, using essential oil distilled on-site from our spray-free lavender fields.

Essential oil candles are scented with pure plant extracts — in our case, lavender essential oil steam-distilled directly on our Waikato farm. Fragrance oil candles use synthetic compounds that mimic natural scents but may contain phthalates or other artificial chemicals. For those who prefer natural home fragrance without synthetic additives, essential oil candles are the cleaner option.

Tunnelling happens when a candle burns down the centre without melting the wax to the edges. To prevent it, allow your candle to burn long enough on the first use for the entire surface to liquefy — this sets the wax memory. For a standard-sized candle this typically takes one to two hours. Always trim the wick to approximately 5mm before relighting.

A general guide is no more than three to four hours per burn session to protect the wax pool from overheating. Extinguish the flame and allow the candle to cool completely before relighting. For the first burn, always allow the full surface to melt to the edges before extinguishing — this prevents tunnelling on all future burns.

Soy candles scented with pure essential oil produce less soot and no petroleum byproducts compared to paraffin candles. However, some essential oils can be irritating to cats and dogs in high concentrations. Always burn candles in well-ventilated rooms, keep them out of reach of children and animals, and never leave a burning candle unattended. Consult your vet if you have specific concerns about your pets.

Once your candle has burned to the last 5–10mm of wax, extinguish it and allow the jar to cool. Remove remaining wax by placing the jar in the freezer for an hour — the wax contracts and lifts out easily. Clean the jar with warm soapy water. Our candle jars are designed to be reused as drinking glasses, plant pots, or storage vessels.

Lighter, fresher scents such as lavender with rosemary or eucalyptus work well in home offices and spaces where mental clarity is valued. Warmer, softer lavender scents are ideal for bedrooms and living areas. Avoid very strong scents in small enclosed spaces. Our Focus Candle with lavender and rosemary is designed for work and focus spaces; our Votive Soy Candle is suited to relaxation and winding down.

Lavender Backyard Garden® is a Waikato-based lavender farm that produces and sells natural lavender candles online, with delivery across New Zealand. Our candles are hand-poured in small batches using essential oil from our own spray-free Lavandula × intermedia 'Super' lavender fields, harvested each New Zealand summer.