Natural Candle Buying & Care Guide NZ

Everything you need to know about choosing, burning, and caring for natural lavender candles — from a small-batch farm in Waikato, New Zealand.

This guide was written by the team at Lavender Backyard Garden®, a small-batch lavender farm in Newstead, Waikato, New Zealand, run by Ben and Samantha since 2014.

Every candle is hand-poured on our farm in soy wax or coconut wax, scented only with essential oil we steam-distil on-site from Lavandula × intermedia ‘Super’ grown in our own spray-free fields. We never use fragrance oil or paraffin.

Everything in this guide comes from what we have learned growing, distilling and pouring with our own lavender, not from generic candle industry sources.

Choosing the Right Candle

Finding the right candle starts with what it’s made from. Wax type, scent source and wick all affect how a candle burns, how long it lasts and what it puts into your air.

Soy wax melts at a lower temperature than paraffin and suits smaller candles. Coconut wax is softer and creamier, holds essential oil well and gives a good scent throw in larger jars. Paraffin is made from petroleum and gives off more soot.

Check the scent source too. Essential oil candles are scented with oils from real plants, while fragrance oil candles use blended scents that can contain phthalates. Look for “essential oil only” on the label.

Our 60ml soy votive candles burn for up to 12 hours, and our 100ml coconut wax candles burn for up to 25 hours. All are scented with Lavandula × intermedia ‘Super’ essential oil distilled on our Waikato farm. Lavender oil is rich in linalool, a compound that has been studied for its calming effect.

Read: Ultimate candle buying guide →

Shop Our Natural Lavender Candles

  • Lavender essential oil soy candle in a glass jar, with a background of eucalyptus and soft, beautiful light shadows.

    Lavender Votive Soy Candle

    Our best seller. A 60ml soy wax votive scented only with lavender essential oil distilled on our Waikato farm, burning for up to 12 hours. Ideal for: bedside tables, bath time and gift add-ons.

    Natural soy votive candle 
  • Focus rosemary lavender scented soy candle held by hand against blooming lavender and white roses at sunset, NZ Lavender Farm, Lavender Backyard Garden.

    Focus Soy Candle, Lavender & Rosemary

    A 60ml soy wax candle with lavender and rosemary essential oils for a fresh, herby scent at your desk, burning for up to 12 hours. Ideal for: home offices and study corners.

    Rosemary desk candle NZ 
  • Opened lid of Musky Lavender Coconut Wax Candle, showcasing the inner texture of the candle, set against a blooming lavender field at Lavender Backyard Garden, NZ.

    Musky Lavender + Patchouli Candle

    A 100ml coconut wax candle with lavender, patchouli and clary sage essential oils, burning for up to 25 hours. Hand-poured on our farm in Newstead, Waikato. Ideal for: slow evenings and quiet nights in.

    Patchouli coconut wax candle NZ 
1 3

Candle Burning Tips & Safety

Burning your candle correctly makes a real difference to its scent, burn time and safety.

On the first burn, let the wax melt all the way to the edge of the jar before you blow it out. This sets the candle’s “memory” and stops it tunnelling down the middle on later burns. Trim the cotton wick to about 5mm before each lighting for a steady, clean flame, and burn for no more than three to four hours at a time.

Cold rooms slow the melt pool down. In a Waikato winter, from June to August, the first burn of a 100ml coconut wax candle can take noticeably longer than in summer, so light it when you have a few hours at home.

Always keep a burning candle in sight and away from children, pets, curtains and draughts. When 5 to 10mm of wax is left, stop burning it, then put the jar in the freezer for an hour so the last of the wax lifts out and the jar can be reused for storage or a small plant.

Candle Burning Guide – What You Might Not Know →

Our Natural Lavender Candles Compared: Wax, Scent and Burn Time

Candle Wax and How It Burns Essential Oils Size and Burn Time When to Use
Lavender soy votive candle NZ Soy wax with a cotton wick. Slow, steady burn with little soot. Lavender (Lavandula × intermedia 'Super') 60ml, up to 12 hours Bedside reading, bath time, winding down in the evening
Lavender and rosemary focus candle Soy wax with a cotton wick. Small enough for a desk. Lavender and rosemary 60ml, up to 12 hours At your desk while you study or work
Lavender coconut wax candle NZ Coconut wax with a cotton wick. Soft and creamy, and carries essential oil well in a larger jar. Lavender (Lavandula × intermedia 'Super') 100ml, up to 25 hours The living room on a slow night in
Lavender and patchouli coconut candle Coconut wax with a cotton wick Lavender, patchouli and clary sage 100ml, up to 25 hours After dinner, for a warm, earthy evening scent
Lavender and vetiver coconut candle Coconut wax with a cotton wick Vetiver, lavender, clove and cedarwood 100ml, up to 25 hours Cold nights, a reading corner or a home office
Luxury lavender candle gift NZ Coconut wax in a white glass jar Lavender (Lavandula × intermedia 'Super') 100ml, up to 25 hours Birthdays, housewarmings and thank-you gifts
Paraffin candles Made from petroleum. Gives off more soot than plant waxes. Usually synthetic fragrance oil Varies Not used in any Lavender Backyard Garden® candle

Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils in Candles

Ever felt dizzy from a candle or wondered if natural is really better? Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Pros and cons of essential oil vs. fragrance oil in candles
  • Why some candles smell stronger (and what it means)
  • Best types for aromatherapy vs. ambiance
Read: Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils: Which Is Better for Candles? →

Sustainable Candles for an Eco-Friendly Home 

Not all “natural” candles are equal. This guide compares soy, coconut, beeswax and other plant waxes, explains what makes a candle more sustainable, and shows what to look for on the label before you buy.

Read: 4 Types of Sustainable Candles →

Natural Candles

Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Candles

What is a natural candle?

A natural candle is made from plant-based wax, such as soy wax or coconut wax, rather than paraffin, which comes from petroleum. When it is scented only with essential oil, it contains no synthetic fragrance oil. At Lavender Backyard Garden®, our candles are hand-poured in Waikato, New Zealand, using lavender essential oil steam-distilled on-site from our spray-free fields.

What is the difference between essential oil candles and fragrance oil candles?

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.

How do I stop my candle from tunnelling?

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.

How long should I burn a candle for?

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.

Are soy candles safe to use around pets and children in New Zealand?

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.

What do I do when the candle has burned down — can I reuse the jar?

Once 5 to 10mm of wax is left, blow the candle out and let the jar cool. Put the jar in the freezer for an hour so the remaining wax shrinks and lifts out easily, then wash the jar in warm soapy water. Our candle jars can then be reused for storage or as small plant pots.

How do I choose the right candle scent for different rooms in my home?

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.

Where can I buy natural lavender candles in New Zealand?

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.

How long do Lavender Backyard Garden® candles burn?

Our 60ml soy wax votive candles, including the lavender votive and the lavender and rosemary focus candle, burn for up to 12 hours. Our 100ml coconut wax candles, including the classic lavender, musky lavender and patchouli, wild lavender and vetiver, and luxury celebration candles, burn for up to 25 hours. Burning for three to four hours at a time and trimming the wick to about 5mm helps you get the full burn time.

Which lavender candle makes the best gift?

For a special occasion, our Luxury Celebration Lavender Coconut Candle comes in a white glass jar and burns for up to 25 hours. For a bigger gift, our lavender candle gift set pairs two 100ml coconut candles in a box with a mini lavender bundle and a bookmark. Our 60ml soy votive is an easy add-on to any gift. All are hand-poured on our Waikato farm and delivered across New Zealand.

Looking for more ways to wind down in the evening? Our Natural Sleep Aid Guide brings together pillow sprays, sleep balms and other bedtime products. Or explore our full range of natural lavender body and home products, made on our Waikato farm. For flame-free scent, our Natural Air Freshener Guide covers lavender sachets, room sprays and reed diffusers.