Winter is coming!
And we cannot wait to be all snuggled up in warm blankets while watching the snow fall under the soft glow of candles… But before we can enjoy all this cosiness, we’ll have to roll up our sleeves and prep our winter collection. To help you make gorgeous home fragrance products that your customers will love, we’ve scoured the markets and researched customer behaviours to figure out the top candle-making trends of winter 2023 - 2024!
The trend
As Americans say, go big or go home. Maximalism is all about bold and extravagant styles that celebrate excess, mixing patterns, vibrant colours, and textures in an opulent and visually stimulating way. It also encourages you to mix and match elements from various styles, eras, and cultures. Think vintage pieces, antique decor, modern art, and global influences all coexisting in one space.
Behind the trend
Maximalism emerged as a reaction to the minimalist and Scandinavian design trends that had dominated the home decor scene for years. People started to crave more individuality and self-expression in their living spaces. Maximalism offers a chance to reconnect with the physical and sensory aspects of life. It's about embracing luxury, culture, and history in a way that suits us individually.
What it means for creators
When incorporating the maximalism trend into your products, choose bold, powerful scents with intense scent throws and combine them with an eclectic mix of vibrant colours and patterns, be it on your vessels or within the wax. Wax melt embeds and candle pen designs are also excellent additions. And don’t forget to make your packaging as effusive and extra as your candles.
Recommendations:
Fragrances: Solaris Noir, The Emperor, Pink Fizz & Pomelo, Smoke & Mirrors, Persian Bazaar, Pandora’s Box and Cigar Lounge
Dyes: 30/6077 Red, 6000/01 Black, 10/937 Yellow, 458 Magenta and 78/3287 Turquoise
Mica powders: Purple Rain, Kiss, Golden Light, Electric, Sunset, Deep Sea Blue and Royal
Vessels: 64cl Tall 3-Wick Candle Bowl - Electroplated Gold, and 64cl Tall 3-Wick Candle Bowl - Electroplated Silver
The trend
This trend focuses on using deep, rich, and vibrant colours reminiscent of precious gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and amethysts. These hues add a sense of opulence and luxury to interior design, creating a striking and visually appealing atmosphere that exudes sophistication.
Behind the trend
The rich and deep colours of gemstones evoke feelings of comfort and luxury, which are particularly appealing during the colder seasons. They add a splash of colour and life to what can be quite dark months, helping brighten people’s living spaces.
What it means for creators
To capitalise on this trend, opt for deep, glossy colours for your waxes and vessels reminiscent of your favourite gemstones and pair them with luxurious, smooth fragrances to create an air of sophistication. Glossy vessels are your base choice and you can even add small stones (please bear in mind that once they enter the melt pool, they will sink to the bottom of the candle) or gemstone-shaped wax melts and melt embeds. For wax melts, we’d recommend using mica powders to add a shimmer to your products.
Recommendations:
Fragrances: Opulence, The Temptress, Aphrodite, White Musk & Amber, Frankincense & Myrrh, Black Orchid and Amber Noir
Dyes: 30/6077 Red, 6000/01 Black, 78/3287 Turquoise, and 6140/51 Dark Blue
Mica Powders: Mist, Dazzle, Glow, Deep Sea Blue, Lagoon and Kiss
Vessels: 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - White Gloss, and 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - Amethyst Purple
The trend
The Sweet Treats trend revolves around all things gourmand, celebrating and indulging the sweeter things in life. Picture mouth-watering fragrances and artisanal bakery-style aesthetics that create a sense of cosy comfort, warmth and nostalgia that invites you to carpe diem and enjoy what makes you happy.
Behind the trend
During winter, people tend to spend more time indoors due to colder temperatures. Olfactory sweet treats provide an opportunity to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, transforming living spaces into cosy havens. The aromatic experience of gourmand scents adds an extra layer of indulgence and relaxation to the indoor environment.
What it means for creators
Choose sweet and gourmand scents, favouring guilting pleasures and childhood snacks. Avoid mica powders for your wax melts. And for your aesthetics, choose a pastry-inspired warm colour palette with artisanal vibes. Amber vessels, handwritten or typewriter labels and kraft packaging are particularly good options to partake in their trend.
But be careful, however tempting it is to make your Sweet Treats home fragrance products look like food, remember that it is considered to be a food imitation, which is against UK and EU regulations.
Recommendations:
Fragrances: Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, Maple & Pecan Danish, Wild Rhubarb & Cinnamon, Luscious Vanilla, Coffee Mocha and Witches Brew
Dyes: 227 Cream, 44/2057 Dark Brown, 46/4207 Beige, 40/2377 Beeswax and 16/1821 Cream
Vessels: Dreams Dough Come True, 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - Amber - The Fox, Amber Jar (150g) With Urea Lid, Bakery With Love and Baking Is My Therapy
The trend
The Love Potion trend is predicted to dominate the 2024 Valentine’s season, drawing inspiration from the idea of mystical potions that can ignite love, passion, and desire. It combines elements of the magical and aphrodisiacs, all designed to transport individuals into a world of romance and whimsy while infusing their surroundings with a touch of mystique.
Behind the trend
This trend emerged as a response to the desire for unique and captivating experiences. People are seeking ways to create memorable moments and add an air of enchantment to their lives, especially during special occasions like Valentine's Day. Love potion candles offer a way to infuse spaces with irresistible fragrances and create an atmosphere that stimulates passion, love, and desire.
What it means for creators
To make this trend your own, choose romantic, seductive fragrances and create a dark and mystical atmosphere by combining magical elements like crystals (or crystal-shaped wax melt embeds), star symbols and the like with flashes of sultry colours. You can even write out your own love spells with candle pens. In wax melts, add a dash of mica powders to simulate the shimmer of a spell.
Recommendations:
Fragrances: Himalayan Cedar & Jasmine, Pandora’s Box, Witches Brew, Alluring, Black Raspberry & Peppercorn, Peony & Blush Suede and Pink Pepper & Rose
Dyes: 35/4151 Rose, 30/6107 Red, 34/5647 Dark Red, 39/4327 Pink and 60/1107 Violet
Mica Powders: Dusky Rose, Petal, Just Peachy and Kiss
Vessels: 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - Gloss Black and 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - Amethyst Purple
The trend
The Earthen Richness revolves around the bounty of nature and its grounding effect. It involves nature-inspired colour palettes and natural elements to create a deeply grounded and inviting atmosphere, bringing the best of the outdoors indoors and reaffirming one’s connection to nature.
Behind the trend
In an increasingly fast-paced, urban and digital world, people are seeking ways to reduce stress and create calm, tranquil environments in their homes. Earthy colours and textures are seen as an easy way to achieve this inner balance and tame one’s emotional turmoil.
What it means for creators
Say goodbye to neons and pick earthy, soft colours and combine them with nature-inspired scents or essential oils. In wax melts, we’d recommend using botanicals and choosing shapes that evoke the natural world. In candles, avoid botanicals (they can become sources of secondary ignition) and favour leaf wax melt embeds as well as other nature-inspired shapes. In your packaging, go for a rustic style with kraft packaging, soft lines and handwritten labels.
Recommendations:
Fragrances: Cedarwood & Geranium, English Lavender & Dead Sea Minerals, Uplifting, Lavender & Patchouli, Cuban Tobacco & Oak and Sandalwood & Black Pepper
Dyes: 46/4207 Beige, 44/2057 Dark Brown, 46/4191 Beige, 44/2047 - Dark Brown, and 6143/76 Olive
Vessels: 30cl Lotti Candle Glass - Amber - The Fox, Amber Jar (150g) With Urea Lid, and 3-Wick Amber Candle Jar (400g) With Urea Lid
With these trends in your pocket, you’re on your way to home fragrance brilliance. We can’t wait to see which trend will speak to you and how you’ll incorporate it into your products… Happy candle making!