Home fragrances, from scented candles to reed diffusers and room sprays, have never been more popular. Maybe it has something to do with the state of the economy and the slowdown in the housing market, with people who would once have considered moving to a larger house now deciding to stay put, concentrating instead on making their homes as comfortable and attractive as possible.

 

Whatever the reason, the demand for home fragrances is certainly buoyant. For people who are considering scented candles or fragrance diffusers for the first time, a common question is which of the two will last longer in their home, which will provide better value-for-money? As a general rule it’s probably accurate to say that a scented diffuser will last longer than a candle, but that depends on how often you choose to light your candle. Most good quality reed diffusers, in particular those which use high-grade fragrance oils or essential oils, will last for 3 – 6 months, providing continuous fragrance throughout that time. The actual time your diffuser will last will depend on a number of factors, not least of which are how often you choose to turn the reeds over, the ambient temperature of your living or office space and where you place the diffuser in a particular room.  

 

Scented candles on the other hand have different burn times, usually between twenty and eighty hours, although there are some which have burn times in excess of one hundred hours, even up to a whopping two hundred and forty hours! A scented candle will, of course, only provide fragrance when it is lit.  If you buy a scented candle with a burn time of, say, sixty hours but only light it once or twice a week for a few hours, your candle should last you around three months. But that really defeats the purpose. Scented candles are not ornaments, although they do come in the most artistic designs, and with their attractive jars and lustrous colours they make a beautiful focal point for any room’s decor, whether they are lit or unlit. However, they are meant to be enjoyed, so you should light them as often as you wish, without concerning yourself about “rationing” your candles to make them last longer. Should your candle burn out – as it surely will, simply buy another one! Scented candles from even the finest manufacturers are modestly priced, allowing you to indulge your candle habit regularly without a guilty conscience!

 

So, rather than worrying about how long a candle or diffuser will last, the best advice is to consider instead which one serves your purpose better. A reed diffuser is the perfect solution for those who prefer to give their home a subtle, continuous fragrance without the need to light a candle. Imagine coming home from a hard day’s work to be greeted by the delightful aroma from your diffuser as soon as you walk through the door.   Reed diffusers are also particularly useful if you have young children or pets, where a candle may be in danger of being accidentally knocked over.

 

Scented candles tend to provide a more pronounced, intense aroma than reed diffusers. If you prefer to give you home a stronger fragrance “hit” from time to time – such as when you have friends visiting – then a scented candle is likely to fit the bill. Or why not combine both? Many of the best manufacturers now produce scented candles and reed diffusers in the same aromas, so you can match them up perfectly in any given room of your home. The diffuser can get to work when you are not at home, leaving you to light the matching candle when you get in, to lift the atmosphere and provide a deeper, more rounded fragrance for your home.

 

 

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