We all know it can be a challenge to buy candles online. When you can’t touch them, smell them or even take a look at them up close, how do you know when you’ve found the perfect one?
While online shopping offers limitless variety and a selection of candles for every occasion, the process is certainly a lot trickier than shopping for candles in-store. There’s a lot to think about, from customer reviews to scent descriptions to safety standards to the candle’s burn time.
Hall of Flame provides one of the largest varieties of candles you’re likely to come across including the tallest candles Australia has to offer: the XXL range, with one metre-tapers that can remain alight for 36 hours. We also have candles in all shapes, sizes and colours, from tea lights and colourful candles for thoughtful gifts to bulk candles for weddings, ceremonies and special events.
Here’s the Hall of Flame guide to how to buy candles online. When you don’t have the senses of touch and smell to go on, here’s what to look for.
1) Different types of wax
When it comes to candle wax, there are several options available—each with its own strengths, but also a number of limitations. At Hall of Flame, we've tested them all and chosen Stearin as our wax of choice for its unmatched performance, particularly in Australia’s demanding climate.
Beeswax is one of the oldest natural waxes, known for its signature yellow colour. While it's sturdy, it’s not vegan, comes at a higher price point, and has a low melting point—which means it can drip or warp during long-term storage or in warmer environments.
Soy wax, another plant-based option, is widely considered eco-friendly and offers a clean burn. However, soy has a soft texture, inconsistent finish, and a low melting point, making it vulnerable to frosting, surface imperfections, and warping—especially in tall freestanding candles or under the harsh Australian sun.
Paraffin wax is the most commonly used wax globally due to its low cost. However, it's a petroleum byproduct, which raises concerns for eco-conscious consumers. It can also emit potentially toxic compounds when burned and, like soy and beeswax, has a low melting point, leading to dripping, deformation, and instability in hot conditions or long-term storage.
By comparison, Stearin wax offers exceptional advantages. With a high melting point, it's the most drip-resistant, warp-resistant, and heat-stable wax available—making it ideal for the Australian climate, and for long-term storage.
Stearin burns with a brighter, longer-lasting flame, maintains its structure over time, and is non-toxic, plant-based, and biodegradable.
Though more expensive than other waxes, Stearin's superior performance and environmental credentials make it the clear choice for high-quality, long-lasting candles. That’s why it’s the foundation of every Hall of Flame candle—because we believe in delivering the best, without compromise.
2) Different candle varieties and sizes
You can find candles in all kinds of different sizes, shapes, colours, looks and feels. Some of the most common candle varieties you’ll come across when you buy candles online include:
Votives: Smaller candles usually between two and three inches tall, these candles are commonly used in religious rituals but work just as well as simple home decorations.
Pillars: Pillar candles are tall and sturdy, with long-lasting wax and denser burns. On romantic evenings, a pillar candle is an enchanting addition to a fireplace or dining table.
Tapers: The type of candle most commonly used in candlesticks, fancy dinners and other formal events, tapered candles get their name from being thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom.
Tea lights: Tea lights are the smallest kind of candles and have all kinds of uses from aromatherapy to yoga classes to just setting the mood. They’re also the perfect choice when you need candles that float on water.
3) Selecting scents
Whether you want a fruity, citrusy flavour or a woodsy, smoky scent, choosing the right fragrance can take some consideration – and it all depends on your personal taste and needs. You can choose between the fresh, clean, bright scents of fruits and herbs to the warm exotic aromas or amber and vanilla to earthy tones like cedar and fig.
4) Checking out the wick
While it may seem like a small consideration, it’s worth checking out the wick material before you buy candles online. Cotton wicks are common and have plenty of benefits: they don’t smoke, don’t require trimming and burn evenly. Silk, linen, wooden and synthetic wicks also exist.
5) Reading customer reviews and testimonials
While a lot of candle shopping comes down to personal taste, it’s always a good idea to read customer reviews and testimonials when you buy candles online. Reviews will give you some unbiased insights into the quality of your candle options as well as some recommendations for where you can put them to their best use.
Find the right candles online with Hall of Flame
Hall of Flame has high-quality stearin wax candles in a wide selection of styles for event stylists, wedding planners, exceptional retailers and shoppers with good taste. With a combined 15 years’ of experience in the industry, we have candles for every occasion including bulk candles for weddings and large-scale events, and colour sample boxes if you want to sample a rich and diverse colour collection.
We design all of our products in-house with durability, functionality and reliability in mind. If you need to find candles in Australia that will rise to any occasion, look no further.
In need of a little assistance? Call our team on 1800 573 888 or e-mail as much information as possible to hello@hallofflame.store.
