“Look at the stars/Look how they shine for you/And everything you do/Yeah, they were all yellow.” – “Yellow’ by Coldplay.”

ever judge a book by its cover is an old adage that still applies in the present. A book’s cover may or may not do justice to the writing.

The same adage is now equally applicable to candle brands that star-ted emerging in the last few years and are made in Pakistan. One scented candle from a certain brand might not appeal to you once it’s lit and as a consequence, you may write off that brand completely. But that – having invested in different brands and scents, we know – would be a mistake.

It is also a fact that the ability to smell is among the five strongest fac-ulties we possess as human beings. According to a paper called ‘Sense of Smell: Structural, Functional, Mech-anistic Advancements and Challen-ges in Human Olfactory Research found in National Library of Medicine, the sense of smell allows us to detect “millions of chemical moieties (odor-ants) in even miniscule quantities”.

Our sense of smell has enough power to alter our moods by rushing in a flood of memories, good and bad and bringing about a change to the environment.

We could go on about why we love scented candles or we can just give you some choices of brands that could brighten your day in many ways, add a layer of fragrance to home decor, while keeping in mind that the rising inflation has forced several brands to increase their prices than when we first encountered them.

Honey, I’m Home

A personal favorite (and endorsed by the likes of Meesha Shafi), this particular brand offers scented candles that work quickly. If you are hoping to subdue any sort of smell quickly, Ink & Poetry (Lavender & Chamomile) is a good choice. Or if you want your room to smell like ‘raat ki rani’, there is no better choice than Moonlight Meadows (Night Blooming Jasmine).

Our sense of smell has enough power to alter our moods by rushing in a flood of memories, good and bad and bringing about a change to the environment. 

If a lighter scent is what you’re looking for, Sartorial Stems (Rain & Fresh Cut Grass) is a good selection. This brand, in post-corona universe, is on the expensive side of things so we’d advise start with any choice with a smaller size and when you’re addicted, head towards the bigger size. You won’t waste money and will also be able to find the smell you like the most.

Litt & Co

We made the mistake of writing off this brand based on one scent. But to be fair, they have a terrific selection, in different sizes and you just have to figure out what you are looking for: overwhelming or light. For example, Litt & Co’s Lavender Blush will overwhelm any smell in a matter of minutes. But if you want something more elaborate, The Cancelled Plan for Nothing Candle by this brand is a brilliant choice. Apart from the cheeky names, it is neither overwhelming nor so light that you can barely smell it.

Jugnu Candle

We’ve written about this before and have found some scented candles that go against our taste. But Jugnu has a lot to offer. They are named after famous songs such as ‘Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar’ (Sandalwood & Cherry Blossom).

Apart from the pop culture attractions that you may or not fancy after buying and lighting it, Jugnu doesn’t deserve to be written-off. Chan-dni Raatein (motia), a scented soy candle from the brand is delightful.

And candle care instructions are part of nearly every brand which can tell you how long to light it for and what not to do. So, give it a go and you just might find the odd flavours appealing or predictable ones.

Candle Collective

We found this while looking for candles on Naheed.Pk website and we need to say that if you’re looking to experiment and save money, this really is the brand for you.

The brand, an offshoot of Litt & Co, offers different scented flavours but we’re sticking with Cedarwood, and TheForesting because it is outside the realm of raat ki rani and similar flavors but smells different.

Depending on how a room smells, these candles do their work and suddenly all you can do is try to figure out what are the primary figures. The most economical of the lot, it is light on the wallet and delightful when lit.