Scented Candles

Africology candles are scented with pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance oils, and the difference shows in how they behave: the throw is softer and closer, and it shifts as the candle burns rather than staying flat. The florals are Rose, Neroli and Gardenia, with Neroli the most widely liked and Gardenia the most opulent. The deeper end is Oud, the richest thing in the range, Rose Oud where a rose softens it, and Sandalwood, the woodiest and calmest. Alchemy is the most layered blend Africology makes and the one to try if the others feel too obvious. The Heart Chakra Candle sits here too, for anyone lighting a candle to mark a moment rather than to scent a room.

Trim the wick to about 5mm before each burn, and give a new candle two to three hours the first time so the melt pool reaches the edge. That single habit does more for a candle than anything else. Each scent is also available as a reed diffuser and a 50ml perfume.