The Best Home Fragrance for Every Space: A Complete Guide
Choosing the Right Candle for Your Room
Whether you're trying to create a calming work environment, make your home smell amazing, or set the mood for a quiet evening in, the candle you choose should match the space it's in. From small tea lights to oversized statement candles, the right scent solution depends on room size, purpose, and how long you want that fragrance to linger. Here's how to choose the best option for every corner of your home.
Tea Lights: Tiny but Mighty
Tea lights might be small, but when used together, they pack a punch. Lighting several at once adds instant ambience to a dinner party, bath, or cozy evening. They're also a great way to test new scents if you're unsure what to buy online. Instead of committing to a full-size candle, try a tea light sampler to discover your favourites before going all in.
Tea lights are also useful for scent layering. Use one botanical scent in the bathroom and a complementary one in the bedroom. Because they burn quickly, they’re perfect for short bursts of fragrance.
Medium Candles (200–300g): Perfect for Smaller Spaces
For rooms like hallways, small bedrooms, or home offices, a medium candle is ideal. With just the right balance of burn time and throw, it creates atmosphere without overpowering.
Working from home? A medium candle on your desk can help define your workspace, boost your mood, or provide a comforting scent while you work. Plus, medium candles often burn evenly without needing hours of supervision.
Large Candles (300–400g): The Living Room Staple
Large candles offer a wider melt pool and a stronger scent throw than medium sizes. They're ideal for modest living rooms, kitchens, or dining areas where you want a consistent, noticeable fragrance.
Think of these as your everyday go-to. You don’t need to light them for hours to get results, and they’ll still fill the space. They also make a great housewarming or host gift because they're elevated, useful, and always appreciated.
Extra Large Candles (400–500g+): Big Rooms Need Big Impact
Got an open-plan living and dining area? High ceilings and wide rooms call for something more powerful. Extra large candles have a broader surface area, which means a bigger melt pool and a stronger scent. That’s where candles like these come in.
If your space is truly huge, consider using more than one extra large candle, especially if you want scent coverage across different zones. They’re also great as decorative pieces and can become a hero element on a coffee or console table.
Some candles on the market even come in sizes over a kilo, offering dozens of hours of burn time. But if you’re burning for shorter sessions, stick to XLs in the 400–600g range to get the balance right.
Reed Diffusers: A Flame-Free, Long-Lasting Alternative
If you're looking for a low-maintenance, continuous scent option (especially in a small space) reed diffusers are ideal. Unlike candles, they don't require supervision, don’t produce soot, and won’t be affected by a breeze or draft.
Try a Clare Makes Reed Diffuser
They’re perfect for bathrooms, guest rooms, hallways, or anywhere you'd like a constant subtle fragrance. While they need occasional flipping of the reeds to stay effective, they’re otherwise hands-off and risk-free. That makes them a great choice if you have kids, pets, or open windows near where you want scent.
Just a heads-up: Always use the collar. Without it, the fragrance oil can leak down the reeds and damage the surface underneath. A simple fix for a long-term fragrance solution.
Room Sprays: Instant Results, Short-Term Payoff
Room sprays are your quick fix. A burst of scent when guests arrive. A refresh after cooking. A calming moment before bed. They deliver fast results but don’t linger like candles or diffusers. Most sprays will last for one to two hours, though stronger scents or repeated spritzes can stretch that out.
Many people keep a room spray in the bathroom (for obvious reasons!) and others use it to freshen up linen or furniture. If you do, always do a patch test first, as some ingredients might affect delicate fabrics.
A good room spray is about restraint. Start small. You can always add another spray, but you can’t take it back if you've overdone it. Less is definitely more.
Body vs Room: The Scented Crossover
Room sprays might smell amazing, but if you're after a botanical scent for your body, we always recommend using a body oil. Not only do they smell great, but they’re formulated with nourishing ingredients like Australian jojoba, macadamia, and avocado oils which are ideal for dry or sensitive skin.
Plus, body oils have that layering benefit: they sit on your skin longer than a mist and create a personal scent bubble throughout the day. Ideal for when you want to smell like the bush, but also keep your skin soft and glowy. You can also layer your favourite perfume with a body oil to really seal in that scent and create a custom fragrance.
The Bigger the Melt Pool, the Bigger the Smell
One important thing to understand about candles: the scent throw depends on the size of the melt pool. A candle doesn’t just magically release fragrance when lit. It needs to develop a full melt pool across the surface to work effectively. The larger the surface area, the more wax melts, and the stronger the scent.
That’s why smaller candles are best for small rooms: They don’t need to throw as far. Larger candles with a bigger top surface can fill larger rooms more effectively.
If a candle is too small for a large space, you’ll barely smell it. If it’s too big for a tiny room, it might feel overwhelming. Balance is key.
Why Candle Weight Matters
You’ll notice that Clare Makes candles are listed by weight (in grams), not volume (in millilitres). That’s intentional.
Candles are poured as a liquid but harden into a solid. Once cured, their size should be expressed in grams. If you see a candle listed as “300ml,” that’s a red flag. It can mean the maker isn’t measuring their raw materials correctly, and that affects burn, scent throw, and performance.
Fragrance oils vary in density. Two oils with the same scent strength might weigh differently. Without proper weighing, your candle could end up under-scented or burn poorly.
For us, candle making is both a science and an art. Every candle is carefully formulated using precise ratios of wax, fragrance, and wick. That starts with knowing the weight (not the volume) of every ingredient.
How to Choose What’s Right for You
Here’s a quick decision guide based on space and purpose:
- Small Rooms (Bathrooms, Hallways, Offices): Try a medium candle, reed diffuser, or room spray.
- Mid-Sized Spaces (Bedrooms, Kitchens): A large candle works well.
- Large Rooms (Open Plan Living, Lounges): Use extra large candles or pair with a diffuser.
- Quick Freshen-Up: Keep a room spray handy.
- New to the Brand: Try a tea light sampler.
- Looking for a Skin-Friendly Scent: Go for a body oil.
Final Thoughts
The right candle or scent product can transform a room, but only if it’s the right fit. Size, scent strength, flame vs flame-free, and personal lifestyle all come into play. Whether you're new to home fragrance or simply looking to upgrade your setup, choose a product that matches your space and habits.
Your home deserves to smell as good as it looks. And with a little intention, it can.