Volupsa candles is how many shoppers type the name, and the brand is really Voluspa, so here is a one-minute tour of the collections, favorites and best sellers.
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A little history
Voluspa was created in 1999 by Troy and Traci Arnsten of Southern California. Since then the brand has built a reputation for beautiful packaging and modern fragrances at a fair price.
We carry it because the quality is consistent, the candles last, and customers keep coming back.
Packaging is what first caught my eye, and the candles themselves are what kept me coming back. In a shop full of beautiful jars, the Voluspa tins stand out.
People often ask which Voluspa to buy. The honest answer depends on your taste, which is why this guide starts with collections.
Voluspa candles are known for their price-to-quality ratio, as well as their looks. For most of us, the combination of good fragrance and sensible cost is what makes a brand a regular on the shopping list.
Volupsa candles have a loyal following, and I understand why. The brand is spelled Voluspa, but the misspelling is so common we use it in our own title.
Volupsa candles at a glance
The newest lines are Maison Blanc, Maison Rouge and Maison Noir. Alongside them sit the Seasons Collection, the Japonica Collection and the James Boyce Collection. Each has its own mood, from crisp and floral to dark and woody.
Maison means house in French, and Blanc, Rouge and Noir are French for white, red and black. Blanc comes in a white box with gold detail, and Noir has the dark packaging that fans love.
The Seasons, Japonica and James Boyce Collections give other moods. The James Boyce line includes the Vintage champagne candle in a wooden box, which I describe in our champagne post.
If you are not sure where to start, pick a collection first and a fragrance second. The packaging will tell you much about the style inside.
Having this many Volupsa candles to choose from can feel like a lot. Pick one fragrance you know you like, then use it to choose the collection that fits your home.
Think about where the candle will live. Tins travel and stack nicely, glass looks lovely on a coffee table, and wooden boxes make instant gifts.
Collections are also a good way to shop for gifts. If a friend loves one Voluspa scent, choose another from the same collection, and the two will sit together as a set.
Volupsa candles come in more shapes than you might expect: tins, glass jars and boxed votives.
Where to begin
My favorite is Makassar Ebony and Peach, and Dave’s favorite is French Bourbon Vanille. Both are in the Seasons Collection. Baltic Amber and Santiago Huckleberry, the best sellers, are in the Japonica Collection.
If one of those sounds like you, you have your starting point.
Best sellers are best sellers for a reason. They are friendly, crowd-pleasing and widely loved. If you are buying for someone else, start there.
If your tastes run dark and woody, try Makassar Ebony and Peach. If you like creamy sweetness, French Bourbon Vanille is the one. My shortlist of Volupsa candles to sample first is Seasons, Japonica and Maison Blanc.
Samplers are another option. Many shops carry votives and small sizes, so you can try three or four scents before you commit to a large candle. I would rather make one small mistake than one big one.
Ask ten fans which Volupsa candles to try and you will get ten answers, which is part of the fun.
How Voluspa candles are made
The candles are hand-poured in the United States with a coconut wax blend and cotton wicks, for a clean and easy burn. You can read about the oil itself on the Wikipedia page for coconut oil.
That kind of build is why many Volupsa candles burn evenly. Trim the wick before each burn and you will get the best from them.
For a closer look at one fan favorite, read about Voluspa Santiago Huckleberry. For a seasonal idea, our champagne candles post compares several scents including Voluspa’s.
Once you pick a favorite, you can mix and match across the Volupsa candles to make your own blend.
Coconut wax blends are known for burning cleanly, and cotton wicks are a simple, standard choice. Together they help the candle burn evenly and with little smoke when handled right.
Hand-poured means a person fills each container, so slight differences from candle to candle are normal. Keep candles in a cool, dry place with the lid on, so dust does not settle on the wax.
Whatever you choose, start with a small size. Light it for an hour in the room where you will use it, and then decide.
Tins are a favorite of mine for the kitchen, since they are sturdy and easy to move. Glass jars suit a mantel, and the lid helps keep the wax clean between burns.
Volupsa candles are easy to care for. Trim the wick, burn until the pool reaches the edge, and replace the lid.
Volupsa candles make a good first luxury candle for friends who are new to home fragrance.
If volupsa candles caught your eye, share this post with a friend.
Header photo: Dave Nakayama from Palo Alto, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
