The Lion's Den Candle Company

Who makes them

The Lion’s Den Candle Company was started in 2020 by Jacob, a chemist by training, who hand-pours each candle himself in small batches. The candles are 100% soy with cotton wicks, set in black glass.

Refills, not just candles

This is the part of the range worth knowing about: both the candles and the reed diffusers have refills. You keep the glass and buy the wax or the oil again, which costs less than a new candle and leaves you with one jar instead of six. If you have found a scent you return to, start with the full candle once and buy refills after that.

Formats

• Candles and candle refills — the core of the range.
• Reed diffusers and diffuser refills — flame-free and continuous; the refill includes fresh reeds, which matters, because old reeds clog with dried oil and are the usual reason a refill smells weaker.
• Wax melts and tea lights — for a warmer, or for scenting a room briefly.

Burning a soy candle well

Soy is soft and the first burn sets the pattern: let the melt pool reach the edge of the glass before putting it out, and trim the cotton wick back to about 5 mm each time. A black vessel hides the wax line, so check the depth rather than judging by eye — stop using it once about a centimetre of wax is left.