A season-by-season guide to rotating candle scents and placement — greens and citrus for spring and summer, wood and spice for autumn, resins for winter, plus a simple routine for storing and burning.

A practical comparison of soy, beeswax and coconut wax candles — how each burns, throws scent, looks on the shelf, and what it asks of you between burns.

Burn time depends on wax type, wick size, vessel diameter and the room itself. Here is how to read a candle's numbers and match it to your space.

Wax, wick, scent strength and room size decide whether a first artisanal candle works. A practical guide to reading labels, testing throw and buying with confidence.