Raise your hand if you love the idea of making your own candles, but don’t want to invest the time, money, or effort. Or maybe you have a lot of old candle jars in the back of a closet and you want to find a way to recycle them. If so, you should probably check out pearled candles.
A few weeks ago, I scrolled past a video of someone pouring what looked like sand into a bowl, adding a few wicks, and then lighting it. It took seconds to turn a beautiful bowl into a fully functioning candle. Needless to say, that caught my attention so I had to test the viral pearl candle trend for myself. I did it with FOTON’s Lavender Love 18 oz. candle.
I could easily spend hours making candles, but I know that’s not for everyone so I tried FOTON to see how their candles work and whether they live up to the hype.
How to Use a Foton Pearled Candle
Here’s a quick video demonstration of the FOTON candle in action…
FOTON candles are made out of “pearls” rather than traditional candle wax. The pearls basically look and feel like sand, but they’re actually made out of coconut wax. If you’ve been reading Candle Culture for any amount of time, you’ll know that coconut is my favorite wax type so I was very excited to see this. You can choose scented or un-scented pearls (and there are a few different color options as well). You’ll also receive a little box of wicks.
All you have to do is pour the pearls into a heat-safe container, place one of the wicks, and light it. It takes seconds to turn any container into a candle.
I spent longer trying to decide what container to use than I did putting it all together. There are guidelines about container size and where to place wicks, but the instructions are very easy to follow!
Pro-tip: don’t blow the candle out! Use a candle snuffer. The pearls will go everywhere. I didn’t think about this the first time I tested out the candle so I switched to a candle snuffer to avoid more mess.
Re-Using Foton Candle Wicks
The only part of the pearls that melt are the ones in a ring right around the wick. After you’re done burning, you can extinguish the candle and then remove the wick. The 18 oz candle I selected came with 30 wicks, but you don’t need to throw them away after one use. Just clip off the burnt portion and keep re-using.
My Foton Candle Review
With traditional candles, I usually care most about the fragrance – does it smell good (duh), is it strong enough without being overpowering, etc. With this FOTON candle, I was more interested in how it functioned than its fragrance. My verdict: while it didn’t have the strongest fragrance, I liked this candle a lot. It was insanely easy to put together and I actually enjoyed the subtlety of the lavender scent. There is one thing I found frustrating about it, but more on that later…
What I Loved
The best feature is obviously how easy it is to use. This is candle making stripped of all the mess and the math and the waiting. I’ve been a candle maker for almost a decade and even I get annoyed at how tedious the candle making process can be (and how long the cleanup can take after the fact). This was refreshingly simple and straightforward. It doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as playing scientist mixing different fragrances and colors on my own, but it does fulfill that dopamine hit that comes with making something pretty from scratch. It’s the lazy version of a traditionally very time consuming hobby.
I also love the idea of recycling my used candle jars. I am a hoarder when it comes to pretty jars and bowls and knick knacks that unfortunately sit in a closet waiting to be re-purposed. If it were easier to do so, I might pull more of them out. Being able to turn literally any container into a candle makes it feel more personal and a lot more fun than just lighting something straight out of a jar.
As I mentioned earlier, the scent is on the lighter side and that’s something that FOTON is very open about on their website. This will not be a replacement for your more powerful candles. I don’t mind this because I prefer scents that are kind of background noise rather than overwhelming. The fragrance itself isn’t the main appeal. It’s the pearls. You can go scented or unscented. There are also colorful options – I think the black pearls would look so cool as a large coffee table candle in a white vessel.
What I Didn’t Love
The pearls can be a little messy (or maybe I’m just clumsy!). This isn’t a problem if you’re careful when you’re pouring and if, like me, you realize that you shouldn’t blow this candle out. You should definitely use a snuffer. On my first burn, I blew the candle out… and blew several of the pearls onto the counter. It’s not a big deal, but it is something to consider. I’d be careful to place this in a location where it can’t get bumped or knocked over by kids or pets.
FOTON Candle Price & Value
I always look at price and burn time when I’m deciding if a candle is worth it. The 18 oz. FOTON candle costs $36.99, and with taxes and standard shipping, the total is $45.44. It promises around 120 hours of burn time, which breaks down to about $0.37 per hour.
If you’ve read my other reviews, you know I like to think about candle prices in terms of cost per hour burned. I usually aim to stay under $1.00 per hour unless a candle really blows me away. By that standard, this is actually a pretty solid value. It also created a much larger candle than I would typically get for under $50. I’d consider this mid-range pricing. It’s not quite budget-friendly, but not luxury either.
I think this would make a great gift idea. FOTON has candle kits that includes the pearls and a few different container options. You can also create your own bundle by choosing which pearls you want and pairing them with the container of your choice and other candle accessories. Their concrete bowl would make a great coffee table candle. I’ve got my eye on the oversized version. Their accessories are also worth checking out. Throw in an electric lighter or a candle care kit to instantly upgrade the gift.
Who Would This Be Good For?
I don’t think this is for everyone, and that’s okay! Here’s who I think will love it (and who might want to skip it):
Who this is perfect for
- The “aspiring but unmotivated” candle maker (you know who you are)
- People who hoard old candle jars and are looking for a way to repurpose them
- Gift givers looking for a unique twist on a traditional candle
- Hosts who want an easy, customizable centerpiece or home decor piece
Who this might not be for
- People who want a strong, room-filling fragrance
- Anyone who is easily annoyed by small messes
- Budget shoppers looking for the cheapest candle option
This will not replace my favorite traditional candles, but it will be a fun way to repurpose my ever growing collection of empty candle jars. If you decide to give FOTON a try, let me know what you think. Did you go scented or unscented? Plain white or colorful pearls? And what vessel did you choose? The customization possibilities are endless.
FYI: This product was kindly sent to me to try. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission (which basically helps to fund my candle obsession and power this blog). As always, all opinions are my own!
