The Wicked Scents Journal
Apotheke vs. Voluspa: Which Candle Brand Is Right for You?
Two of our best-selling brands. Both exceptional. Completely different in personality. If you have been staring at both on our shelves trying to decide, here is the breakdown that will help you choose.
Apotheke: Brooklyn Cool
Apotheke was founded in Brooklyn and it shows. The brand has an industrial elegance — white-translucent glass, matte finishes, understated labels. Their fragrances are complex and unexpected: White Vetiver (the official scent of 1Hotels worldwide) layers eucalyptus, cashmere, and earthy vetiver. Charcoal smells like a low-lit bar — burnt maple, smoky cedar, raspberry. Canvas is crisp linen and lily of the valley. These are not simple single-note candles.
Apotheke uses a premium soy wax blend, hand-poured in Brooklyn. Burn times on the 10.5oz Classic run 60–70 hours. The 3-Wick burns 120–140 hours. Every product in the line is vegan, phthalate-free, and paraben-free.
Who Apotheke is for: People who want a candle that smells like something they have never smelled before. The person who buys coffee-table design books. Anyone who appreciates a scent with real depth and complexity.
Voluspa: California Refined
Voluspa is based in Southern California and their aesthetic reads exactly that way — warmer, more feminine, a little more maximalist. Their iconic embossed glass vessels are immediately recognizable. Where Apotheke leans urban and minimal, Voluspa leans lush and romantic.
Their fragrance library is vast. French Cade Lavender is one of the most universally loved candle scents on the market — wild cade wood and fresh lavender, somehow both herbal and elegant. Eucalyptus and White Sage is our single best-selling Voluspa — crisp, herbal, and instantly clearing. Baltic Amber is warm and sensual. Mokara is a white orchid scent that works in any room.
Voluspa uses a proprietary coconut wax blend, which gives their candles a particularly clean, creamy burn. Their 9.5oz Classic burns 60 hours. Their 18oz Large Jar burns 100 or more hours.
Who Voluspa is for: People who want beautiful home fragrance that smells universally lovely. A great gift when you want to be safe but not boring. Anyone who gravitates toward lighter, more floral or fresh scent profiles.
The Bottom Line
If you want a candle that starts a conversation, buy Apotheke. If you want a candle that makes everyone in the room happy, buy Voluspa. Both brands reward repeat customers — Apotheke fans tend to cycle through their whole catalog; Voluspa fans tend to find one or two scents and reorder forever.
We carry the full lines of both at Wicked Scents in Hoboken, NJ. Come in and smell them side by side — our staff knows both collections inside and out. Or order online with free shipping on orders over $100.