Walk into almost any Australian home and you’ll find a candle tucked on a shelf, sitting on the dining table, or waiting on the bedside. We buy them as gifts, treat ourselves with a new scent, and light them when we want to shift the mood of a space. Candles have become part of our everyday rituals, and it’s no wonder the Australian candle market is thriving.
Did you know?
The Australian candle market was valued at $125 million in 2024 and is forecast to reach $192 million by 2034. That’s steady growth of over 4% every year, proving that candles are more than décor—they’re a wellbeing essential.
Chart 1: The Australian candle market is projected to grow steadily, reflecting the strong demand for cosy, mood-setting rituals.
Some of this can be traced back to the growing fascination with hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”), the Danish word that loosely translates to cosiness, contentment and wellbeing. Hygge isn’t just about flicking on a lamp or lighting a candle—it’s about creating spaces where we feel calm, safe and connected. At its heart, hygge is about slowing down and enjoying simple pleasures, whether that’s sharing a meal with family or curling up with a book.
Hygge & Happiness
According to the World Happiness Report Nordic countries where hygge is a way of life consistently rank among the world’s happiest nations. Cosy lighting is seen as a key factor in maintaining wellbeing during long, dark winters.
Chart 2: Nordic countries score highest in global happiness rankings, where hygge and warm lighting are part of daily life.
Lighting plays a central role in this. In Denmark, where winters are long and dark, candles and warm lights are essential in creating an inviting home. The soft flicker of a flame does more than brighten a room—it signals that it’s time to slow down, to draw closer, to savour the moment. It’s no surprise that Australians, even with our sunnier climate, have embraced the same idea.
Candles, however, come with limits. They burn down quickly, can be unsafe in certain settings, and aren’t always practical for daily use. This is where modern mood lighting steps in. Portable lamps, especially those designed with natural materials and warm tones, carry forward the same sense of ritual and atmosphere without the drawbacks. Switching on a soft, glowing lamp at the end of the day can feel just as intentional as lighting a candle—it’s a way of signalling to yourself that the busy hours are done, and it’s time to settle in.
Science Spotlight
A Monash University study of 87,000 participants found that harsh, bright light at night increases the risk of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance, while softer, warmer light helps regulate mood and circadian rhythm.
Small rituals can help us feel grounded
What’s fascinating is how these small rituals actually tie into broader ideas of happiness. Researchers studying wellbeing often find that it isn’t the big, once-in-a-lifetime moments that make us happiest, but the small, repeatable ones. Lighting a candle or turning on a warm lamp before dinner may seem like a small detail, but it creates a rhythm in our lives that helps us feel grounded. In a world that often feels fast and digital, these little acts of care for ourselves and our spaces matter more than ever.
At RS Studio, this is the philosophy behind every lamp we design. Our portable mood lamps are created to bring that hygge-inspired glow into Australian homes—soft enough to relax by, beautiful enough to become part of the furniture, and sustainable enough to last for years. They’re a continuation of the rituals we already love, but with a modern twist.
So whether you’re someone who fills the house with scented candles or you’re looking for a safer, longer-lasting alternative, the goal is the same: to create a home that feels warm, welcoming, and happy. And in the end, isn’t that what hygge is all about?
Why RS Studio Offers a Unique Option
RS Studio combines craftsmanship, sustainability, and design. Each portable rechargeable lamp is a sculptural piece that transforms light into atmosphere—handmade in Melbourne for people who value originality.
✨ Ready to bring portable, sculptural light into your home? Explore RS Studio’s portable collection here.