Best Candle to Buy When Reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: 7 Picks Ranked
The literary candle niche has gotten crowded fast, and most of what is filling it is nostalgia in a jar. Vanilla and old paper, sold to you as "the smell of a good book," regardless of whether the book is a beach romance or a National Book Award finalist. Kaveh Akbar's Martyr! is not a beach romance. It is a novel about addiction, grief, and a man trying to figure out what his life is actually for, and it deserves a candle with more going on than a generic library scent. We ranked seven candles worth burning while you read it, including two from our full beeswax candle collection and five well known names in home fragrance, so you can pick the one that actually matches the book instead of just the vibe of "books" in general.
Why the Candle You Pick Actually Matters Here
Martyr! follows Cyrus Shams, a poet and recovering addict obsessed with the idea of a meaningful death, digging through his own family history and Iranian identity along the way. It is dense, funny in places, heavy in others, and not a book you skim. According to its official Penguin Random House listing, it was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize. A candle that is too sweet or too loud will fight with that tone. A candle that is too clean smelling might not give you enough atmosphere at all.
How We Ranked These
We looked at ingredient transparency, how well the scent profile fits the introspective, slightly melancholy register of the book, and how these candles show up in reviews from other readers who burn something while they read. We are not going to pretend we ran a lab test. What we can tell you is what is actually in each candle and who it is likely to work for.
The 7 Best Candles for Reading Martyr!
1. MBur Just to Clarify
This is our top pick, and not just because we make it. Just to Clarify was built around clarity and quiet focus, the exact headspace Martyr! asks you to sit in. It burns clean, it does not compete with your attention the way a heavier fragrance can, and the wooden wick gives you a soft crackle instead of silence while you turn pages.
Wax: 100% beeswax Wick: wooden Fragrance: phthalate free, non toxic Burn time: 20 to 80 hours depending on size Dyes: none
Best for: readers who want a calm, uncluttered background scent for long, focused sessions.
Price: from $32 for the 20 hour size to $60 for the 80 hour size. See Just to Clarify.
2. Corduroy Lane "Library"
Corduroy Lane makes small batch soy candles built around literal book themed scents, and their Library candle, described as old book pages, leather, and woodsmoke, is the most on the nose match for this list. It leans a little theatrical, which works if you want your reading nook to smell like a set piece.
Wax: soy Wick: cotton as phthalate free Burn time: approximately 40 to 50 hours Dyes: unknown
Best for: readers who want the scent to do the heavy lifting on atmosphere.
3. Paddywax Tobacco + Patchouli
Paddywax's Tobacco and Patchouli blend is warm, earthy, and a little rough around the edges, which honestly fits Cyrus's whole deal better than anything else on this list. It reads mature and slightly dark without tipping into heavy cologne territory.
Wax: soy Wick: cotton as phthalate free Burn time: approximately 40 hours Dyes: unknown
Best for: readers who want something grounded and moody for the book's heavier chapters.
If you are pacing yourself through this book, and you should, it helps to have something to burn during the breaks too. That is where a lighter, more relaxing candle earns its spot on the list.
"Absolutely obsessed with M Bur Candle Co, my roommate and I own 6 out of 8 of the scents. They smell up a WHOLE room during the burn and even a while after blowing them out. I won't buy other candles anymore, they're just that good." (Paige, verified buyer)
4. MBur Wine Down
Wine Down is built for the after part, the stretch of evening when you close the book, sit with what you just read, and let your shoulders drop. With lavender and chamomile in the mix, it is the closest thing on this list to a decompression candle, which a book this heavy will make you want more than once.
Wax: 100% beeswax Wick: wooden Fragrance: phthalate free, non toxic Burn time: 20 to 80 hours depending on size Dyes: none
Best for: the moments between reading sessions when you need to reset.
Price: from $32 for the 20 hour size to $60 for the 80 hour size. See Wine Down.
5. Diptyque Figuier
Diptyque's Figuier is a fig and wood scent that has been a bestseller for years, and it is genuinely well made. It leans quiet and grounding, closer to a plant than a perfume, which makes it a solid, if pricey, option for reading.
Wax: vegetable wax blend Wick: cotton as phthalate free Burn time: approximately 60 hours Dyes: unknown
Best for: readers who want a name brand candle and do not mind paying luxury prices for it.
6. Yankee Candle Warm Luxe Cashmere
This one is the budget pick, and it earns its spot by sheer burn time alone. Vanilla and sandalwood are not exactly daring, but they are inoffensive enough to sit in the background for hours without pulling focus from the page.
Wax: paraffin blend Wick: cotton as phthalate free Burn time: approximately 110 to 150 hours Dyes: yes
Best for: readers who want the lowest cost per hour and are not worried about ingredient sourcing.
7. Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin
This is the odd one out on this list, and we included it on purpose. If Martyr! gets heavy and you need something bright to counterbalance a dark chapter, a citrus forward candle like this can genuinely help you keep reading instead of putting the book down for a week.
Wax: paraffin and soy blend Wick: cotton as phthalate free Burn time: approximately 45 hours Dyes: unknown
Best for: readers who need an energizing counterpoint to heavy subject matter.
Side by Side Comparison
| Rank | Candle | Wax | Burn Time | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MBur Just to Clarify | 100% beeswax | 20 to 80 hours | $20 to $60 | Focused, calm reading |
| 2 | Corduroy Lane Library | Soy | — | Literal book atmosphere | |
| 3 | Paddywax Tobacco + Patchouli | Soy | — | Heavy, moody chapters | |
| 4 | MBur Wine Down | 100% beeswax | 20 to 80 hours | $20 to $60 | Decompressing after reading |
| 5 | Diptyque Figuier | Vegetable wax blend | — | Luxury name recognition | |
| 6 | Yankee Candle Warm Luxe Cashmere | Paraffin blend | — | Lowest cost per hour | |
| 7 | Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin | Paraffin and soy blend | — | Brightening up heavy chapters |
FAQ
Does the scent actually change how I experience a book?
Scent will not change the plot, but a consistent burn during your reading sessions can help you settle into a routine faster, which matters for a slower, denser novel like this one. If you want something that will not overpower the experience, our Just to Clarify candle is built to sit quietly in the background.
Should I worry about strong fragrance candles giving me a headache while I read for hours?
If you are sensitive to strong scents, that is worth taking seriously, especially over a long reading session. Many mass market candles rely on toxic fragrances with phthalates, while a candle like MBur is made with phthalate free fragrance and no chemical dyes. Browse our full beeswax candle collection if you want options built around that.
What is the best candle scent for literary fiction specifically?
Wood, tobacco, and warm, grounded scents tend to pair well with introspective fiction, while bright citrus works better for lighter reading. For a book as emotionally dense as Martyr!, we would lean toward the more grounded picks on this list rather than anything overly sweet.
Are beeswax candles actually better for a long reading session than soy or paraffin?
Beeswax burns longer than either soy or paraffin thanks to its higher melting point, which matters if you are planning to read for hours at a stretch. It also does not carry the soot buildup paraffin can leave behind. You can read more in our guide to the benefits of beeswax.
Our Pick
If you only buy one candle off this list, make it Just to Clarify. It matches the tone of Martyr! without trying too hard, it is made with phthalate free fragrance and no chemical dyes, and the 80 hour size will comfortably outlast your entire read of the book. MBur candles carry a strong track record with readers who burn them daily and keep coming back for more scents. Browse our full beeswax candle collection and pick the one that fits your next chapter.
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