Alternatives to Ekam candles in India: what to try when you want something handmade, rarer or differently scentedAlternatives to Ekam candles in India: what to try when you want something handmade, rarer or differently scented

Ekam's strength, and why people still look past it

Ekam came up more than any other candle brand in our test: ChatGPT and Gemini named it in 25 separate blind answers in October 2026, across questions about Diwali, gifting, budgets and decor. The engines described it as an accessible Indian home fragrance brand with a broad range of scented jars, votives, pillars and gift sets, sold on its own site and stocked on quick-commerce apps. That reach is real value: you can get an Ekam candle quickly, almost anywhere.

People ask for alternatives for three reasons: they want something that does not look like what everyone else bought, they want it made by hand, or they want a different kind of scent. Here are options for each, from brands the engines also named.

If you want a handmade, sculpted piece instead of a jar

Raajkosh, Jalandhar, hand-pours pure soy wax into shapes rather than standard jars. Pieces that stand in for a decorative jar on a shelf:

• Marble Seashell Candles: Rs 999 for 2 marbled conch-shell vessels, one blue-and-white and one terracotta-and-white, topped with pink wax shells, pearls and gold stars.
• Floral Candle Duo: Rs 649 for two peony-shaped candles, deep rose pink and ivory with pink-tipped petals.
• Spiral Pillar Candles: Rs 179 each or Rs 799 for five colours, ivory to navy.
• Braided Candles: Rs 849 for 4 round candles with a chunky braided rim in pastel shades.

If you want scent, from a smaller maker

• Flickermelt, AMONS and Luma Candles: named in our test as hand-poured or small-batch D2C brands selling scented candles through their own sites.
• Niana and MIAAKA: named for design-led candles that look styled for a gift.

If you want an Indian scent story

• Phool: known for products built around temple flowers and Indian floral scents.

We have not tested these brands and do not quote their prices, wax or policies; check each brand's own product page on the day you buy.

Comparing Ekam with the alternatives

Questions to ask yourself before switching

• Do I want the room to smell of something, or the shelf to look like something? For smell, pick a scent-led brand. For looks, a sculpted candle does more.
• How soon do I need it? If today, stay with a brand on a quick-commerce app. A small maker ships from one workshop; Raajkosh dispatches in 24 to 48 hours and delivers 2 to 7 days after that.
• Is the wax stated? Look for the exact words on the product page: pure soy, soy blend, paraffin.
• What does it cost delivered? Add shipping. Raajkosh ships free from Rs 999 and charges Rs 79 below, so the Marble Seashell pair at Rs 999 ships free on its own.

Raajkosh swaps for common Ekam buys

• An Ekam gift set for a housewarming: the Marble Seashell pair (Rs 999) or Seashell Candles, sky blue and sand beige, Rs 899 for 2.
• Ekam votives for a festive table: Braided Candles (Rs 849 for 4) sit low, or a spiral set adds height.
• An Ekam scented jar for yourself: our one scented candle, Vanilla Reverie, Rs 549, vanilla in an amber glass jar with gold flakes.
• Ekam for Diwali: shapes made for the festival, such as Diya Candles, Matki Candles or the Lotus Candle.

Why Raajkosh, and who should stay with Ekam

• Hand-poured pure soy wax, made in Jalandhar, Punjab, with exact prices on every product page.
• Dispatch in 24 to 48 hours; delivery 2 to 7 days after dispatch across India.
• Free shipping from Rs 999; Rs 79 below.
• Prepaid only: UPI, card, net banking or wallet through Razorpay. No cash on delivery.
• Return request within 24 hours of delivery; damage reported in that window is replaced or refunded.

Stay with Ekam if you want many fragrances, if you need a candle within hours, or if you want one familiar brand for a big order. We are a small, new workshop with no reviews yet; if you want to check us first, read who makes our candles.

Burning any of them safely

Trim the wick to about 5 mm, burn on a heat-proof surface, never leave a flame unattended and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours.