I enjoy candles as well. I use them mainly to heat my coffee or as an additional source of heat or for the pure enjoyment of their amber glow.

The candles I use mainly are long-burning (6 hours) tea light candles. I do enjoy the nice smelling candles I get as gifts. I prefer clean and cozy smelling candles. Not too sweet or flowery smelling. Those give me a headache.

I think because the tea lights last so long and are affordable (200 for $20) I don't think too much about the cost. I do know that nicer candles can be rather pricy so it's easy to understand the "money to burn" aspect to being a candle aficionado.
!LUV