Scented votive candles - yes or no?

 
The answer to that question depends, as always, on personal orientation.

The word "votive" itself has religious overtones. You can trace its roots back to the Latin word meaning "vow".

In the Middle Ages candles were an key part of vow-taking and other services; indeed, beeswax was preferred for candles used in churches precisely because of its pleasant smell and minimal amount of soot.

The greatest users of unscented votive candles today, therefore, are the churches - and restaurants, which naturally need to minimize strong scents when food is involved, and where a scented votive candle would be the wrong choice....

Scented votive candles are the most popular

For other occasions, however, most of us prefer scented votive candles, and they are among the top-selling candles in the market.
Votives, whether un scented or scented candles, are designed to burn for a long time.

This means that they must be made of wax with a lower melting point that can liquefy easily and be drawn up into the wick and burn down to the very last drop.
They also have to liquify as they burn in order to "throw" their scent properly.

This also explains why votive candles must be burned in a container, both for best results and for safety.

Votive candles may sometimes look like pillar candles, but they are not and must be used in a proper holder.

There is a very large variety of candle holders available for votives; it's an area that appeals both to the designers and the users.