You know those moments when gaming culture seeps so far into real life that it’s both ridiculous and brilliant at the same time? That’s exactly what I thought when I heard someone had made Counter-Strike map-inspired candles. Yes, you read that right: actual eco-luxury candles themed around your favourite CS2 maps like Dust II, Mirage, and Nuke, hand-poured right here in Cape Town. This isn’t a random novelty product either. The creator is a fellow Counter-Strike player on Faceit, someone who clearly gets the game’s aesthetic and the community vibe.
Each map has a range of three candles inspired by the game’s settings. You can pick from Ancient, Anubis, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, Overpass and Train. The folks at iFancy Candles, behind this range, offered to send me three candles from my favourite map. So naturally I chose Mirage because let’s be honest, it’s a classic and half of us have PTSD from losing mid control there.
First Impressions
The packaging immediately gives “boutique candle” energy rather than “gamer merch.” The soy and coconut wax blend is beautifully smooth, the label design is clean, and the overall presentation would look perfectly at home next to your gaming setup or on a minimalist coffee table. The candle came with a solid bamboo lid which is a temporary stand-in while custom wooden lids are being produced and honestly, I wouldn’t have known if they hadn’t told me. It fits the jar perfectly, has a lovely natural texture, and gives the whole thing a bit of a Scandi aesthetic. The Mirage Collection is made up of three fragrances, each one inspired by a different facet of the map. You’ve got the bustling chaos of mid to the quiet, sun-warmed corners of palance and each candle feels a bit like a love letter to the game. They’re named Oasis Bloom, Alley Dreams and Desert Jewel. I can go through the scents but you’ve got a mix of Lotus Flower, Mango, Cherry Blossom and Melon and Mint. They work well individually but I think fit nicely into a collection as well.
Burn Quality and Aesthetic
The packaging is, like I mentioned, pretty luxurious and the candles burn evently with no tunnelling or smoke. You can expect the scent to fill the space without overwhelming it. I’m also a sucker for wood wick because of the gorgeous crackle it gives off. So that was a big winner for me.
The Gamer Twist
Beyond the obvious “this is a candle for CS nerds” appeal, there’s actually something kind of poetic about it. Each map in Counter-Strike has its own atmosphere, and capturing that in a scent is a surprisingly clever way to connect with the game. It’s the kind of collectible that feels grown-up which makes it perfect for fans who’ve graduated from posters and want something a bit more sophisticated.
The creator is currently chatting with Faceit SA about introducing a Champions Edition Candle as a monthly prize for Gold and Diamond division winners.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t expect to like this as much as I do. It’s the ideal mix of geeky and aesthetic. A product that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky. The Mirage candle is a vibe; it smells like nostalgia, competition, and late-night queues with friends. If you’re a Counter-Strike fan or you just love supporting creative local projects, these map-inspired candles are worth checking out. Whether you’re repping your favourite map or lighting one up after a brutal Faceit loss (we’ve all been there), it’s a quirky, comforting way to bring a little piece of CS into real life.
Where to find it: The World’s First Counter-Strike Map Inspired Candle Range
