When I read about the candle buds in chapter three, as Simon retreats into his sanctuary, I think they stand for a couple things simultaneously. To Simon, they appear to be something of a calming influence, the "riotous colors died and the heat and urgency cooled away" as they open up and he retires by himself to his quiet place in the woods.
But to the rest of the boys, they may in fact symbolize the coming terrors of the night as they spill out "their scent and [take] possession of the island. The rest of the boys are absolutely terrified of the night and flock together in order to try and stave off the horror of it.
So in my mind at least, the candle buds stand for both things, at least at this point in the novel. When Jack attacks them later, perhaps other symbols could be found there as well.
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