CANDLES AND CANDLEHOLDERS
Unique Candles and Candleholders Make Great Gifts
|
Candles: Shapes, Sizes and Scents
Candles now come in a variety of sizes and styles, and of course most of them are now scented. Here are the basic candle styles and sizes you'll find as you shop:
Taper Candles
These are the tall, thin candles that most of us probably grew up with. Most common sizes are from 8 to 12 inches. You'll need candleholders too, as their base is not large enough for them to stand on their own or on a small plate as pillar candles. You can buy the candles singly or in boxes of multiples from most any retailer such as Target or Walmart. You should find the candleholders there as well.
Votive and Tealight Candles
These are small candles, thicker around than most taper candles. There are small candleholders made just for votive candles. The candles will often come in many different scents, the holders will be in different shapes. Tealight candles are smaller still, and are often used in Jack-o-Lanterns, or in small decorative candleholders made just for that purpose. Also available at all retail stores.
Pillar Candles
These are fat candles, several inches in circumference. They can be on the short side or very tall. You can burn them on a plate if you don't happen to have a candleholder to fit, or you can choose from an assortment of holders designed for pillar candles. These are generally decorative, flat plate-like holders and can be made from glass or metal. You should find plenty to choose from at your local retail store.
Jar Candles
Jar candles come in many sizes, from short to very tall. The great advantage of jar candles is that they come with their own candleholder. These are usually scented, and it's recommended that you burn them for several hours at a time, rather than a short burn of say, 30 minutes or so. These candles can be very decorative, too.
Floating Candles
Processed specially so that they can be floated in liquid, floating candles are small and usually come in specific shapes such as flowers, butterflies and more. They make a very nice decorative effect in your home.
Candle Warmers
This is really an accessory to candles, but it seems to work better at distributing that scented candle aroma throughout your house, than just burning the candle itself. It's like a small electric hot plate, and you should only use it with jar candles. It can increase the life of your jar candle, but be aware that once the candle has been melted to its liquid form, your candle wicks will disappear into the liquid and you can't get them back again very easily, so you won't be able to light this one.
Scents and Sources
Most candles will come in a variety of scents to spice up your home. For the most part, taper and tealight candles will be unscented, but you should find a scent you like in pillar, votive and jar candles. There are fruity scents such as apple, peach, pear, watermelon, and more. Spice scents include cinnamon (especially popular during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holidays), clove, almond, vanilla and more. There are floral scents such as rose, lavender, lilac; and nature scents such as pine and ocean breeze. Whatever your favorite scent is, you should find a candle to match.
While you can easily run to your nearest Walmart, Target, or other retail center to buy your candles and candleholders, you might enjoy browsing some online sources as well for more to choose from. Try Candles.com for a wide selection of candles and scents. You'll find candles in all types, shapes and sizes, with a wider selection than you'll probably find at your local store. Candle4Less.com also has a wide range of candle styles, shapes and sizes, as well as scents. You may never shop for candles or candleholders at your local retail store again, after visiting some of these online sources.
In Closing
We do want to leave you with one word of caution, and that is to be very careful with your candles when you burn them. Do not leave them burning unattended, as many house fires have been started by candles left unattended. We also remind you that they should be kept out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidents and injuries.
If you enjoy crafts and making things, this is one item you may enjoy making yourself. It probably won't save you any money over store-bought candles, but the satisfaction you will receive as you craft your own candles will be the reward. We have a companion article on candle-making in our Hobbies category.