Do You Need A Holder For Votive Candles?

What Are Votive Candles?

Votive candles are small candles that are made especially for burning in candle holders. The name comes from the Latin “votum” meaning “vow, dedication, or pledge.” They have been an important part of many religions, especially Catholicism, for centuries (The History of Votive Candles).

Votive candles are typically short and made to fit into glass containers or special candle holders. Common sizes range from 1 inch tall x 0.5 inch diameter to 4 inches tall x 1 inch diameter. The wax body can be made of paraffin, soy, or beeswax. They come in a variety of solid colors, or the glass votive holders may be colored instead. The burning time is usually 2-6 hours depending on size (The history and significance of votive candles in Catholicism).

The most common use of votive candles is as an offering or prayer in churches and home altars. The lighting and burning of the candle represents the prayer ascending to heaven. Votive candles are also used for ambiance, holidays, events, and memorials.

Why Use Votive Candle Holders?

There are several key reasons why it is important to use holders with votive candles:

Protect surfaces from wax and heat – Votive candles are designed to liquefy into a pool of wax as they burn. Without a holder, this hot liquid wax can drip onto and damage furniture, tablecloths, or other surfaces. A holder contains the melted wax and prevents damage.[1]

Prevent spills and fires – Tip over a freestanding votive and you may have a fire hazard on your hands. The holder keeps the votive upright and stable, preventing wax from spilling out where it doesn’t belong. This helps prevent fires and damage.[2]

Enhance ambiance – A decorative holder elevates a simple votive into an attractive decorative accent. The variety of holder styles and designs complement any décor. The holder also helps reflect and distribute the candlelight in a pleasing way.[1]

Types of Votive Candle Holders

There are several common materials used to make votive candle holders, each with their own aesthetic qualities.

Glass

Glass votive holders are a popular choice. Glass allows the candlelight to shine through for a warm, beautiful glow. Glass votive holders come in clear, colored, frosted, etched, and cut glass styles. They have a lightweight, elegant look. Glass votive holders often come in hurricane or chimney shapes to safely contain the flame. Some are made from recycled glass for an eco-friendly option (SOURCE).

Ceramic

Ceramic votive holders have an artisanal, handcrafted look. They come in a wide variety of creative shapes, colors, and designs from geometric patterns to animal shapes. Many ceramic candle holders are glazed or painted. Unglazed ceramic holders have a natural, rustic appearance. Ceramic votives can be casual, elegant, or fun statement pieces (SOURCE).

Metal

Metal votive holders come in materials like iron, tin, aluminum, silver, bronze, gold, and more. Metal votives often have beautiful ornate designs etched into the exterior. Metal reflects candlelight nicely and adds shine. Tin and aluminum have a lightweight versatility, while iron and bronze have a sturdier build. Precious metals like silver and gold add luxury. Patina metal votives have an antique, aged look (SOURCE).

Wood

Wood votive holders have a natural, earthy appeal. They showcase the unique grains and textures of the wood material. Wood options include oak, cedar, teak, pine, bamboo and more. Simple shaped wood votives highlight the wood’s inherent beauty. Laser cut wood votives offer intricate designs. Wood holders range from rustic and casual to refined. Painted and stained wood votives add color while showing off wood grain (SOURCE).

Holder Styles and Designs

Votive candle holders come in a wide variety of styles to suit any décor. Here are some of the most popular design aesthetics:

Minimalist

Minimalist votive holders feature simple, clean lines and lack embellishment. They allow the flickering candlelight to take center stage. Popular materials for minimalist holders include glass, metal, and ceramic in neutral tones like white, black, or gray (https://votivecandleholder.com/).

Ornate

Ornate holders incorporate decorative elements like crystals, filigree, or elaborate patterns. Baroque, rococo, and vintage styles often fall into this category, offering an eye-catching display. Ornate holders work well for formal settings like weddings or luxury homes (https://www.chairish.com/keyword/votive-candle-holders).

Themed

Themed votive holders feature shapes, colors, or designs tied to specific motifs like holidays, nature, or hobbies. Christmas trees, snowflakes, leaves, seashells, and more can be found on themed holders. They allow you to accessorize and show off your style.

Sets

Purchasing votive holders in sets provides a cohesive, uniform look. You can find sets featuring multiples of the same design or varied complementary shapes. Sets are convenient for decorating events, centerpieces, or mantels without worrying about styles clashing.

Where to Place Votive Candles

Votive candles can be used to add ambiance and a decorative touch in many areas of your home and outdoor spaces. Some popular placement ideas include:

Tables

Placing votive candles of varying heights on dining room tables, coffee tables, side tables, and more creates a lovely glow for dinners or relaxing evenings at home. You can arrange votive holders in the center of the table or spaced intermittently in a line down the middle (https://www.wayfair.com/sca/ideas-and-advice/guides/what-is-a-votive-candle-plus-6-ways-to-use-them-in-your-home-T21101). Votive candles also make great table decor for special occasions like parties, weddings, or holiday dinners.

Windowsills

Line votive candle holders along a windowsill to create a cozy ambiance and highlight your window’s architectural details. The glow of candlelight in the window can also serve as a charming exterior accent for your home.

Shelves

Display votive candles on bookshelves, wall-mounted shelves, or standalone shelves as part of a vignette with photos, decor items, or collections. The warm flicker of votive candles helps accentuate and highlight surrounding decor.

Outdoor Spaces

Dot votive candle holders around patios, porches, garden paths, and other outdoor areas to create a magical ambiance at night. Opt for votives with citronella oil or beeswax for mosquito and bug repelling properties outdoors. Place votive candles in hurricane lamps or lanterns for windy patios and porches.

Safety Tips

When using votive candles, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are some tips for using votive candles safely:

Always supervise lit votive candles. Don’t leave them burning unattended. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

Be sure to place votive candles a safe distance away from anything flammable. Allow ample space around candles – at least 12 inches. Avoid putting them near fabrics, books, plants, curtains or anything that could catch fire.

To extinguish votive candles, avoid blowing them out. This can scatter hot wax. Instead, use a snuffer or wet your fingers and pinch the wick until the flame is extinguished.

Never tip a burning votive candle to pour out melted wax. This can cause hot wax to spill and lead to burns or fires.

Always place votive candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Burn them in a glass or metal holder specifically designed for votives.

Don’t overload extension cords or power strips when using electric votive candles. Unplug them when leaving home or going to sleep.

With proper precautions, you can safely enjoy the warm glow of votive candles. But always make fire safety a priority.

Caring for Votive Candle Holders

Votive candle holders require some care to keep them looking their best. The main maintenance needed is cleaning off any wax that drips down the sides when the candles burn. Here are some tips for cleaning votive holders:

Use a vegetable peeler or dull knife to scrape off any hardened wax. The warmth from your hand helps soften the wax as you peel.

Place the holder in a bowl or sink filled with very hot water to melt the wax off. The water needs to be hot enough to melt the wax but not so hot it damages the holder.

For glass holders, boiling in water or freezing can help remove wax.

Clean with mild dish soap and water, using a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid abrasive scrubs.

For deep cleaning, dilute some vinegar or lemon juice with water to cut through wax buildup.

Allow the holder to fully dry before putting away or reusing.

When storing votive candle holders, place tissue or soft cloth inside each holder to absorb any wax remnants and prevent dust buildup. Store in a dry, room temperature area away from direct light.

Decorating with Votive Candles

Votive candles can lend a beautiful, warm glow to any space when decorated creatively. There are many possibilities for arranging votives to create stunning displays. Here are some ideas for creative votive decor:

For a simple yet elegant look, place multiple votive candles of the same color together on a tray, mirror, or cluster them in the center of a table. Gradient colors also make for pretty arrangements. Try clustering votives in complementary hues like blues and greens or pinks and purples. For more drama, alternate candle heights by combining regular votives with taller pillar candles.

To decorate for the seasons, make a spring display by scattering votives amongst fresh flower blooms and greenery. In the fall and winter, surround votives with pine cones, cranberries, pine branches, poinsettias, or other seasonal elements. Arrange candle colors to match the season – try bolder autumnal tones like red, orange, and yellow for fall.

Scented votives also help seasonalize displays and create ambiance. Choose fresh scents like juniper berry or balsam fir for winter, floral and fruit scents for spring, and warmth-evoking aromas like vanilla, cinnamon, and clove for fall. Group scented and unscented votives together for visual and olfactory interest.

For more inspiration on creatively decorating with votives, see: https://www.farmhousechicliving.com/votive-candle-holder-ideas/

Shopping for Votive Candle Holders

When shopping for votive candle holders, you have the option to buy them in stores or online. Both options have their pros and cons.

Buying votive holders in a store allows you to see and touch them in person before purchasing. You can check details like quality, size, weight, and color accuracy. Brick-and-mortar stores may have a larger selection to choose from. However, you may need to visit multiple stores to find the specific votive holders you want. Driving to different stores can take time and gas money.

Online shopping for votive candle holders allows you to view a wider variety from the convenience of home. You can find specialty stores that offer votive holders you may not find locally. Online shopping makes it easy to compare prices between retailers. However, you cannot physically inspect the votive holders before buying them. Be sure to check return policies in case the product does not meet expectations. Pay attention to shipping costs which can add to the total price.

Factors to consider when buying votive candle holders include style, material, size, quantity, and budget. Clear glass votives allow the candlelight to shine through. Metal holders come in rustic, modern, or glamorous designs. Size depends on the votives and where you will place the holders. Buying in bulk can help lower the per-unit cost. Set a budget beforehand and stick to votive holders that fit your price range.

Make Your Own Votive Candle Holders

Making your own votive candle holders is an easy and fun DIY project. With a little creativity, you can upcycle common household items into beautiful candle holders.

Repurposed Glassware

One of the easiest ways to make a votive holder is to repurpose glassware you already have at home. Small glasses, jars, and bottles like baby food jars, jam jars, and olive oil bottles make charming votive holders. Clean the glassware thoroughly, remove any labels, and decorate as desired with paint, decoupage, twine, lace, or other embellishments (Source). The opening should be wide enough to easily insert a votive candle.

Clay Crafts

Sculpting your own votive holders out of clay is a fun and creative DIY project. Use air-dry clay, polymer clay, or Model Magic to hand-build candle holders in any shape you like. Impress designs into the soft clay with stamps, cookie cutters, or other household objects. Let your clay creations air dry fully before using with an open flame. Paint or glaze clay holders for color and shine.

Simple DIY Projects

With a few basic craft supplies, you can create simple yet stylish DIY votive holders. Glue lace, burlap, or fabric around the outside of glass holders for a soft look (Source). Decorate the inside of clear glass votives with beads, sequins, or faux flowers. Or use decoupage or Mod Podge to adhere tissue paper, scrapbook paper, or photos to the outside of plain glass votives.