What Are The Best Candles For Lighting?

The popularity of candle lighting has risen steadily in recent years as candles are an affordable way to add warmth, ambiance and fragrance to a home. With so many different candle options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best candles for your lighting needs. This comprehensive guide covers key factors to consider including candle size, shape, holders, materials, scents, burn times, safety tips and top brands. Whether you are looking to light up a cozy dinner, set a romantic mood or just add some simple elegance to your decor, this guide will help you select the perfect candles to meet your unique needs and style.

Candle Sizes

Candles come in a variety of sizes for different uses. Here are some of the most common basic candle size types:

Votives – These small candles are usually around 1-2 inches wide and 1-3 inches tall. Votives are designed to fit into small glass votive holders. They typically burn for 5-10 hours. Votives require around 27 dips to reach the ideal 7⁄8 inch diameter.

Pillars – Pillar candles are taller cylinders with diameters ranging from 2-4 inches. They are designed to stand upright on their own without a holder. Pillar sizes generally range from 3-9 inches tall, with wider pillars burning longer. A 6 inch pillar may burn for 80-100 hours.

Tapers – Tapers are long, thin candles, usually 1⁄2 – 3 inches wide and 6-18 inches tall. They are designed to fit into candlesticks or candelabras. A 12 inch taper might burn for 5-6 hours. Tapers require dipping 27 times to reach the ideal 7⁄8 inch width.

Tealights – These tiny candles are only about 1 inch wide and 1⁄2 inch tall. Tealights are designed to fit into very small glass or metal holders. They provide ambient lighting and only burn for 3-6 hours.

Candle Shapes

Candles come in a variety of shapes beyond just round or tapered. Unique and creative shapes can make for eye-catching design elements and thoughtful gifts.

Round candles are the most common. They burn evenly and are easy to place in holders. Popular round styles include pillars, votives, tealights, and container candles.

Square candles offer a modern, geometric look. They often come in cube shapes or rectangular prism designs. The flat sides allow for artwork or etchings. Square candles look great in candle holders with clean lines.

Twisted or spiral candles have a tapered shape that twirls upwards. The spiral design provides visual interest. These candles must be burned in a holder that secures the base.

Shaped or sculpted candles resemble objects like animals, flowers, food, or other items. Novelty shaped candles work well for themed gifts or table decor. Shapes like animals or letters can convey special messages. According to Etsy, some popular shaped candle designs include flowers, vehicles, holiday motifs, and more (source).

Selecting a candle shape depends on intended use, personal taste, and decorative goals. The variety of shapes allows for creative and artistic candle displays.

Candle Holders

Candle holders serve both decorative and functional purposes. They come in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes to suit different needs. According to What a Host, popular candle holder materials include:

• Ceramic – Provides a smooth, nonflammable surface and retains heat to extend burn times. Ceramic comes glazed or unglazed in multitude colors and patterns. Source
• Metal – Durable materials like iron, zinc, brass, and copper make excellent candle holders. Metals efficiently conduct heat to keep candles burning continuously. Source
• Wood – Natural wooden holders come in light and dark stains. Wood insulates heat well but should be properly sealed to prevent scorching.
• Glass – Elegant option that allows candlelight to shine through. Glass withstands high temperatures but can crack if exposed to sudden temperature changes.

Candle holders range from practical metal trays to intricate glass sculptures. Choose holder shapes and designs based on visual appeal, intended use, and personal style.

Candle Materials

The most common candle materials are paraffin, soy wax, beeswax, and gel wax. Each type has its own properties and pros/cons.

Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum. It is inexpensive and makes candles that burn cleanly and evenly. However, paraffin releases more soot than natural waxes when burned (Archipelago).

Soy wax is made from soybeans. It burns slower and cooler than paraffin, so soy candles tend to last longer. Soy wax is also biodegradable and renewable. The drawback is that soy wax does not hold fragrance as well as paraffin (Martha Stewart).

Beeswax is natural wax made by honey bees. It has a sweet, honey-like scent when burned. Beeswax candles burn brighter and longer compared to paraffin. However, beeswax is more expensive and can be prone to discoloration (Archipelago).

Gel wax contains mineral oil and polymer additives. It allows for rich color and fragrance. Gel wax candles burn clean without releasing excess soot or smoke. The downside is that gel wax can sweat in warmer environments (Martha Stewart).

Candle Scents

One of the most important factors in choosing the best candles is the fragrance or scent. Candle scents typically come from two sources: natural essential oils and synthetic fragrance oils. Natural essential oils are steam distilled or cold pressed from plants, herbs, fruits, and spices. Some popular natural essential oil scents include lavender, cedarwood, citrus, eucalyptus, chamomile, and tea tree. Synthetic fragrance oils are artificially created in a lab to mimic natural scents or produce novel fragrances. While natural essential oils are often preferred for their authenticity, synthetic fragrances allow for more consistency and unique scent options.

According to research from The New York Times and Candle Delirium, some of today’s most popular candle scents include:

• Vanilla
• Lavender
• Cedarwood
• Pumpkin spice
• Citrus scents like lemon, grapefruit, tangerine
• Floral scents like jasmine, rose, lilac
• Herbal scents like chamomile, sage, eucalyptus
• Fruity scents like peach, strawberry, mango
• Sugary scents like maple, caramel, brown sugar
• Woody scents like mahogany, pine, sandalwood

Overall, top-selling scents tend to be warm, nostalgic, soothing, energizing, or remind people of the outdoors. When choosing a candle for lighting, consider scents that create the right mood or ambiance for the space.

Candle Burn Times

The burn time of a candle refers to how long it takes for the candle to completely burn from top to bottom. There are several factors that affect candle burn times:

Candle size – Larger candles like pillars will burn longer than smaller votives or tealights. According to Slatkin & Co., a tealight burns for 4-5 hours while a votive burns for 15-20 hours ^[1].

Wax type – Natural waxes like soy wax and beeswax generally burn longer than paraffin. Soy candles may burn up to 50% longer than comparably sized paraffin candles.

Wick – Properly wicking a candle for the particular wax and vessel is crucial for ideal burn time. A wick that is too small will produce a weak flame and tunneling.

According to The Flaming Candle, you can calculate a candle’s burn rate by weighing the candle before and after burning for a set period of time. For example, a 12 oz candle weighing 28 oz initially that weighs 27 oz after burning 2.5 hours has burned 1 oz of wax, so its burn rate is 0.4 oz per hour ^[2].

In general, a standard 12 oz jar candle will provide 45-55 hours of burn time. Votive candles average 15-20 hours while tealights burn for 4-6 hours per candle.

Safety Tips

When burning candles, it’s important to keep fire safety in mind. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), candles cause around 7,000 house fires every year in the U.S. NFPA – Safety with candles.

To prevent candle fires, follow these tips:

• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, like curtains or furniture. Blow them out when you leave a room or go to bed. FEMA – Candle Fire Safety
• Use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily. Avoid using candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
• Always put candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Keep them away from drafts or vents to prevent rapid, uneven burning.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down. Extinguish it before it gets too close to the holder or container.
• Never leave burning candles unattended. Blow them out if you leave the room, even for a short period of time.

Following basic fire safety with candles can help prevent devastating home fires.

Top Brands

Some of the most popular and highest quality candle brands include Boy Smells, Diptyque, and Otherland.

Boy Smells is known for its unique and sophisticated scents like Hinoki Fantôme, which has earthy, woody notes. Their candles use a coconut wax blend for a clean, even burn.

Diptyque candles are made in France using high quality materials. Popular fragrances include Baies (Bulgarian rose and blackcurrant) and Feu de Bois (smoke and woodfire). Diptyque is considered a luxury brand.

Otherland makes artisanal candles with playful packaging and scents like Chandelier (champagne grapes and sugared violet) and Daydreamer (rice pudding and toasted coconut). They use a custom soy-coconut wax blend.

Conclusion

When shopping for candles, it’s important to consider the size, shape, holder, wax type, fragrance, and burn time you need for your space and purposes. Smaller candles like votives and tealights are great for small areas, while larger pillar and taper candles give more light. Simple cylinder and round shapes are versatile, while more decorative shapes like lanterns can complement your decor. Glass holders let light shine through, while metal and ceramic holders add texture. Natural soy and beeswax burn cleanest, while paraffin is inexpensive. Light floral or fresh scents work for most spaces, while bolder aromas suit bedrooms and living rooms. Aim for at least 30 hours of burn time so you get your money’s worth. Always keep candles on sturdy, nonflammable surfaces, trim wicks before lighting, and never leave burning candles unattended. Top brands like Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, and Voluspa offer quality candles worth investing in. With a little thought about your needs and preferences, you can find the perfect candles to light up your home in beautiful, safe ways.