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Candles 101

Soft white candles glowing.

The basics on styles and wax—plus a few design tips

Candles aren’t just for entertaining or the holidays. Their warm glow adds an inviting spark to a takeout dinner, it gives a bathroom a spa-like feel and sets a relaxing vibe at the end of a busy day. While candles have been around for what literally seems like forever, they’ve come a long way since the ancient Romans dipped rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. Today, your choices in candles are many, between styles, wax type and scented, unscented or fragrance-free. Here’s a quick look at the basics. (And remember, never leave a lighted candle unattended!)

Candle Styles

Pillar Candles

These candles can usually stand on their own, thanks to their sturdy, wide design. Of course, you should still place them on a heat-safe, flame-resistant surface. Because of their size, pillar candles usually have long burn times. They’re available in a variety of sizes, colors and styles.

Tea Lights

The opposite of pillars, tiny tea lights are self-contained within metal. The nice thing about tea lights is that the candles melt completely within the metal. Even though tea light wax is self-contained, it’s still best to use tea lights inside a tea light holder or luminary. Because they’re so small, tea lights have a short burn time.

Pillar candles glowing atop a rustic wood platter. Pillar candles paired with faux ivy make for an eye-catching display.
Multiple tea lights glowing on a table in a dimly lit room. Group tea lights together to create a soft glow.

Votive Candles

Short and thick, votive candles are a longer-burning alternative to tea lights. When shopping for votive candles, you’ll find options already encased in a glass or metal holder, as well as holder-less options. 

Floating Candles

Small and round, floating candles are just that—candles designed to float in water. You can use them in cylindrical vases, bowls or even mason jars.

Votives glowing in clear pastel jars. Colorful glass holders are a pretty home for votive candles.
Four lit candles floating in a bowl of water. Up a room’s ambiance with floating candles.

Container Candles

Container candles are made by pouring wax into a heat-safe container, such as a glass, metal, tin or ceramic jar, which contains the hot wax as the candle burns. Because these candles don’t drip wax, they tend to last longer than candles that do. 

Taper Candles

Traditionally tall and slim, these candles taper from the bottom upwards. While there are lots of classic tapers available, you’ll also find tapers in vibrant colors, various lengths and all kinds of styles, such as spirals and ribs.

A glowing candle in a glass jar. Container candles have a long burn time.
Tall skinny candles of different sizes glowing in a row. Taper candles are a classic addition to any room.

Types of Wax

  • Paraffin Wax: A common wax, paraffin is frequently used for candles because it can hold a lot of fragrance and color. Keep in mind, though, that paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum and has the potential to create soot. 
  • Soy Wax: Like its name suggests, soy wax comes from soybeans. These candles tend to burn more slowly than those made from paraffin wax, but they also don’t hold as much fragrance as paraffin wax candles.
  • Beeswax: Derived from the honey-making process, beeswax has a naturally sweet scent and is often used in wax candle blends. It has a long burn time and doesn’t drip too much. 
  • Coconut Wax: A newer type of wax, coconut wax—which doesn’t smell like coconut—burns slowly, releases little soot and holds fragrance and color well. (Coconut wax is also more expensive than other kinds of wax.)

Unscented vs Fragrance-Free

While you can find candles with all types of scents, you may prefer to enjoy a candle’s soft glow without smelling vanilla, lavender, pumpkin spice or the like—especially if you’re sensitive to artificial fragrances. If that’s the case, it’s important to know that “unscented” candles and “fragrance-free” candles are not the same. Unscented means that a fragrance is masked, so that you can’t smell it. Fragrance-free means that the product doesn’t contain any fragrance at all—even ones you can’t smell.

Decorating with Candles

Almost any room in your home, from the living room to the bedroom, is ideal for introducing candles into your décor. Check out these handfuls of ideas to get you started! 

Dress up your dining room table

Candles are great for a tablescape. Arrange them in clusters or place a series of individual votive candles side-by-side, running the length of the table. 

Adorn a non-working fireplace

Have a fireplace you don’t use? Take advantage of the interior space by placing candles of various heights inside. Or look for a fireplace candelabra with layered holders for pillar candles. 

A dining table lit with multiple candles for an Add a finishing touch with votive candles.
Many candles of varying sizes glowing inside a fireplace. Pillar candles are perfect for a non-working fireplace.

Give the mantle some love

Have a working fireplace? Add some taper candles to the mantle. Use candlesticks in varying heights to hold a single color or an assortment of bold colors to create visual interest.  

Add to your accessories

An empty spot on a bookshelf, coffee table or buffet is ideal for accessorizing with candles. Group varying heights and styles together or incorporate pillar candles in whimsical shapes.

A mantle full of glowing candles of varying shapes and sizes. Mix candle styles on the mantle.
A coffee table decorated with glowing candles of varying shapes and sizes. Create a vignette with various candle sizes.

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