A Brief Guide to Taper Candles
When there's a need for a touch of warmth and elegance, regardless of the setting or the occasion, candles can immediately provide a wow factor.
Nowadays, in this tech-driven world we live in with plenty of artificial lights and devices glaring, a candle is a welcome addition. Unlike the blue-light emitting devices, the soft and flickering glow creates an intimate and inviting ambience. The taper candles are one type in particular that stands out with a sophisticated aesthetic.
What Is a Tapered Candle?
This is a candle that got its name for the narrowing, i.e. tapering, from the broader base upwards to the tip. It’s this very detail that gives taper candles the elegance they’ve been known and loved for throughout the centuries.
They’re usually made from wax, which can be paraffin and beeswax, with a cotton wick running through the centre. Soy wax and blends with additives like oils, palm oil and essential oils, being some examples, can also be added nowadays to get specific burn qualities and fragrances - a modern take for a cleaner burn.
The quality of the wick and wax is related to whether or not candles offer the dripless and smoke-free result that many are after. Be sure to read through the chosen candles’ product details to check if they’ve got these properties.
Are Tapered Candles a Standard Size?
Yes. You can find them ranging from 15 to 30cm in length, 6 to 12 inches respectively, with the base falling somewhere between 1.7 to 2cm, 0.6 to 0.8 inches.
The burn time depends on the length; the longer the candle, the more the burning time. Shorter candles of up to 15cm burn for about 5 hours, whereas longer ones of about 30cm burn for around 7 to 8 hours. This could be longer, provided with the ideal conditions - a spot away from air currents being a huge factor.
With the statuesque shape and upright freestanding use, they’re meant to be placed in a snug and secure candle holder. So, be sure to mind the wax size as much as that of the holder when shopping to choose accordingly and count on a perfect match for the specific needs and occasion you’re buying them. Think of the décor of the table and surrounding items to match the style.
Advantages of Using Taper Candles
Are Tapered Candles Better?
Unlike other types, likepillar or votive candles, these candles have been around for ages. Choosing to light one means taking part in a ritual people have been doing for millennia, both for practical illumination and ceremonial purposes. That being said, what also sets them apart from alternatives is how their graceful form fits right in with formal events.
From weddings and romantic dinners, to anniversaries and events with traditional settings, add them on a table and any moment can become special and elegant. Some of the unique advantages you get with taper candles are:
- The perfect size: They’re not as small as votives and not as big as pillars, but just right to give you a delicate setting with a focused light that lasts for hours on end.
- The versatility: They’re available in a range of options, from regular scented candles to specialised unscented ones for the sensitive noses of allergy sufferers. You can also find them in an array of colours made to fit various occasions. Although indoor use is primary, as these are candles that are sensitive to drafts and cold air, you can combine them with solutions such as glass candle sleeves or lanterns to make them part of outdoor weddings and events.
- The sophistication: Just because these are candles known for their elegance and the central stage they take in special events, doesn’t mean they can’t fit ordinary moments you want to turn special too. Create a candlelit table for a dinner with your partner, add them on mantlepieces and shelves for holiday or home décor matching, console tables at the entryway for a grand entrance, place them on bedside tables in the bedroom for an intimate setting, and even on the countertop of the bathroom vanity and be amazed at the instant makeover.
- The affordability: In general, there are inexpensive individual taper candles, as well as packs and bulk options for special events. Buy them for a venue or everyday use - either way, you won’t break your bank.
How to Safely Handle and Store Taper Candles?
Same as any type of candle, how and where you use and store them can have a say in the flame, burn duration and lifespan. To make the most of this investment, do:
Safe Handling
First and foremost, you need a secure and snug holder in the ideal size, placed on a stable flat surface. If the holder is too small, you can melt a little of the bottom of the candle to fit it in; in case it’s the opposite, the holder is bigger than the candle base, you can wrap a rubber band around it.
A stable and secure taper candle is necessary to prevent wax drip and smoke that result from uneven burning. Additionally, for a steady burn every time you use the candles, the trick is to trim a little of the wick, which helps minimise the soot. Supervise them when burning and keep them away from flammable items such as papers, plants and curtains.
Lastly, it’s important to also keep the candles away from a heat source (including other candles, best kept at a distance of about 7cm or 3 inches), as much as away from open windows, air vents, fans; in short, anywhere where there might be higher temperature or cold air, which leads to excessive dripping and smoke.
Safe Storing
Storing them properly ensures you can keep them in perfect condition and use them more than once. Choose a dry and cool dark area out of reach of children and pets and away from direct sunlight, heat sources and flammable materials that could affect the wax and alter its shape, colour and scent.
Gravity is another aspect that could have a poor impact, so it’s best to keep them flat (horizontal) in a storage box or container if you don’t have their original packaging. This maintains them neatly stored and organised, and safe from any warping or bending.
Now that you know a little more about these specific candles, the reasons to buy them and how to properly handle and store them, you can find the perfect choice for your special moments and celebrations.
