Melted candles . . .

Photo taken on new year night . . .

Tips for Decorating with Candles

Candles have been used in home settings for centuries. Originally used for illumination, they were very utilitarian in function, with no thought of appearance or scent. But with electricity becoming commonplace, the candles role began to change.
Candles became more decorative and were recognized for their ability to achieve a certain ambiance, or mood, in any room. Candles went from being exclusively for tabletop settings to more designer-oriented sconces and multi-candle wall displays. But for the traditionalist, a formal dinner table is still not complete without at least a couple of tall tapered candles.

Scented Candles
Scented candles are just wonderful for decorating your home. Most are offered in attractive styles and decorative shapes, making them easy and fun to use around the house. Scented candles, especially the ones made rich with scented oils, emit their aromatic fragrance whether lit or not.
Placing scented pillar candles or jar candles in hallways, bathrooms and even kitchens can help freshen the air and eliminate unwanted odors. These types of candles are offered in a myriad of fragrances, sizes and shapes to meet every candle lovers needs.

Dinner Candles
Long tapered candles on a dining room table are classic. However, the newest candle displays have taken a different twist. A table decorated with a collection of small votives in matching holders can be quite a stunning addition to the dinner table. Try the same idea with an assorted mix of candle containers for a more eclectic look.

Having a dinner party?
Candleholders that also function as place card holders are available and allow you to dazzle your guests with your creativity. And whether your preference is traditional tapered candles or a grouping of votives, either will cast a special glow over the dinner table at your next party or festive event.

Other Decorative Candles
There is a multitude of specialty candles and candleholders on the market. Some are very creative with designs in the shapes of your favorite animals, others with more modern or abstract designs. Whatever your taste in candles, you can almost be assured that a candle is designed with your decorating tastes in mind.

Candle Do's and Don'ts
Uses for modern day candles are only restricted by one's own imagination. But decorating with candles can have its pitfalls, too. To help you avoid these decorating “faux pas”, the following tips will get you started on the road to becoming a candle aficionado.

• If you like grouping your candles, remember to match the scents of all the candles to avoid creating a combined scent that is either too strong or unpleasant.
• Consider mixing like-scented candles with unscented candles in your grouping to help control the overall strength of the scent.
• Never use scented candles on a dinner table. The scent of the candles will compete with and interfere with the sumptuous aroma of the meal. Researchers have found that the aromatic smell of food actually is one of the most important elements of the dining experience.
• Candles on a dining room table should always be smokeless. Be sure to trim the candle wick if it exceeds ¼ “ to reduce the potential of unwanted smoke.
• Burning a scented candle in your bathroom, or “powder” room, will eliminate unpleasant odors. This is a nice touch for your next party or gathering of special friends.
• Always burn your candles in a secure, fireproof holder made especially for candles. Also, ensure that there are no paper products or hand towels in close proximity to the candle's flame. Using a tall candleholder with a shorter candle is just plain smart and keeps the flame away from flammable items.
• If the candle holder is an open vessel, like a candle stick, always opt for dripless candles. Who wants a puddle of wax on your nice table linens?
• When placing lower-flamed candles around a table, make sure it is done in such a pattern that a person's shirt sleeve or clothing cannot pass through or over the flame.
• Don't place your candles too close to flower arrangements. Candles have been known to wilt or ruin flowers if the flame overheats their petals.
  

Remember - always practice safe candle burning! The most important aspect of using and enjoying your candles is to never leave them burning unattended, or where a child could be drawn to the candle and potentially be burned.

Keep it safe and enjoy the magical benefits of decorating your home with candles!

Author: Bill Wilson

My candles . . .

I've decided to create this blog for my candles, I have a box with full of candles, some of it was given to me by friends and whenever I travelled I will buy candles to remember the places I've visited. I've pledged to post any articles on candles . . . you're welcome to give any comments/ advise. Sometimes I will open the box and admires it (you must be thinking why i didn't use them? I am not sure why but one of the reasons is they're expensive!) . . . I remember when I went to Melbourne, I bought lots of candles until by luggage is over weight . . . I told the lady at the counter 'can i got discounts for the over luggage as there's a lot of candles in it' luckly me . . . she said yes!' I think most of my candles are paraffin wax, just recently I saw soy candles! and it's quite expensive here! I was thinking to make my own candles but not sure where to buy the wax . . . anybody out there know where to buy them.

It's Just a Matter of Common Scents when choosing a candle...

Soy Wax

• made from 100% soybean wax
• does not emit toxins while burning
• emits an incredibly small amount of soot
• biodegradable
• water-soluble
• burns cooler and slower renewable resource

Paraffin Wax

• made from petroleum by-products
• emits 11 known toxins while burning
• emits large amounts of soot
• non-biodegradable
• not water-soluble
• burns hotter and faster non-renewable resource