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Atmospheric lighting for cozy evenings

It’s just starting to get dark outside when you want to make yourself comfortable in your armchair. Instead of turning on the large pendant light, you light a few candles. This immediately looks much cozier – and the glowing candles also give off a pleasant lavender scent. So you retreat with a cup of tea and a good book and enjoy the evening. You can find out what types of candles there are and what you should pay attention to when using them here:

Bright mood makers: candles for lighting and decoration

The open flame of a candle creates an indirect mood light that radiates a feeling of security and warmth with its natural flickering . Even when they are not lit, the light sources are beautiful home accessories thanks to their different colors and designs that you can place on tables or dressers or on shelves for decoration.

Real wax candles are mainly made from paraffin, a product that is created when petroleum is mined. Paraffin candles are inexpensive and tend to burn longer than elaborately cast candles made from stearin. This raw material is usually obtained from vegetable coconut or palm oil and is low in pollutants.

Thick, thin, fragrant – candles are so versatile

Candles are available in many different designs, ranging from small tea lights and large pillar candles to models with aromatic scents and battery-operated versions. We have compiled the special features of the individual variants for you here.

Tea lights: small and light

With a diameter of 4 cm, tea lights are very space-saving. The candle wax is usually protected by a silvery aluminum cover or a cup made of transparent plastic. Since the material does not conduct heat, you can easily move the burning tea lights without burning your fingers. Variants with wax figures attached, such as mini Santa Clauses, add even more variety and can be set up to suit specific occasions. Although they only burn for two to four hours, tea lights are often available inexpensively in sets of up to 100.

Tip: Extra-light tea lights without a protective cover even float on the water as floating candles.

Taper candles: long and thin

Taper candles usually only have a diameter of 3 cm and are about 20 to 40 cm high. Due to their shape, these variants appear elegant and delicate and therefore fit into beautiful candlesticks, which you can then place on the table for a romantic or festive dinner, for example. Depending on the width and height, the burning time of taper candles is between eight and 15 hours.

Pillar candles: large and thick

Pillar candles can have a diameter of between 6 and 8 cm and are quite high at 10 to 25 cm. This is also noticeable in the burning time, which is often over 30 hours for the solid candles. Thanks to their size, the thick pillar candles immediately catch the eye and provide atmospheric light on the floor, either individually or in combination with other sizes.

Scented candles: fresh and aromatic

Candles with scented wax fill your home with wonderful aromas. Vanilla and rose scents are real classics, lavender and jasmine have a calming effect, and invigorating citrus notes bring more freshness to the bathroom or hallway. In winter, spicy Christmas aromas such as gingerbread, cinnamon or pine scent are popular. Scented candles are mainly offered in pretty tins made of tinted glass. The scented versions are also available in the form of classic pillar candles or as tea lights.

LED candles: individual and safe

LED candles have an artificial flame that is powered by batteries. Visually, they are a true replica of real candles and also imitate the typical flickering effect of a burning flame. With some models, you can even change the color of the LEDs using a remote control. Since LEDs are very energy-efficient and produce hardly any heat, they are considered a safe alternative to candles. This means you can fall asleep peacefully in the cozy candlelight without having to worry about the risk of fire.

Decorating with candles: How to decorate your home

Candles are a great decoration on their own. Even more individual design options arise when combined with other accessories. The following tips offer inspiration for decorating your home with candles.

• Candle holders that can be placed or hung give candles better support and also look decorative. Multi-armed candle holders can hold up to seven candles.
• Well protected in a lantern or wind light, you can also use candles outdoors on your balcony or terrace.
• With fir branches, some artificial snow and four candles, you can quickly and easily make your own individual Advent arrangement. At Easter, you can fill a flowerpot with moss instead. Add a candle in the shape of an Easter egg, wrap some colorful sisal loosely around it and your Easter decoration is ready.
• A pretty candle tray made of wood, metal or glass can be used to create creative arrangements with candles, potpourri and glass balls in no time at all. The decorative bowl should be flat and solid so that the candles stay on it.
• Arranged tea lights on the edge of the bathtub create a romantic atmosphere when you run your next bath. The compact candles also look good in the form of an aroma lamp.

10 tips for safe use of candles

To ensure you can enjoy the cozy candlelight without any disruption, you should follow a few rules when handling candles. Important: Always keep a close eye on burning candles – especially if they are part of a flower arrangement or if children and animals are nearby. You can find more useful tips on safe handling here.

1. Avoid direct drafts, as the candles will otherwise burn on one side and produce a lot of soot or drip. Therefore, place candles away from air conditioning, heaters, windows or the stove in a place that is as shady and windless as possible .
2. To ensure a taper candle stays in place, you can drip a little liquid wax into the recess of the candle holder. This will allow you to press the candle firmly and securely into the holder. If the candle is too thick for the holder, you can carefully scrape the bottom of the candle with a knife until it fits in.
3. A distance of 15 cm between burning candles is recommended, otherwise they will easily cause each other to drip.
4. Make sure that the edge of the candle is the same height all around. If necessary, you should cut off the excess wax edge with a knife. This will prevent the candle from burning unevenly.
5. Trim the wick regularly and keep it between 10 and 15 mm long. If the wick is too short, carefully pour off some of the liquid candle wax. This will prevent the candle from producing excessive soot.
6. After you have carefully extinguished the candle with a candle snuffer, you should briefly dip the wick into the liquid wax and then straighten it upright again. This way, the wick will burn out less quickly the next time you light it.
7. To protect the candle and wick, you should immediately remove foreign objects such as matchstick remains or broken pieces of wick.
8. If you have children or pets, LED candles are a good and safe alternative to real candles.
9. Put your candles on ice in the freezer for a few hours . The cold will greatly reduce dripping and the candles will last longer.
10. Wax stains on tablecloths can be easily removed by placing blotting paper on top and running a hairdryer or iron over it until the paper has absorbed the wax.

Conclusion: Candles create a cozy atmosphere

Candles are a quick way to bring more comfort and warmth into your home. Thanks to their original designs and wide range of colors, these wax home accessories are also a great gift idea. You can find the important information summarized here:

• Tea lights save space and can be placed nicely in lanterns or fragrance lamps. They burn for between two and four hours.
• Taper candles with a burning time of eight to 15 hours look very elegant with their long, thin shape and decorate the dining table as table candles in a candlestick .
• Pillar candles are thick and burn for over 30 hours. Protected in a glass lantern, you can even display these candles outdoors.
• Scented candles give off an aromatic room scent, and you can choose between invigorating, calming and Christmassy scents.
• LED candles are battery-operated and have no open flame. As artificial candles, they are a safe option for children or animals.