Where to Find The Best Wax Real Candles For Your Home And More
Here are my top picks for finding the best wax real candles for your home. Candles have a unique ability to transform the ambiance of a room, creating a warm glow and a sense of tranquility.
I use the best flameless candles (battery-operated candles with a timer function and moving flame) in harder to reach places, where a draft is too strong or when there are safety hazard concerns.
However, up close like on a dining table or a living room coffee table, it’s hard to beat the real flame and glow of real candles.
Here’s a guide to help you find the best real wax candles for every occasion and home decor. I use a combination of scented and unscented candles in different sizes. And there is more as it’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy.
Remember: Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Scented Luxury Candles (Like an aromatherapy candle)
My daughter in Los Angeles (who is usually up on the latest and greatest) told me about these pleasant smelling soy wax candles using natural fragrance oils that she and her friends love.
So I treated myself to a Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Leaf Candle. “It’s the scent of balmy nights in the Flamingo Estate garden. Sometimes during Summer we run down the terrace and sit under the moonlight, where our beloved Heirloom Tomato wraps all around us, hanging heavy from the vine and releasing its intoxicating aroma — especially at sunset when the vines are watered and the leaves become their most fragrant. Drunk on sunshine and giddy with Lycopene, the Heirloom leaves create the most unique, herbaceous scent.”
In the base of the hurricane vase are pieces of coral that I’ve collected from beaches around the world.
Scented candles with pure essential oils can give your living space, such as an entry or living room, a pleasant fragrance. However, they can interfere with food aromas so I don’t recommend using scented candles where you are dining.
I also love to give and receive VOTIVO 6.8oz Aromatic Candles in the Clean Crisp White scent for warmer months and Red Currant in cooler months. You can purchase it on Amazon and it’s a nice hostess gift.
Elegant Taper Traditional Candles
Taper candles add a touch of sophistication to any setting, whether placed in candelabras, candlesticks, or used individually. Opt for real wax taper open flame candles that mimic the look of traditional beeswax or ivory.
Their slender form and flickering flame make them perfect for formal Christmas dinners, weddings, or intimate gatherings.
These quality taper candles from Pottery Barn come in a box of six for $16.50. There are some fun colors. too.
Pottery Barn has really stylish candle holders if you are in the market. I love these forged iron ones that come in different sizes.
These 8″ Taper Beeswax Candles 12 Pack from Amazon are also good as they are made from 100% Pure Unscented Bee Wax with an 8 hour burn time.
Long Lasting Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are timeless and versatile, ideal for both everyday use and special occasions. Look for real wax pillar candles that boast a long burn time and a smooth, drip-free finish. They come in various heights and diameters, allowing you to create stunning arrangements or focal points on mantels and dining tables.
As a centerpiece: inside the woven hurricane holders are Bask 6″ tall pillar candles on Amazon. They come in a package of six. These dripless unscented candles are crafted of quality paraffin wax with a mottled textured finish.
There are different colors but I like to purchase ivory. The cotton wicks made in the United States ensure a clean and smoke-free burn. And they last a long time…through several dinners. The woven candle holder was made in Columbia and bought on Etsy.
Traditional Votive Candles
Votive candles are small yet impactful, ideal for scattering across a dinner table for cozy ambiance. Choose real wax votive candles to match your decor or set a specific mood. Their compact size makes them easy to cluster together for a dramatic effect.
My favorite votive candles that I always like to have on hand for convenience are from Pottery Barn Unscented Filled Glass Votive Candles, set of 16. I like these better than tea lights and you don’t have to worry about dripping wax.
- Made of 100% unscented paraffin wax.
- Long burning and smokeless, two hallmarks of high-quality wax.
- Real flame goes out by itself when it reaches the bottom which lessens fire hazards
Tips for Choosing Real Wax Candles:
- Quality Matters: Invest in candles made from high-quality wax for a clean, consistent burn and minimal dripping.
- Safety First: Always place candles on heat-resistant surfaces and away from flammable materials. Consider using flameless options for areas with safety concerns.
- Mix and Match: Experiment with different candle sizes, shapes, and heights to create visual interest and enhance your decor.
- Seasonal Touches: Switch up your candle choices with the seasons, opting for warm hues in autumn and festive designs during holidays.
- What are your favorite candle recommendations?
What to Cook: Lemony Shrimp And White Bean Stew
Here is another winner that Mercedes made recently! The toast that she made to go with it was “pan con tomate.” She brushed the bread with olive oil, then toasted it and rubbed a clove of garlic on each slice followed by a freshly grated tomato on top.
She found the shrimp stew recipe from the New York Times. You cannot access it unless you have a subscription. We do, so I am copying it here for you!
Lemony Shrimp And Bean Stew
Ingredients
- 1 tsp fresh lemon zest and 2 tablespoons juice
- 1 tsp sweet or smoked paprika
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 lb. peeled, deveined larg shrimp (tails removed)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 stick
- 2 large leeks, trimmed, then halved lengthwise, white and light green parts sliced crosswise ½-inch thick (or 1 large onion, minced)
- 1 15 oz can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- toast for serving, optional
Instructions
- Combine lemon zest, paprika, garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt and ¾ teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. When butter is foaming, add shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until pink and starting to curl, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a plate; set aside.
- Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium until leeks are soft and starting to brown on the edges, 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans and chicken broth and bring to a boil over high. Lower heat and simmer, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in reserved shrimp and any juices from the plate, parsley and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Serve with toasted bread.
What To Read
I’ve listened to a few books while traveling recently and here are the ones I enjoyed:
- “Go As A River” by Shelley Read My friend, Dorothy recommended this book and I was hooked. “Seventeen-year-old Victoria Nash runs the household on her family’s peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Colorado—the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land and determined to live as he chooses.”
- “When Women Ran Fifth Avenue” by Julie Satow This is written like a documentary and is interesting. “NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A glittering portrait of the golden age of American department stores and of three visionary women who led them.”
- “Talking At Night” by Claire Daverley This book was emotional and bittersweet. “Will and Rosie meet as teenagers. They’re opposites in every way. She overthinks everything; he is her twin brother’s wild and unpredictable friend. But over secret walks home and late-night phone calls, they become closer – destined to be one another’s great love story. Until, one day, tragedy strikes, and their future together is shattered.”
Have you read anything good lately?
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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Are your woven hurricane holders 8″ with a 6″ candle? I noted on Etsy the holders come in two sizes. Thanks!
Yes!!
That shrimp bean stew sounds delicious. I am pinning it!! I love candles but don’t use them much in the summer heat. Red Current from Votivo is a fave and that tomato leaf one sounds amazing!!
I too love candles on the dinner table and use a lot of them. My surprising source is IKEA. Their box of 20 JUBLA unscented white candles sells for $9.99! They are a bit shorter (at 7.5 inches) but don’t drip and last a long time. I typically order four boxes and have them delivered.
I used to order those Mary but I think the Amazon ones last longer. I might try them again.
lovely post! I have a question about your lamp. Where did you get it from? my husband saw it and he loved it. Thanks-
The toile one? It’s an antique that my cousins mom had and he gave it to us.
Do you have a source for that beautiful hurricane vase? Thx!
It’s really old from Crate and Barrel…you could look there or Pottery Barn.