Candles, Holders, and Scented
Welcome
to Countrycandle.net. Here you’ll find all you want to know about
candles. Candles have many uses and we will explore those uses in this
site that is for informational purposes only. We don’t sell products
here but offer general facts about candles and how they are utilized
by people and institutions.
Candles are a big seller in the United States. Retail sales amount
to approximately $2 billion dollars in sales annually. This figure doe
not include accessories. Seven out of ten households use candles and
recent surveys show that 95% of all candles are purchased by women.
The most popular types are container candles, pillars, and votive. The
most significant factors in sales of these products are scent, color,
cost, and shape.
Basically, there are 11 types of candles:
•Tapers
•Pillars
•Votives
•Jar candles
•Floating
•Tealights
•Birthday
•Outdoor
•Utility
•Novelty
•Liturgical
Prices of candles range from about fifty cents for a votive to $75
for a large pillar candle. Highly embellished candles will sell at $200
or more. Candle purchasers are using candles as a focal point for home
decor and for aromatherapy-like stress reduction and relaxation. The
most important characteristic for candle purchases today is fragrance.
Most consumers use their candles within a week of purchase. Both men
and women say that candles are always an appropriate gift for a wide
variety of occasions.
The candle has a long history of use on the earth. As early as 3000
BC the Egyptians made them from beeswax. Around the first century AD,
Romans made them out of tallow, which is made from beef fat. The oil
from sperm whales was used extensively during the 18th century to create
a superior candle. In 1830 paraffin was discovered and revolutionized
candle-making, because it was a cheap, affordable material which made
a high-quality, scent-free product that burned fairly cleanly. The candle
industry was basically destroyed, however, by the distillation of kerosene.
Kerosene lamps are what relegated the candle to its use today as a decorative
item.
Today, candles are used for their aesthetic value. They are particularly
effective at setting a romantic, warm, and soft atmosphere in a room.
They are also used for emergency lighting during power outages. Scented
candles, used in aromatherapy, are so popular that nearly all candles
sold in the U.S. are scented.
Candles are highly prized as an accompaniment to religious rituals.
The candle is commonly used in worship by Christians. It is used as
a symbol for the light of God or Christ. Votive candles are lit as an
accessory to prayer.
Fire Safety
Although there is a special beauty and tranquility to candles, a burning
candle is also an open flame and possibly a fire hazard. Candle fires
compose about five percent of all accidental fires in the U.S. Here
are some handy tips to ensure you don’t start fires:
• Never leave a candle burning unattended.
• Do not place the candle on or near anything that may catch fire.
• Keep burning candles away from pets and children.
There are approximately 18,000 residential fires each year caused by
the careless or inappropriate use of candles. Always keep a burning
candle in sight and extinguish them before leaving the room.
Candlelight makes everything more lovely. They add warmth, ambiance,
and style to every room in the house. Paired in candlesticks on the
dining table, grouped for drama in the living room, and snuggled in
colored glass votives on the mantel, candles can add style and elegance
to homes everywhere.
Candles can be used in many different ways to creatively decorate rooms
and homes. Large pillar candles surrounded by glass hurricanes or placed
in glass lanterns are a bold statement during the day. They clothe a
room in subtle drama and warmth when burning. These decorative ideas
serve as a dramatic focal point when placed in pairs at the end of a
mantel or on a coffee or end table.
Want to create a striking complement to your decor? Try grouping tapers
or pillars. These can be especially dramatic and are easily changed
for little money, so don’t limit your thinking to the dining room.
For an Asian influence, place one or more pillar candles on a pillar
plate and surround it with flat gray or black stones. This idea looks
best with deeply hued or neutral colored candles and the plates made
of metal or heavy pottery.
For dominating warmth, use your fireplace as a dramatic backdrop by
filling it with candles. Another great idea is to place them on the
hearth for bringing light, color, and warmth to your den.
Candlelight can also transform the patio or garden into an enchanting
area. Groupings of white or cream colored pillars in hurricanes or votive
holders add a shimmering glow.