Discount Candles
These ubiquitous instruments of lighting have been around for so long that our earliest ancestors used some crude form of them for providing light. So it is no wonder why they are such a popular item even today with the available access to electricity and lights.
Why Have Candles
Candles have been used for centuries, for various reasons, and are still popular today. What makes candles stand the test of time?
They are very helpful for functional, emotional, and spiritual purposes, and there are abundant uses for them. The following are seven beneficial reasons to use candles.
1. Natural light
This is the most obvious function of candles, but it is also the most important. Candles will glow for hours at a time.
They provide a constant, consistent, and strong light source that can be used for convenience–such as lighting a bathroom when it is dark so that it will be easier to find the light-switch–or in strenuous times like when the power goes out.
They also conserve resources, such as electricity and batteries, and save people money.
2. Pleasant aroma
Most candles nowadays are scented. It is nice to have a pleasant source of lighting, but it’s even better when the light produces a sweet aroma.
There are hundreds of candle scents, so everyone can find at least one they will enjoy. What is good about candles is they do not create much smoke and do not have an overpowering scent.
3. Relaxing
The serene glow and pleasant scents of candles gives them the ability to relax people. There are different types of candles, such as ones for aromatherapy, that can be used to calm and de-stress when taking a bath or meditating.
The power candles have to change mood is incredible.
4. Romantic mood
In addition to putting people in a relaxed state, candles can also create a romantic mood. Taper candles are often used in romantic settings, such as at fancy restaurants or wedding ceremonies.
These tall, thin candles represent elegance and tenderness. However, any types of candles placed out during a couple’s dinner date will effectively instill a romantic ambiance.
Candles are perfect backdrops for anniversaries and other special dates, or any time when a loving, sensual mood is sought after.
5. Simplicity in life
Candles were used in the distant past when there was no electricity. They were the only source of light when the environment was dark.
“The olden days” typically remind people of simple living. Therefore, using candles in the dark in the present time make people feel like they’re living a simple life with less worries.
This is a great feeling to experience after a stressful day.
6. Feelings of gratitude
In addition to the feeling of having a simple life, sitting in a room of candles can make people feel grateful for what they have, including possessions, technology, electricity, and the luxuries of life.
The feeling of gratitude comes from a humble sense of appreciation for a technologically advanced life, compared to when people didn’t have the conveniences of today.
7. Cost-effective
What’s nice about candles is they are generally inexpensive and long-lasting. There are cheap candles, like tea lights, that cost only a couple of dollars for a bag of fifty candles, and each one lasts for 3-4 hours.
Dollar stores and discount stores like Wal-Mart sell candles for as little as one dollar. There are also usually discount candles, that are on sale or clearance, at every store that sells candles.
It’s a good idea to stock up on affordable candles and cheap candles to save even more money.
Those are the most general and beneficial reasons for using candles. There are many more reasons. Save money, improve mood, and conserve resources by regularly using candles.
Where Candles Can be Used
It’s hard to find a decorating accessory that can offer as many things to a room in your home to make it inviting, warm and cozy. The use of candles is an inexpensive way to offer all three benefits to every room in the house.
Scented or unscented, colorful or white, tapered, pillars, votive and tea light candles all can be placed in holders to not only offer light, but serve as beautiful accent pieces.
A massive array of candles can be an art statement, whether they are lit or unlit. If you have a flat surface that is crying out for decorating attention, arrange the candles in the space.
You can use the same size and color of candle or mix and match them by color, height and size to easily turn a bare area into an attractive accent while at the same time storing the candles that you are not using in other areas of the home.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on candles used to bring ambiance into your home. The use of discount candles will add a beautiful effect without damaging your pocketbook.
Keep your eyes open for bargains. Cheap candles, placed in attractive candle holders offer the same benefits as specialty candles do. This is an important point to remember, especially if you are looking for discount candles to use for emergency lighting, or just prefer unscented candles.
Welcome guests into your home by placing candles in the entryway. Scented or unscented, the warm glow will make them feel comfortable the moment that they step through the door.
Give yourself an at home spa treatment by sliding into a warm bath and relaxing by candle light. As your body relaxes, the stresses of the day can be rinsed away with the grime.
Add to your peace and enjoyment of the experience by choosing a candle in your favorite scent, or follow the suggestions from aroma therapists.
Place a row of cheap candles, in candle holders of various heights into your fireplace to give the look of a warming fire when it’s not quite damp or chilly enough to build a wood fire.
The dining room is always made more inviting when candles are arranged on the table or side bar. By day they add to the charm of the room by adding height and texture. In the evenings, they invoke thoughts of a dinner by candlelight.
Evening hours spent on the terrace, deck or patio can be lit with the use of candles to make your outdoor space feel relaxing as well as giving off light. Outdoor areas lit by candle light provide for a feeling of privacy that is often lost when you are in the open spaces.
Because there are so many types of candles and candle holders to choose from, they are the perfect design element to create symmetry in almost every area of each room in the house.
They can be used to carry out a color from room to room and even be chosen for their shape to add texture and carry out a decorating theme.
There are few areas in the home where you can’t enjoy candles. Be aware of safety concerns when lighting the candles. Make sure that the flame is out of the reach of children, will not be knocked over by pets, and is well away from drapes and curtains that could catch fire.
The Many Types of Candles and their Uses
For over 5,000 years, candles were used as the main source of lighting and in celebrating special occasions. Today’s candles come in a large selection of colors, fragrances, materials, shapes and sizes.
The bases for candle wax come from beeswax, mineral oil, paraffin, synthetic hydrocarbons and vegetable sources. Candles are used to decorate and enhance a home or other environments.
They may give warmth to a room with soft light but candles should never be left unattended while burning.
Gel Candles
Gel candles are primarily made of gelled mineral oil or gelled synthetic hydrocarbons. The gel is transparent in color and often decorative wax items are suspended in the gel for visual effect.
Hard gel candles can burn as free-standing candles without a container. Soft or quasi-rigid gel must be poured into a container to hold the shape. Always burn candles on a fireproof, heat-resistant surface.
Jar Candles
Filled or container candles, generically called jar candles, are made by pouring wax into a glass, metal or ceramic container.
The container holds the wax and is able to withstand the heat of the burning candle. Jar candles also come in scents and colors.
Pillar Candles
Pillar candles are free-standing candles that do not require a container or holder. However, the candles must be burned on a fireproof, heat-resistant surface.
Although the name pillar suggests that the shape is either columnar or round, they are also formed in shapes like a hexagon or square. Customarily, pillar candles measure 3 inches or more and may have one or more wicks.
They tend to burn slowly and the burn time depends on the size of the candle.
Scented Candles
Candles come scented or unscented and according to the National Candle Association, 75 to 80 percent of candles purchased in the United States are scented candles. The scents are comprised of either synthetic or essential oils.
While the use of scent is pleasing, there are specific candles that are used for aromatherapy purposes. These scented candles have a psychological or therapeutic effect.
The essential oils used are extracted from plants and are absorbed through smell.
Specialty Candles
Novelty or molded candles are sculpted or poured into a mold. The candles are three dimensional and are decorative in nature. Instead of burning these candles, they may be used for decoration only.
Birthday candles are an example of these types of molded candles. Although they are lit, they are quickly blown out and saved for another birthday celebration.
Taper Candles
The heights of taper candles are typically 6 to 18 inches and also referred to as dinner candles. They are round and narrow in width, have a wider base and taper to a point at the base of the wick.
Burning this candle requires that it is secured in an upright position using a candle holder. Traditionally, these candles are used to decorate tables and complement home furnishings such as mantels.
Tart Candles
Tart or melt candles are small disc-shaped candles that are used in a tart melter or potpourri burner. The candles may come in various sizes but are usually 2½ inches in diameter and scalloped or fluted.
Other shapes include hearts, leaves and stars.
Votive Candles
Votive candles are small, round candles approximately 1½ inches in diameter and 2 to 2½ inches high. The liquefied wax, left after burning, is held in its cup or votive holder.
Originally, white votive candles were used in religious ceremonies and were unscented. Now, these candles come in colors and scents.
Brands of Candles
By now you’ve probably asked yourself, “Who doesn’t love candles?” They fill our homes with special warmth, rich color and beautiful fragrance that promote a calming effect. Candles are one of the most affordable luxuries available to us.
There are cheaper, defective candles that don’t give us those qualities we look for. How can we know that we are buying a quality candle?
The best way is to buy from only reputable manufacturers. Here is a short list of some of the best.
Aroma Naturals Candles
For 20 years, Aroma Naturals of Irvine, California has been perfecting and marketing the eco-candle. They use only 100% plant aromas and vegetable and soy waxes.
Aroma Naturals candles are environmentally friendly and one of the finest all-natural candles on the market.
Beanpod Soy Candles
As the name implies the Beanpod company sells candles made with soybeans and using a proprietary process that they call Tempacure to ensure the fragrances and wax remain in excellent condition until the last flame of the candle.
Beanpod Soy candles was started in 2000 and is proud of the fact that all of their more than 60 fragrances of candles are made in the United States.
Bridgewater Candle Company
In 1997, Bridgewater Candle Company opened their doors in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They quickly became leaders in the industry promoting fresh, clean fragrances and warm, cozy scents.
They focus a lot of their products on using natural soy blends in their candles. Their products create special moments in your life that you will savor forever.
Candle Licious Candles
Candle Licious candles were born in Elgin, Illinois about 12 years ago. Their unique wax blend and pouring process allow them to add more fragrance than other candle makers.
Candle Licious candles are 100% hand made and sold by Life Stone Aromas LLC of Morrison, Illinois.
Colonial Candles
The Colonial Candle Company, located in Cannon Falls, Minnesota offers a beautiful array of candles. With more than 50 colors and 60 fragrances, they have a candle to suit anyone’s taste.
Their master candle makers, with 100 years of experience, handcraft candles of exceptional quality.
Deja Vu Candles
Deja Vu Candles in Joshua, Texas was established in 1998. They make a wide range of candle products using some of the finest ingredients.
Deja Vu Candles’ products include 2 oz. Air Freshener Sprays, Break Away Wax Melts and Single Palm Wax Votives.
Gold Canyon Candles
Gold Canyon was founded in 1997 by Curt and Karen Waisath. The company’s home is in Chandler, Arizona.
In addition to scented candles, they also market bath and body products and natural cleaning products. Gold Canyon’s products promise to be “The World’s Finest.”
Home & Garden Party Candles
Home & Garden Party was started in 1996 by Steve and Penny Carlile. In addition to quality hand-poured jar candles, they offer pottery, woodcrafts and many more home decor items.
Home & Garden Party Candles is a home-based party plan business with more than 19,000 distributors.
Kell’s Kandles
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland is home to Kell’s Kandles. Established in 2003 by Gary Mason and his wife, Kell’s Kandles specializes in hand-poured soy candles.
They are a small, home-based business who do their own manufacturing and distribution.
Mia Bella Candles
In 1988, Carmen & Lynn Milazzo teamed up with Charles Umphred and Bob Scocozzo and Mia Bella Candles was created. The company sells health and beauty products but their specialty is producing candles of remarkable quality with amazing scents.
Newport Bay Candles
The Newport Bay Candle Company opened its doors in 1998 in beautiful Newport, Oregon. Owned by Jody Malloy, the company makes generously scented gel and wax candles.
A few of their many scents are “At the Beach”, “Hippie Chick” and “My Girlfriend’s Shirt.”
Partylite Candles
Partylite Gifts, Inc. became a subsidiary of Mabel Baker’s candle company in 1973. Partylite was purchased by Blyth, Inc. in 1990.
Today, there are more than 68,000 Partylite Consultants all over the world. They offer a beautiful array of Partylite Candles in a variety of designs and fragrances.
Swan Creek Candles
Swan Creek Candles is part of Ambrosia, Inc. They originated in Jackson, Michigan and have been selling beautiful candles since 2004.
Swan Creek Candles sell a wide variety of candles and accessories including American Soybean Wax Candles. Today, they operate eight outlet stores throughout Michigan and Ohio.
Woodwick Candles
Actually a part of the Virginia Candle company, these candles have been around since 1990 and are located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Woodwick prides itself on providing the highest quality candles using renewable resources, both natural and organic. From organic wicks to fragrances that use essential oils, these are a beautiful candle to nourish the senses and decorate the home.
Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle is undoubtedly the most recognized name in candles. They sell a large variety of specialty scented candles and accessories.
Yankee Candle was established in 1969 and has more than 500 company-owned retail stores and approximately 19,000 specialty retailers.
Places to Buy Candles
When you are shopping for candles, your options are many. You can buy candles online or you can go out to local stores and buy them there.
Either way you will have an amazing variety to choose from. You will find candles of practically any color you desire with enticing aromas that tickle the nose and add magic to the air.
If you love candles, you will certainly enjoy shopping for them.
Buy Candles at Big Retailer Locations
Many major retailers offer large selections of candles in most of their stores. Buying candles at retail stores is great because you can hold the candle in your hand and easily picture it on your mantle or countertop.
Candles that have fragrances can be sniffed to find just the right aroma. When you visit Walmart or Target, you can seek out the domestics section to find their selection of candles. You might be surprised at the diverse assortment available.
Other large retailers also carry large assortments of candles. High end retailers like Nordstrom and Macy’s carry top of the line candles perfect for decoration as well as for actual use.
Variety discount stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General carry less expensive options but still offer an astounding variety guaranteed to please the candle fanatic.
You can even find candles the Dollar Tree for a buck when budgets are tight.
Find Candles at Unique Retailers
You even find candles in some surprising places. Yankee Candles are sold in all Cracker Barrel Restaurant locations. Cracker Barrels always have a general store section separate from the food area and candles are one of the many things they sell.
Many jewelry stores and gift boutiques, whether chain stores or locally owned mom and pop shops, carry a wide assortment of candles.
Grocery stores will usually carry a nice mix and your local mall may very well have a candle specialty shop!
You could spend an entire day out shopping and buying candles at retail stores in any city and most small towns. Retailers understand that shoppers buy candles for decoration as well as to actually burn.
Some enjoy the soft light and atmosphere candles offer while other enjoy the fragrances offered by scented candles and other still just enjoy looking at the candles even when unlit.
But as great as it is shopping in stores for candles, sometimes you best option is to buy candles online.
Shop for Candles Online
If you live in a remote area or have a busy schedule, it may be easier to shop for candles online. The great thing about shopping online for candles is you can go to great sites like yankeecandle.com where you will find Yankee Candle Company’s official online site or villagecandle.com, the website of Village Candle.
Visiting these candle makers online gives you access to their full line of products. Other great candle brand sites include yummicandles.com and colonialcandle.com.
Of course, you can also go to the websites of some of the same retailers that have brick and mortar stores to do your shopping. Walmart.com and target.com both offer a large choice of candles.
Any store that sells candles at their physical locations and has an online store will most likely offer candles on the internet as well. But even stores with no concrete retail stores can be a great online source.
One of the largest selections of candles online can be found at Amazon.com with over 30,000 different items available.
Whether looking for tealight candles, votive candles, floating candles, taper candles, pillar candles, jar candles or even oil lamp candles, you can find what you are looking for online or at your local retailer.
The variety of candles is almost endless and the hardest part will likely be limiting your purchases to a reasonable amount.
Regardless of what specific candle you prefer or what you plan on using the candles for, if you love candles, you should have no problem finding plenty of great items at places that are convenient for you.
