Decorative Candles: How to Choose, Display and Gift Them

Decorative candles occupy a slightly different place in a home than everyday pillars, since they are often chosen as much for how they look as for whether they are ever lit. At Maison de Lumière, each decorative design is hand poured in soy wax and shaped to catch the eye on a shelf, a windowsill or a dressing table, whether or not it is ever burned down.

The first decision with any decorative candle is whether it is there to display or to burn. Detailed shapes such as the Seashell or the Small Tulip candles can happily stay unlit as ornaments, refreshed within a display every so often. If you do light a decorative candle, remember that the flame will gradually soften the shape, which some people enjoy as part of the piece's life. Follow the candle care instructions and use a separate stable, heat-resistant holder when lighting one.

The Seashell candle suits coastal or pared back interiors, and works particularly well grouped in twos or threes rather than shown alone, since the repetition of the shape reads as a considered collection rather than a single ornament. It sits comfortably on a bathroom shelf, a console table or anywhere with a slightly relaxed, tactile feel.

The Lotus candle has a calmer, more symmetrical shape that suits a bedside table, a quiet corner or any spot where you want something gently decorative rather than showy. Because the form is so defined, a single Lotus often has more presence than a group, so it is worth giving it its own space rather than crowding it with other pieces.

The Small Tulip candles, with their small tulip forms, is one of the easiest decorative pieces to style because it already reads as an arrangement. A cluster of small tulips in a shallow dish or on a tray brings a floral inspired feel to a table without needing anything added to it, and works well through spring and into early summer when lighter, brighter displays feel right.

The Small Greek Figures bring a different mood again, more sculptural and architectural than floral, and suit a study, a bookshelf or a mantelpiece where you want something with a bit of character rather than softness. Because the shapes are smaller, they group well in threes, mixed with a plain pillar for contrast in scale.

Grouping decorative candles is largely about consistency of colour rather than consistency of shape. Our decorative range shares the same palette as the pillars, in beige, sage green, pink, purple and blue, plus an Other option on the product page, so a Seashell, a Lotus and a Small Tulip candles in the same or complementary shades will sit together far more comfortably than the same pieces in three unrelated colours.

Trays are worth using with decorative candles just as they are with pillars, and for a slightly different reason, since many decorative shapes have more texture or more points of contact with a surface. A tray gives them a clean, defined base and makes the whole display easier to move or dust around. The Oval Bubble Tray and Oval Simple Tray both suit a small grouping of decorative pieces, while the Circle Bubble Tray works well under a single Lotus or a small cluster of tulips.

Decorative candles also make considered gifts, particularly when the recipient's taste is more about aesthetics than practicality. A Seashell or a Small Tulip candles, gift wrapped with a personal message included, reads as a thoughtful, handmade present rather than something picked up at the last minute, and a bespoke candle bouquet offers a ready-made option for a more personal gift.

Whether you are building a display or choosing a gift, it helps to see the shapes together before deciding. Browse the seasonal and decorative collection to view the full range.