Hot and Sexy (Indoor and Outdoor Candles)

Member Name: Shazzy

Product:	Indoor and Outdoor Candles
Date:	06/02/02 (1085 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Candles create atmosphere

Disadvantages: Can be a fire hazard if not used responsibly

I’m a candle addict. I must’ve burned thousands of them in my time. I’ve bought them, I’ve made them and I’ve ruined them by displaying them in the wrong places.

By burning candles, you can dramatically change the mood of a room. They’re very trendy at the moment, but the truth is, apart from primitive fires, candles are the oldest means of supplying light. We can find references to candles dating back as far as 3000 BC in Greece and Egypt although the oldest fragment of candle to have been found is somewhat more modern as it dates from the first century AD. This was found in Avignon, France.

In medieval times, wax candles were used to light the great halls, monasteries and churches of the time. Not all candles were as attractive as those we have today though, and they certainly didn’t have aromatherapeutic qualities. Proper candles were expensive so the majority of people would make their own by dipping rushes in leftover kitchen fat. Just the thought of what that must’ve smelt like is enough to make my stomach churn.

Things improved during the sixteenth century, especially for the poorest people who could now afford a pound of dark yellow tallow (animal fat) candles. The quality of light varied considerably, as tallow candles gave off a very dull light compared to wax. The very best candles were made of spermaceti, a wax derived from oil found in the head cavities of sperm whales. Spermaceti candles burned with such a bright light that the flame was used as a standard for light measurement. Obviously, these are no longer available.

Candle making machines were eventually invented during the nineteenth century. It was around the same time that a French chemist discovered that tallow was a composition of two fatty acids, stearic acid and oleic acid, combined with glycerine. By removing the glycerine, he invented stearine candles. These were harder than tallow and burned much longer an
d brighter. Eventually, paraffin wax, which is extracted from crude oil, was discovered and widely used as it equalled both beeswax and spermaceti for brightness and hardness but was much cheaper. Paraffin wax is still used today.

But ok, enough of the history. Let’s get on with displaying and burning them.


DISPLAY TIPS

- First of all, NEVER display candles where they’re exposed to sunlight or spotlights. They’ll fade and, if left too long, they’ll eventually bend. Floppy candles don’t look good.

- If you want to create an elegant feel to your table, long tapered candles are the best choice. If you’re going for something informal, pillar candles are ideal.

- Place some stones (glass or natural) or shells in the bottom of a clear, wide bowl of water and light some floating candles. Sprinkle some petals on the water for added appeal. If you have pets, remember to remove the water before leaving the bowl unattended as you don’t want them drinking it. Wax in the water can give them an upset tummy, and the petals could be lethal.

- Arrange candles at different heights. I personally think candles always look better grouped together. They make more impact as ‘ornaments’ and give off more light. I used to have 5 or 6 standing on a brass tray. I’d stuck them all down by dripping wax on to the tray and then pressing the candle into the warm wax. The extra stability made them safer to use and the tray made it easy to move them from room to room.

- The flame should always burn at least two inches below eye level when positioned between two or more people. You want eye contact don’t you? There’s nothing romantic about a flickering flame stopping you from gazing into each other’s eyes. It’s annoying!

- If you want your candles to look shiny and clean when you light them, try rubbing them with a pair of old tights to remo
ve dust and fingerprints. This’ll also bring back the sheen that’s usually lost when the candle gets warm.



BURNING TIPS

- Cold candles burn slower so pop them into the fridge for an hour or so before lighting them. Wrap them in foil or cling film first though, otherwise the wick will become damp and difficult to light.

- Never stand a lit candle in a draught. Draughts create a larger flame and uneven burning.

- If your candle is too slim for the holder, wrap some foil around the bottom to make a tighter fit.

- Do your pillar candles end up with high sides and a hole down the middle? To avoid this, always burn the candle for one hour per inch in diameter. That’s the approximate time it takes for the wax to melt across the entire surface.

- If you’ve let a candle burn right down and the wax is stuck in the holder, put the holder into the freezer for a couple of hours and the wax should be easier to dig out.

- If you like tea lights, try to buy the kind that have metal cases as these are easy to remove from holders after use. If you only have the uncovered type, pour some water into the holder before lighting the candle. When it's extinguished and the wax has hardened, it should be easier to pop it out of the container.

- Spilled wax should be allowed to solidify. Once it’s hardened, cover the area with brown paper and gently press with a warm iron. The wax should be absorbed into the paper. It’s always a good idea to stand your candle on or in something non-flammable though as the dye from coloured wax can be impossible to remove.

- Extinguish candles by pushing the wick into the liquid wax (don't use your fingers!). Leave for about a minute, then re-centre the wick. Using this technique eliminates smoking from the extinguished wick and covers the wick with a layer of wax making re-lighting easier. If you’re in a hurry and need
to blow the candle out, hold your finger in front of the flame. The air will flow around your finger and extinguish it from both sides, preventing splattering.

- Never pour melted wax down the sink or toilet. Pour it into an empty milk carton or something similar and pop it in the bin.


SAFETY TIPS

- NEVER EVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

- Keep burning candles away from flammable materials. Curtains, furniture, bedding, books and your own clothes are all potential hazards. Remember that drafts can easily blow lightweight curtains into the flame. I’ve never had any major problems with candles, but one did set fire to a paper napkin once.

- Never use a candle as a light source when you’re looking for something in a storage cupboard. That’s what torches are for.

- Always place candles on heat resistant surfaces. A friend of mine had one catch fire to the tablecloth. She managed to extinguish it before any major damage was done, but the table was ruined.

- Candles in glass containers are popular at the moment. They’re ever so pretty, with all sorts of bits and bobs embedded in the wax or gel, but if you use them, never let them burn down to more than half inch from the bottom of the container. If they melt completely, the heat could cause the container to crack.



Candles come in all shapes and sizes and you’ll always find some that’ll match your décor. They can usually be picked up cheap in pound shops and the likes, but I’ve found the best bargain candles are those from IKEA. They sell a bundle of about a dozen white candles for a couple of pounds. They burn well too, unlike some cheap candles. I use tea lights on the coffee table because they’re unobtrusive and cheap. Cheap’s good because it means I can burn candles as often as I like without having to stretch my budget.

It’s
nice to splash out now and then though, and hand made candles are one of the luxuries I like to have on special occasions and they make lovely gifts too. There are websites that have some beautiful candles, although I’ve never ordered from any so I can’t vouch for the service. A couple of places to look are:

http://www.deelights.co.uk/ - have a look at the vanilla scented glass of beer gel candle!

http://www.candlesontheweb.co.uk/ - the landscape candles are lovely.


That’s it. I’ve nothing more to say about candles so I’m off to tidy the living room ready for this evening when I’ll light a few, put on some music, and just chill on the sofa.


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