The Best Taper Candles

The Best Taper Candles

Taper candles are the perfect all-purpose option for candlelit dinners and everyday ambiance. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes to best suit your needs, and you can even choose scented or unscented varieties to fit the occasion. When you want to add a touch of elegance to a meal or event, all you need to do is strategically place a few around the room to create instant romance and intimacy. If that sounds good to you, check out this list of our favorite taper candles on the market.

D’light Elegant Premium Quality Candles

Burn, Baby, Burn

Get a smoke-free, clean burn from these well-made taper candles.
Best Overall

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It can be tough to find smoke-free, clean burn candles, and it’s even harder to find them in a variety of bright colors for a good price. That’s why we love the D’light Elegant Premium Quality Candles. Each one is hand-dipped and individually wrapped, making them ideal for storing for future meals and events. They’re unscented, too, so you don’t need to worry about them irritating anyone’s allergies or overwhelming the senses. We especially like keeping these around for instant ambience when entertaining.

Pros:

  • These candles burn for up to five hours each
  • They’re available in three sizes, so you are sure to find the perfect size for your needs
  • We love the variety of colors that you can get them in

Cons:

  • Although they claim to be dripless, some of them do drip
  • The center of each candle is white — only the outer layers are made of colored wax

Mega Candles Mini Taper Candles

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Candle

These small taper candles are perfect for quick burning while saving space.
Best Mini Size

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Mini taper candles are an excellent choice for a variety of uses, including religious and spiritual rituals, lighting a room in an emergency, candlelit dinners, and more. The Mega Candles Mini Taper Candles are high-quality and made to burn at just the right pace and temperature. We also really love that the paraffin wax is brightly colored and vibrant. It makes it easier than ever to choose the right candle for your purpose. They’re also unscented, making them less likely to trigger anyone’s allergies.

Pros:

  • This set comes with 20 colorful candles for a great price
  • The cotton wicks and paraffin wax are natural and non-toxic
  • These candles are both beautiful and versatile

Cons:

  • Smaller size means they each only burn for about two hours
  • They aren’t individually wrapped

Bolsius Long Household White Taper Candles

Tried and True

These lovely long white tapers burn for hours and look elegant in any setting.
Best Classic

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There are few things more elegant than long white tapers. That’s why we love the simply designed, classically beautiful Bolsius Long White Household White Taper Candles. They’re 10″ long and burn for over seven hours. They’re are dripless, smokeless, and unscented, so they won’t leave a mess or a smell behind when you’re done using them. They fit nearly any taper and candlestick holders for your convenience, as well. We love them for all kinds of upscale events, including formal dinners, weddings, showers, and more.

Pros:

  • Cotton wick and paraffin wax is an effective combination for long-burning candles
  • Smooth flames help keep the ambiance of the room romantic and intimate
  • The long burn time makes these candles a great choice in an emergency

Cons:

  • They only come in white
  • We wish they didn’t crack so easily

Root Candles Hand-Dipped Scented Taper Candles

Scent the Scene

Add beautiful fragrances to elegant events or everyday ambience with these hand-dipped candles.
Best Scents

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Scented candles are the perfect way to add depth to your home or event hall. The right ones can easily change a room’s mood — for example, vanilla is sensual and calming, while citrus scents are energizing and cheerful. If you want to further engage your senses, Root Candles Hand-Dipped Scented Taper Candles are an excellent choice. As a bonus, they are made with a special beeswax blend with natural essential oils in a traditional style — they are each dipped by hand to ensure even sizes, colors, and burn-time.

Pros:

  • There are several scents to choose from, so you can easily find the right one for you
  • The colors are even and have a satin finish
  • The attention to detail means each one looks and burns amazingly well

Cons:

  • You only get two candles per package
  • These handmade candles are on the pricier end of the spectrum

Candwax Slow Burning Taper Candles

More Burn for Your Buck

Buy in bulk and save money with this big box of high-quality candles.
Best Value

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Whether you like to buy in bulk or you need to provide candles for an event, the Candwax Slow Burning Taper Candles are an excellent choice. This set comes with 100 12″ taper candles that burn for up to ten hours each. They are smokeless and have smooth flames that won’t flare up, making them safe for both home and venue use. In addition, they’re dripless and don’t leave a mess behind, so you don’t need to worry about them ruining linens or furniture when used properly. Overall, they’re an excellent option when you need a whole lot of candles for a whole lot less money.

Pros:

  • There are several colors available to ensure you find a set to match your theme
  • They are hand-poured and high-quality
  • The price is very affordable, especially when you consider how many are included

Cons:

  • They aren’t individually wrapped
  • You need to be careful because they do break if you handle them roughly

Frequently Asked Questions

What are taper candles traditionally used for?

Taper candles have been used for a wide variety of things since at least 3000 BC. Today, they’re primarily used for lighting events. Candles provide a softer, more subtle light than lightbulbs do, making them perfect for enhancing a room’s ambiance. They are especially perfect for events like weddings and dates because they can make an everyday location feel more intimate. In addition, the long burn time, low cost, and ability to burn without electricity make them great for emergency lighting.

What is the difference between hand-poured and hand-dipped?

Hand-poured candles are made by filling molds with wax. This is an economic choice because they can be made quickly and you don’t need to spend much time on each candle. In general, you can get many hand-poured candles for a low price, making them ideal for large events. Hand-dipped candles are made using the much slower process of building a candle up layer by layer. They tend to cost a bit more, but they can often be customized and are usually of higher quality.