The Importance of a Trusted Staple

There are items in our home we buy for looks, and items we buy for performance. When it comes to open flame on a dinner table, performance is the only metric that matters. We often overlook the mechanics of a simple candle until it fails us.

I learned this the hard way over Thanksgiving.

I impulse bought a "cute" burnt orange candle from a local discount store because the price was right, the color matched my table arrangement perfectly, and I was already buying Fall tea towels. It was an aesthetic choice, not a practical one. Within thirty minutes of lighting it, disaster struck. The wax dripped and nearly ruined a beloved table runner before we even served the turkey. I had to extinguish our candles and we ate in the proverbial "dark".

That was the moment I vowed to stop buying random candles. I needed a taper I could trust.

The "Workhorse" of the Table

Since that incident, I have switched exclusively to Bolsius Taper Candles (our go-to colors are white or ivory). They have become the standard for my home, whether it's a formal holiday dinner or a quiet Tuesday night.

I used these over Christmas, and they excelled. While the Thanksgiving candles provided drama of the worst kind, these provided exactly what a candle should: consistent, quiet light. We let these candles burn through a 6-hour party and there wasn't a drop of wax on our linens or greenery at the end of the night.

In the photos above, you will see my dining table setup. The crystal candle holders are heavy, vintage finds, and the greenery is a combination of fresh and faux garland (never put all your eggs in one basket ladies!). But the candles are the anchor. They are not the loudest item on the table, but they are the most important. If the candle fails, the mood is ruined (and the garland is potentially on fire). These candles simply work.

The Science of the Burn

As someone with a background in pharma, I look at product performance through a technical lens. A candle seems simple, but the chemistry of a "clean burn" is specific.

Many decorative tapers use cheap fillers. This causes the wick to sputter, leading to the dreaded "wax waterfall" I experienced at Thanksgiving. At 11:00 PM, after a glass of wine, the last thing I want to do is scrape hardened paraffin off Belgian linen.

Here is the Bolsius difference:

• The Burn: Look at the close-up photo I took. The flame is upright and steady. The wax pool is contained. There is no weeping side-drip.

• The Finish: They are fragrance-free. This is non-negotiable for a dinner table; I want to smell the food, not a "Winter Balsam" competition.

• The Value: Because they are reliable and affordable, you don't feel the need to "save" them for a special occasion. You can light them just because it’s dark out - and northern winters are nothing if not dark!

Why This Matters Now

We are entering the season of "Quiet." The noise of the holidays is dampening. We need items that support this transition. We need things that are beautiful but low-maintenance.

If you are hosting for New Year's Eve, or simply eating leftovers, these allow you to keep the ambiance without the aftermath. It is a small edit, but a significant one.

Shop the Edit

Bolsius Ivory Taper Candles

Head over to our Instagram and tell us: Have you ever had a holiday decor disaster?

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