As Far as Interior Trends Go, This One Has to Be the Prettiest

Probably one of the best habits I developed in lockdown was making more of an effort when it came to curating my dinner table. Though I’ve never been one to sit on the sofa with a plate on my lap, I’d seldom take the time to set our dining table. But when eating in become the new dining out, I made a conscious decision to elevate my mealtimes and, to ensure my table looked the stylish part, I ordered marble platters, linen tablecloths glass plates, rattan mats, and new coasters. My favourite purchase, however, was undoubtedly a set of sage taper candles.

I’ve already professed my love of candles, but I found my collection mainly consisted of either pillars or those poured into glass jars, so I decided to switch things up with a set of tapers. The initial appeal of tapers was that they looked instantly fancy, but what I found is that, when lit, they create a beautiful atmosphere and make the moment feel significantly more special. They’re also great for adding height to a tablescape, which makes it all the more visually exciting and appealing. What’s more, I’ve found that most taper candles are unscented, and therefore don’t create a fragrance clash with the food I’m serving.

"A perfectly lit taper candle can be quite memorising,” says Tony Jack, founder of Fairholme Candles, which has recently launched at Liberty. "The way the wax drips down the candle and onto a candlestick holder or table is truly a thing of beauty; something you can watch for hours. I think people love the memory of a taper candle, Many of my friends and family will use old wine or glass bottles to display their Fairholme taper. They let it burn through and then change the candle shade the next time so they end up with this rainbow wax-covered bottle. I’ve been working on my wax-covered bottle all summer now! Now that we're able to entertain, people want their tables to look fun and inviting, and candles offer that feeling. Paired with beautiful table linen, napkins, cutlery, and serving plates and utensils, everything comes together so beautifully.”

This year, we’ve seen countless interior brands—both old and new—offer up stunning taper candles and holders to house them. So, I decided to find the best out there. Scroll below to see my edit of the best taper candles they have to suit your home, whatever your décor may look like, then proceed to shop the chicest candleholders to go with.

THE BEST TAPERED CANDLES

THE PRETTIEST TAPER CANDLE HOLDERS

Next: 17 Designer Candles That'll Make Your Home Feel (and Smell) So Expensive