Halloween

Halloween is a holiday that lives on atmosphere – and little creates it as reliably as the living flame of a candle. Unlike electric lights, it gives a warm, flickering flame that casts shadows on the walls and turns an ordinary room into a mysterious nook. In the following lines we will advise you on how to choose candles, where to place them and how to handle them safely.

How to choose Halloween candles

When choosing, start from where the candle will stand and what mood you want to achieve. Figure candles shaped like a pumpkin, skull or ghost work as a standalone decoration even without any extras – just place them on a small plate or saucer. Pillar (cylindrical) candles in black, orange or purple suit candle holders and create a striking centrepiece on the table, while smaller tealights can be spread across windowsills, a shelf or around a serving bowl if you want to light up several spots at once. Also consider the wax material: paraffin candles tend to be affordable and have rich, well-covering colours, while candles made of soy or beeswax usually burn more calmly and for longer.

Where to place them

Candles stand out most in a group and in combination with other decorations. In a window they create a silhouette visible from the street, on a festive table they complement the setting, and by the front door they welcome visitors with spooky light. You will achieve the strongest effect by combining several heights and sizes – a tall pillar candle in the middle, a few figures around it and scattered tealights create a layered scene. Dimmed light stands out most after dark, so switch off the main lighting and let the flame itself do the work. For light-transmitting decorations such as lanterns and carved pumpkins, use smaller tealights – they are more stable and spread less into the surroundings.

What to watch out for while burning

Every candle burns with an open flame, so safety comes first. Always place the candle on a stable, level and non-flammable surface and keep it at a sufficient distance from curtains, paper decorations, artificial cobwebs and other flammable materials that are an inseparable part of Halloween. Never leave a burning candle unattended and place it out of the reach of children and pets. Before lighting, trim the wick to about 5 mm so that the flame burns evenly and smokes less, and make sure there is no strong draught in the room. Figure and shaped candles gradually melt through and change shape while burning, which is natural for this type of decoration – so stand them on a base that will catch the melted wax. To extinguish, rather use a candle snuffer or briefly cover the candle instead of blowing it out sharply, to avoid splashing hot wax.

With proper use, decorative candles will last throughout the whole season and create an unforgettable backdrop for parties, photo shoots and quiet evenings. You can combine them with pumpkins, lanterns or textile decorations and add new shapes and colours every year.

Safety notice in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety

Halloween decorative candles burn with an open flame and contain hot molten wax. To prevent burns and fire, always carefully follow these instructions when using them:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended and always extinguish it before leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep out of the reach of children and pets; the product is not a toy and is not intended for consumption.
• Place the candle on a flat, stable, heat-resistant and non-combustible surface.
• Keep a safe distance from flammable materials – curtains, textiles, paper and coniferous Halloween decorations, hollowed or carved pumpkins, costumes and hair.
• Keep a distance of at least 10 cm between individual candles and do not light them in a draught or outdoors in windy weather.
• Before each lighting, trim the wick to approximately 5 mm so that the flame is not too high and does not smoke.
• Do not move or relocate a burning candle while it is lit or while the wax is liquid and hot – spilled hot wax can cause burns.
• The container and wax are hot during burning and shortly afterwards; let the candle cool completely before handling.
• Use a non-combustible base also for candles in glass or ceramic containers, which can overheat and crack.
• Do not let the candle burn down completely – extinguish it when approximately 2 cm of wax remains – and do not use it near flammable gases or liquids.
• In the event of a fire, smother the flame with a non-combustible lid, never with water.