The Versatile Votive Candle

Using  votive candles is a way of bringing centuries of tradition into your home for any special occasion. Votive candles were historically used as a religious offering, memorial or sign of promise.  But votive candles are not only a beautiful source of light; they're a beautiful way to use candles to create meaning to any celebration, from religious occasions to birthdays, anniversaries,  weddings and holidays.

Originally used to represent sacrifice (symbolized by the votive candle's disappearing wax and the votive's release of a fragrant scent), the word votive comes from a Latin word mean vow or promise. 

Today the small votive candle is still used to represent that sacrifice and commitment. Votives are usually fragranced and are available in an almost endless number of scents and colors. In fact, many popular votives offer floral and botanical scents (such as gardenia,   mulberry,  fresh pine and vanilla), and because votives offer a more effervescent fragrance than potpourri or incense, they're widely used as a decorative home-scenting accessory.  Votives are usually displayed in glass, metal or ceramic votive holders.  Use votives in small groups for the most effective home accents.  

While votives do make excellent religious candles and candles for holidays and events, you don't have to have a special occasion to light votive candles. Their small size and their array of fragrances make them perfect for everyday use – try clustering several votives together on a platter, tray or plate, or assembling a collection of scented votives in different types of votive holders for a whimsical effect. Votive candles also make great outdoor candles – place lots of them in colored glass votive holders close together for an attractive and impressive candlelit display, or place unscented votives in small candle lanterns hanging from porch ceilings or nearby branches.