Different occasions call for different candles — not just aesthetically, but practically. Burn time, scent intensity, flame size, and wax type all affect how a candle performs in a given setting. Here’s how to match candle type to occasion using Golden Glow’s NZ-made range.
Dinner Parties & Entertaining
Best choice: Taper candles or unscented pillar candles
For the dining table, taper candles are the classic choice — they’re tall enough to sit above eye level without blocking conversation, and their slim profile doesn’t dominate a table setting. Our dining taper candles in 250mm height burn for approximately 8 hours, plenty for any dinner. Choose white, ivory, or gold to complement most table settings; coloured tapers work well for themed or seasonal dinners.
At the dinner table, avoid heavily scented candles — fragrance at nose height competes with food aromas and can put guests off. Unscented tapers or pillars are the professional standard; if you want scent, keep scented candles in adjacent rooms or hallways.
Tea lights in glass votives scattered across sideboards and windowsills add depth to the lighting without cluttering the table itself.
Weddings & Formal Events
Best choice: Mixed — pillar centrepieces, taper accents, floating candles, tea lights
Weddings typically layer multiple candle types. Tall pillar candles on plinths or candelabras create vertical interest in ceremony spaces. Dining taper candles in gold or silver work on reception tables alongside floral arrangements. Floating candles in wide glass bowls are one of the most cost-effective centrepiece elements and photograph beautifully. Tea lights fill in every other surface — place settings, windowsills, stair treads.
For NZ outdoor summer weddings, wind is a practical concern. Use lanterns or enclosed holders for any candles in exposed spaces, and have a stock of replacements on hand. Our decorative lamps and enclosed lantern styles are specifically suited to this.
Browse our full wedding candle range for curated options across all types.
Relaxation & Home Spa
Best choice: Scented soy jar candles or tea lights in glass holders
For a bath or wind-down setting, scented candles earn their place. Our handcrafted soy jar candles in Sandalwood, French Pear, and Black Raspberry & Vanilla provide 30–50+ hours of clean-burning fragrance. Soy wax burns at a lower temperature than paraffin, making jar candles a safer choice for enclosed bathroom settings where heat can build up.
Cluster several tea lights in glass votive holders around the bath rather than relying on a single large candle — more visual warmth, lower individual flame risk, and easy to replace if one burns out.
Churches, Schools & Ceremonies
Best choice: Festival brand pillar candles or taper candles
Institutional and ceremonial use demands consistent, drip-resistant performance across every candle in a batch. Our Festival brand church candles — made in Auckland to tight specifications — are the standard choice for NZ parishes, school chapels, and memorial services. Available in the standard altar sizes used by NZ churches, in white and natural wax.
Restaurants & Hospitality
Best choice: Dining taper candles by the dozen, or lamp systems for premium settings
Trade buyers should look at our hospitality candle range — dining tapers sold by the dozen for table service, and our Paragon/Kelly lamp systems with single-use liquid paraffin refills for venues wanting a mess-free, premium table candle solution. For venues with open-flame restrictions, our rechargeable LED tea lights are a practical alternative.
Everyday Home Use
Best choice: Tea lights and pillar candles
For general home use — living rooms, hallways, bedrooms — tea lights in glass holders are the most practical and economical option. Our 3-hour, 4-hour, and 9-hour tea lights give you options for different session lengths. Pillar candles on a mantelpiece or console table provide a longer-lasting focal point that can be relit over weeks or months.
Golden Glow Candles has been making candles for NZ homes and businesses since 1969. Our full range is at candles.nz with free shipping on orders over $99. Call us on 0800 CANDLE (0800 226 353) if you need advice on quantities or candle types for a specific event.