Buying guide for Best birthday candles
Birthdays wouldn’t be the same without candles. The young and young at heart alike enjoy lighting the wicks and singing happy birthday congratulations as the celebrated person makes a wish and blows out the flames. That’s why the right birthday candles are the perfect finishing touch for any birthday cake and celebration.
Small, thin candles in the number of birthday years are probably what you think of when these candles come to mind. The traditional celebratory must-haves are arguably the most popular type of candle. However, there are other types of birthday candles that are just as appropriate to honor the milestone.
As you plan your next birthday celebration for an important person in your life, it helps to know your options for birthday candles. A good buying guide and recommendations can help you choose candles that will be worthy of the honoree’s important day.
How to buy the best birthday candles
Types
From traditional to novelty, there are several varieties of birthday candles to consider when choosing the right ones to top off the cake.
Classic: With a standard cylindrical shape and petite size, these birthday candles have been around for generations. They are the type you probably remember blowing out at your own childhood birthday parties. These candles come in multipacks and are available in many colors, either all one color or assorted colors to a box. Some classic candles have stripes for an eye-catching design.
Numeral: These birthday candles are great for adorning the cake with the honoree’s age, particularly if a few dozen candles won’t fit or look appropriate on the cake. You can find Roman numeral candles too. Numeral candles come in a choice of colors and sizes and are available individually or in packs of two or multipacks. Good-quality numeral candles have a short stem that slides into the cake to keep the candles stable and prevent them from being covered by frosting.
Letter: These are similar to numeral birthday candles. They can be used to spell out the honoree’s name or a specific birthday message.
Sparkler: Although they’re called “candles,” these cake toppers are more sparkler than candles. They work like the sparklers kids play with on the Fourth of July, except the body is made to be stuck into a cake. Sparkler candles are made with fewer chemicals, emit little to no smoke, and are safe to use on food. These candles make a sparkling display that can be especially dramatic in a darkened room. A downside of these candles is that they can’t be blown out, so they aren’t the best choice if the birthday celebrant wants to make a wish while blowing out candles.
Unique: This broad category basically includes any type of birthday candle that doesn’t fit into the other categories. There are candles with intriguing shapes like animals or crayons or that burn with colorful flames. Some unique candles also incorporate birthday messages or decorations that make a festive display on the top of a cake.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wicks of many birthday candles are made of braided cotton fibers to be durable and easy to light.
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Features to look for in birthday candles
Size
Most birthday candles range in length from approximately 2.5 to 4 inches, plenty long enough to stick in the cake and leave enough to burn. Some novelty or sparkler candles are a bit longer, about 5 to 8 inches.
Just like other types of candles, birthday candles have a wick, which is typically about ⅛ to ¼ inch long.
Colors
Birthday candles come in every color you can imagine, including bright rainbow shades, pastel hues, and metallic or glitter finishes. This wide selection of colors makes it easy to match candles to the design of the cake and other birthday decorations, which is important to many birthday party planners.
Quantity
Depending on the type, birthday candles come in different quantities.
Classic candles typically come in packs of 12, 24, or 36. However, you can also find bulk packs of more than 100.
Number and letter candles are available individually or in multipacks of 10 or 12. Occasionally, you can find packs of two, for example, 5 and 0. While single number candles are suitable for kids celebrating birthdays 0 through 9, multipacks are ideal for in the double-digit age range. They also come in handy when hosting a birthday party for more than one person.
Sparkler candles also come in multipacks of at least 12. Packs of 24, 38, 48, and more are also available.
Novelty and unique candles can be sold individually or come in a set that includes several components and candles.
DID YOU KNOW?
One reason it’s important to buy good-quality birthday candles is that they’ll be more likely to stay lit until the birthday song is complete.
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Accessories for birthday candles
Candles are an important part of honoring birthdays, but there are other items that can help make the gathering special. Whether you’re hosting lots of guests or a few family members, these accessories can add a festive touch.
Balloons
Balloons with bright colors and fun designs are great for parties honoring kids and adults alike. Party balloons are made of either latex or foil and are available individually or in multipacks.
Party favors
Kids love to receive trinkets and gadgets even when it’s not their birthday. Favors for kids’ birthday parties include small toys, rings, puzzles, games, and more. You can match the favors to the theme of the party too.
Cake decorating kit
Before you can put the candles on the birthday cake, you have to make the cake. With a cake decorating kit you can adorn a plain cake with rosettes, words, and fancy swirls of colorful frosting. These kits have all the components you need, from piping bags and tips to spatulas. Some include instructions and some include a cake turntable to make the decorating easier.
Gift bags
Colorful gift bags make it easy to conceal birthday gifts without the use of tape. Many quality bags come in multipacks and include ribbon, tissue paper, and tags.
How much do birthday candles cost?
Inexpensive
Most classic birthday candles are inexpensive. Multipacks of 12 to 24 average $3 to $12. Bulk packs of 60 or more are great for party organizers and cost around $7 to $15.
Mid-range
In the middle of the price spectrum are some number and letter candles, as well as some candles with special designs. Expect to pay between $6 and $15 for multipacks of 6 to 10 candles.
Expensive
Unique birthday candles, such as sparklers, decorative designs, and individual fancy numbers, are the priciest options. Sparkler candles cost between $6 and $17 for 12, while an individual number candle with a metallic or glitter finish costs $5 to $8.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can arrange classic birthday candles in a variety of ways, from spelling out the honoree’s name to making a shape like a heart or a flower.
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Tips
- Supervise kids when they blow out the candles. Make sure hair and clothing are well away from the flames.
- Keep extra candles on hand. They’ll come in handy if a candle accidentally breaks or one doesn’t light properly.
- Remove the candles from the cake once the flames have been extinguished. Candles can get in the way of the knife when you’re cutting the cake.
FAQ
Q. Is birthday candle wax edible?
A. Blowing out the candles is a big part of almost every birthday gathering. However, the short time between lighting the candles and blowing them out is often long enough for some wax to drip onto the cake. The good news is that birthday candles are made of paraffin wax that doesn’t contain any toxic additives. And while eating the wax isn’t recommended, ingesting a tiny amount doesn’t pose any harm.
Q. Can I reuse lit birthday candles?
A. Typically, birthday candles can be relit if enough of the wick is still exposed and the candles aren’t damaged. However, keep in mind that the wicks will be charred, and used candles won’t be as aesthetically appealing as new candles.
Q. How should I dispose of used birthday candles?
A. Unfortunately, they aren’t recyclable and should be disposed of in the garbage. However, the wax can be used for different crafts and can even be melted to make new candles. Look online to find numerous tutorials on how to make the most of used candle wax.
Q. Can I use classic and numeral birthday candles together?
A. Definitely! In fact, pairing a numeral candle with classic birthday candles is a nice touch. For example, if a child is turning eight, you can use a numeral eight candle surrounded by eight classic candles as part of the cake decorations.
