Candles

Candles create cosiness and atmosphere, but sometimes need to be replaced by a safe alternative without an open flame. At Dims Studio you'll find both: real candles and shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen, as well as battery-powered LED pillar candles from EJA and Rice that mimic the warm glow of a real candle. In this guide you'll get an overview of types, materials, sizes, use, safety and care, so you can quickly find the candle that best suits your situation and your home.

Types: real candles and LED candles

The range covers two basic types of candles that solve different needs, but both add colour and atmosphere to the home.

Real candles and shaped candles

The real candles in the range come from Broste Copenhagen and are cast in stearin or paraffin. Here you'll find shaped candles formed as fruit, an oyster, or sculptural, asymmetric shapes in pastel colours. These candles are lit with a flame like classic candles and burn down just like an ordinary candle.

LED candles and LED pillar candles

The LED candles from EJA and Rice are battery-powered and designed to mimic the look of a real candle or pillar candle. The LED gives off a warm, yellow glow that often flickers like a real flame, while the surface is made to feel and look like wax. Because there's no open flame, LED candles can be used in places where real candles aren't an option, for example in the bathroom, in the children's room, or on the windowsill close to curtains.

Type	Flame	Best for
Real candle or shaped candle	Real flame	Atmosphere at the table, where the candle is supervised
LED candle and LED pillar candle	No flame, battery-powered	Bathroom, children's room, unsupervised spaces

Materials: stearin, paraffin and the wax feel of LED

The material determines how the candle looks, feels and burns.

Stearin

Stearin is a classic candle material that gives an even, clean burn. The fruit candles from Broste Copenhagen are cast in solid-coloured stearin, so the colour in pastel pink, mint green and pale yellow stays true all the way as the candle burns down. The natural surface of the oyster shaped candle is also cast in stearin.

Paraffin

Paraffin is used for the sculptural shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen. The material makes it possible to form the asymmetric, hand-sculpted figures that are wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, so they can stand stably without a candle holder.

LED with wax texture

The LED pillar candles from EJA and Rice are made so the surface has the same soft, matte texture as a real wax candle, even though they are battery-powered. This gives a candle that resembles a real candle, but without the risk of wax drips or an open flame.

Material	Used for	Characteristics
Stearin	Fruit candles, oyster shaped candle	Even burn, solid-coloured stearin keeps its colour
Paraffin	Sculptural shaped candles	Can be formed into sculptural, asymmetric shapes
LED with wax texture	LED pillar candles and LED candles	Resembles wax, but is battery-powered without a flame

Sizes and burn time

Size and burn time vary depending on whether you choose a real candle or an LED candle.

Product	Dimensions	Details
Fruit candle (Broste Copenhagen)	Ø9.7 x H8 cm	8 to 10 hours burn time
Sculptural shaped candle (Broste Copenhagen)	25 cm tall	Paraffin, asymmetric shape
Shaped candle, oyster (Broste Copenhagen)	W15 x L10 x H5 cm	Natural stearin
LED pillar candle (EJA)	15 x 8.8 cm	Battery-powered, batteries not included
LED candle (Rice)	25 cm tall	Flickering flame effect, 2 x AAA batteries per candle

How to use candles and LED candles in the home

Both types of candle can be used to style the home, but each has its own strengths.

At the dinner table

The real candles and shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen give a lively, warm glow that suits a dinner with guests well. If you want to avoid wax drips on the tablecloth, the LED pillar candles from EJA and Rice are a practical alternative that still gives the same atmosphere without the risk.

In the bathroom

Moisture and water make real candles impractical in the bathroom. Here, LED candles are an obvious choice, as they cope with damp surroundings without any problems, while still contributing the same warm glow.

In the children's room

The LED pillar candles are safe to leave on overnight without supervision, which makes them suitable as soft night lighting in the children's room or at bedtime.

As table decor and decoration

The shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen, such as the fruit candles and the oyster candle, work just as well as decoration when they're not lit. Place them in a bowl or let them stand as sculptural objects among other things on the shelf. See also our table decor for more ideas.

Safety around candles

Whether you choose a real candle or an LED candle, there are a few things worth keeping in mind when placing candles in the home.

Real candles require supervision

A real candle should always be supervised while lit, and should be placed at a good distance from curtains, paper and other flammable materials. Extinguish the candle if you leave the room, and make sure it stands stably on a solid surface, so it can't tip over or be affected by draughts from windows and doors.

LED candles as the safe alternative

Because LED candles have no flame, they can stay on without the same risk, which makes them particularly suitable in rooms with children or pets, or where you'd like a light on while you sleep or are out of the house. This also makes them practical for rentals and shared households, where it's not always possible to keep an eye on an open flame.

The brands behind the candles

The range brings together candles from three different brands, each with its own approach.

Broste Copenhagen

Broste Copenhagen has worked with Scandinavian home design since 1955 and is behind the real candles and shaped candles in the range. Their shaped candles span from classic fruit silhouettes to sculptural, asymmetric shapes and a maritime-inspired oyster candle. See the full range from Broste Copenhagen candles.

EJA

EJA designs colourful home items with Nordic humour and is behind several of the LED pillar candles in the range, including in the colour combinations orange/pink/mint, green/violet/red, red/violet/light blue and light blue/sand/mint.

Rice

Rice is known for a playful universe with colourful details, and their LED candles have a flickering flame effect and graphic stripes in colour combinations such as coral/blue, pink/green, sand/blue and mint/green.

Brand	Product type	Characteristics
Broste Copenhagen	Real candles and shaped candles	Sculptural shapes, fruit motifs, maritime oyster candle
EJA	LED pillar candles	Colourful combinations, battery-powered
Rice	LED candles	Flickering flame effect, graphic stripes

Colour and decor: how to match the candles

Both the real candles and the LED candles in the range are designed as colourful accents in the home, meant to be left out on display, whether lit or not.

Pastel colours and soft tones

The fruit candles and sculptural shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen are held in soft pastel colours such as pastel pink, mint green, pale yellow, light purple and apricot. They suit light wood, ceramics in muted colours and light textiles well, adding a touch of colour without dominating the room.

Graphic stripes and bold colour combinations

The LED candles from Rice and EJA have a more graphic expression, with vertical stripes and colour combinations like orange/pink/mint or green/violet/red. They work well in a home that already plays with colour and pattern, and can easily sit alongside other colourful details without it becoming too much.

Group the candles for a cohesive look

Whether you choose real candles or LED, you can achieve a great look by grouping several candles in different sizes and colours together. For example, place three of the sculptural shaped candles in different pastel colours next to each other on the dinner table, or combine a couple of LED pillar candles with real candles in candle holders, so you get both safety and atmosphere at the same table. See also our candle holders for the real candles, where you'll find holders in several heights and materials that match the range of candles.

Season and occasion

Candles and LED candles are used all year round, but some of the types suit particular occasions especially well.

Everyday cosiness

The LED candles are ideal for everyday use, where they can stay lit without you needing to think about switching them off when you leave the room. Set a couple of pillar candles out on the dinner table or on the windowsill as a fixed part of everyday cosiness.

Parties and special occasions

For parties and special dinners, the real candles from Broste Copenhagen are an atmospheric choice. The fruit candles suit a summer lunch or a children's birthday well, while the sculptural shaped candles suit a more grown-up, decorative table.

As a gift

A candle, whether a real candle or an LED candle, is a classic gift that suits most occasions. The shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen are particularly gift-friendly because their shape and colour make them more than a standard candle, while the LED candles are a practical choice if the recipient has children, pets, or simply prefers to avoid open flames in the home.

LED candles and power: good to know

All LED candles in the range are battery-powered. Rice's LED candles use 2 x AAA batteries per candle, while EJA's pillar candles require batteries that aren't included at purchase. Remember to have the right batteries ready before you light the candle for the first time. The advantage of battery power is that the candles are wireless and can be placed wherever suits the room best, without regard to sockets or cables that need to be hidden.

How to choose the right candle: decision guide

If you're unsure which candle to choose, you can start from where and how it will be used.

Situation	Our recommendation
You want a real candle with a flame for dinner	Fruit candle or sculptural shaped candle from Broste Copenhagen
The candle will stand in the bathroom	An LED pillar candle or LED candle from EJA or Rice
The candle will be used in the children's room at night	An LED pillar candle from EJA with no open flame
You want a sculptural object that can also be lit	The sculptural shaped candles or the oyster candle from Broste Copenhagen
You're concerned about wax drips on the tablecloth	LED candle from Rice with a flickering flame effect

Myths and facts about LED candles

• Myth: LED candles always look artificial. Fact: The newer LED pillar candles from EJA and Rice have a matte, waxy surface and a flickering light effect that comes close to a real candle.
• Myth: A real candle is always more dangerous than an LED candle. Fact: As long as a real candle is used with ordinary attention and not left unsupervised, it's safe to use, but LED candles are an obvious choice where children, pets or moisture are involved.
• Myth: Shaped candles can only be used as decoration. Fact: The shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen are real candles and can be lit and burn just like classic candles.

Frequently asked questions about candles and LED candles

What is a candle?

A candle is a light source cast in stearin or paraffin with a wick that's lit to create light and cosiness.

What's the difference between a real candle and an LED candle?

A real candle has a genuine flame and burns down over time, while an LED candle is battery-powered and uses a light to mimic the look of a flame, without the risk of an open flame or wax drips.

What material are the candles made of?

The real candles and shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen are made of stearin or paraffin, while the LED candles from EJA and Rice are battery-powered with a surface that mimics wax.

How long do the fruit candles from Broste Copenhagen burn?

The fruit candles have a burn time of 8 to 10 hours.

Do the LED candles need batteries?

Yes, the LED candles from EJA and Rice are battery-powered. Rice's LED candles use 2 x AAA batteries per candle, and batteries aren't included at purchase.

Can LED candles be used in the bathroom?

Yes, the LED candles are an obvious choice for the bathroom, as they have no open flame and therefore aren't damaged by moisture, as real candles can be.

Are the shaped candles from Broste Copenhagen real candles?

Yes, the shaped candles, such as the fruit candles and the oyster candle, are real candles that can be lit and burn like classic candles, while also working as decoration when they're not lit.

Are candles and LED candles good gifts?

Yes, both the real shaped candles and the LED candles are popular gifts, because they add colour and atmosphere to the home, whether the recipient prefers a real candle or a safe LED alternative.

What's the difference between an LED pillar candle and an LED candle?

Both types are battery-powered alternatives to real candles. An LED pillar candle, like the ones from EJA, typically has a low, block-shaped body, while an LED candle, like Rice's version, is often taller and slimmer, shaped like a classic taper or column candle.

Can you refill or reuse an LED candle?

The LED candles run on replaceable batteries, so you can keep using the candle as long as you swap the batteries when they run out. The candle itself doesn't wear down the way a real candle does, burning down and eventually needing replacement.

How do I store my shaped candles when they're not lit?

Store the shaped candles dry and a little away from direct sunlight, so the colours hold up as well as possible. Since the candles also work as decoration, they can easily be left out between uses, for example in a bowl or on a shelf.

Can LED pillar candles be used outdoors?

The LED candles are designed for indoor use. If you need candles outdoors, make sure the product is suitable for it, and protect it from wind and rain.

Why choose an LED candle over a real candle?

An LED candle is safe to leave on unsupervised, copes with damp rooms like the bathroom, and avoids the risk of wax drips on furniture and tablecloths, while still giving off a warm, atmospheric glow.