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It’s not that I’m thrifty. As someone who’s willing to pay $300 for a touch-screen toaster, a hefty sum for a tablecloth, and an undisclosed amount for a vintage side table (we will never discuss that purchase again, ever), I’ve become accustomed to throwing down serious cash for items that I’ll keep for a long time.
But a taper candle? Well, aside from a few special ones that I’ll never light because they’re just for show (don’t ask me to explain my logic on that one), I prefer to hunt for cute, colorful options that won’t break the bank. After all, I’m just burning them anyway, and in general I like to avoid literally lighting my money on fire.
Jordan Ferney turned me onto Zest Candle—just $2 a pop on Amazon!—which kickstarted a personal quest to avoid spending more than $5 per taper. Here are my current favorite taper candles that are well within my budget, plus a few special-occasion splurges.
The Classics
Each of these is a solid choice for dinner parties (when we can do that again) or even takeout on a Tuesday. And in fun colors like neon pink or highlighter yellow, they’re anything but basic.
The Dipped Ones
Dipped candles get narrow at the top, giving them a more rustic, handcrafted vibe. And because they usually come in pretty pairs held together by string, they’re a gift that doesn’t need wrapping.
The Shape-Shifters
Twisted tapers walked so other fun shapes, from squiggles to super-straight columns, could run.
The Wild Cards
From ombré to speckled, these pattern plays make a style statement, even if you never light them. Though I strongly encourage that you do, especially the color drip one (you’ll end up with this).
The Variety Packs
These sets each come in a perfect predetermined palette—no guesswork needed.
The Fancy Ones
An especially unusual color scheme or silhouette is cause to spend a little extra on your tapers.
