Do Candle Shapes Burn Differently? Tapers, Pillars, Tealights and Container Candles

Do taper candles burn fast? Yes. Does candle shape really affect fragrance and burn time? Yes. Here’s a breakdown of how popular candle shapes behave once lit and why at New Flame we’ve chosen to create exclusively luxury container candles.

Quick Comparison of Candle Shapes

Taper candles: elegant, fast burning, typically 6-10 hours (~1 hour per inch of height)

Pillar candles: long lasting, usually 40–100 hours depending on size, but need more care

Tealights: versatile, short burn of 2–4 hours, ideal of luminant accents and scattering

Container candles: steady and safe, New Flame container candles burn cleanly for 50 hours, with excellent fragrance throw

Taper Candles

Taper candles are tall and slim, designed for visual elegance on a dining table or mantle. A standard taper candle lasts 4-6 hours as it doesn’t contain much wax. Taper candles can be ‘quick started’ at short notice before an occasion as the flame easily reaches and melts their narrow wax width. The trade-off is their short burn-span.

Pillar Candles

Pillars are thick, freestanding candles that can burn for days. A small pillar might last 40 hours, extra-large ones can reach 100 hours or more. Their wide base gives them longevity, but without a container the melted wax often drips and even heating is not facilitated. If not carefully maintained, they can tunnel or burn unevenly.

Tealight Candles

Tealights are small and versatile. Their wax capacity is very small, burning for just 2-4 hours. They release less fragrance than other formats due to their size. Their strength lies in creating quick, scattered displays of light. (The New Flame team recommends arranging tealights clustered on a mantlepiece in holders of different heights, giving dimension without overpowering the space).

Container Candles

Container candles offer the most reliable burn. The wax is held securely in its vessel, the flame is steady and walls allow the melt pool to form evenly. New Flame candles’ soy, coconut wax and beeswax blend allows for a clean 50 hour burn time. Container candles are also the best for fragrance throw, as the melt pool warms gradually and fills a room evenly.

At New Flame, this is why we choose container candles: they combine performance, safety, and fragrance release in a way no other shape can match. We’re dedicated to designing to elevate both your space and daily life.

Explore the New Flame candle collection and discover how luxury candles are meant to burn. Click to discover our Taiga candle - a coniferous campfire crackling within a jar.