Floating Candles? How Do They Work?

You might think this is a silly question! But really, there are a lot of people who call our office and want to know ~ what is a floating candle…and how can you use them?

So we are here to give you all the candle information you need that will help you make an informed decision when it comes to floating candles and how to use them.

A floating candle is a candle that when placed in water displaces more water by weight than the weight of the candle. So when it's placed in water it floats!However, not every candle can float! These candles are usually made in a round shape that allows it to float evenly where placed. Votive or Pillar candles would not be able to float even though they displace water because they are top heavy, so they would tip into the water. There are some tealight candles that can float, but the best choice is a traditional floating candle!

These candles usually come in a multitude of colors, are unscented, and are normally available in 2” and 3” diameter.

A floating candle can go almost wherever there is water! Pools, vases, bowls, dishes, martini glasses, fountains, bathtubs, hot tubs and lakes. But they are not great for running water like rivers or streams. A very important bit of information about floating candles is to remember that the wick cannot get wet when placing in the water. If a 100% cotton wick takes on water, it will absorb that water. If this happens your burn time will be greatly impacted and you will be disappointed.

So when using floating candles, you should always gently place the candle into the water by holding onto the wick to ensure dryness prior to lighting. Floating candles have long burn times depending on the size you choose. The 2" floating candles can burn up to 4-5 hours, and 3” can burn up to 8-10 hours! This gives you hours of beautiful glow atop your water.

Floating candles will instantly change up the look of a table, centerpiece or outdoor setting! While being absolutely beautiful, floating candles are so affordable they will fit into almost every budget. Plus the ease of using floating candles makes them a perfect choice.

A few great ways to use floating candles:

• One of the fabulous uses of a floating candle include inside a cylinder vase! Using candles in cylinder vases instantly gives you a blank canvas underneath the floating candle! You have space where you can easily showcase vase fillers, fresh or silk flowers submersed with your favorite bloom.
• Floating candles also look fabulous on a table or island in a dish garden or low lying bowl. Most all of us have these containers in our very own cabinets and can add new life to a bowl by adding candles in water! Who knew it could be that easy?
• You can even create outdoor masses of floating candles in vases to create a unique fire-pit feel for guests! It not only looks amazing, it creates warmth for guests!
• Floating candles in outdoor settings, especially pools, create magnificent ambiance! Most people underestimate the amount needed to make the pool feel full of candle light. We suggest using 3” diameter floater candles in pools and using at least a quantity of 72 to fill it up.