Candles are a wonderful way of not only creating a pleasing aesthetic but also helping in illuminating areas and providing an aromatic experience (scented candles). Lanterns are a great way to get the best out of most candles due to the increased safety they provide.
Wondering which candles are best used in outdoor lanterns? If so, then the truth is that there are no candles made specifically for lanterns. As long as the size is right and the quality is great, you can use pretty much any candle you like in an outdoor lantern.
Given the number of candles in the market today, you may feel a bit overwhelmed with all the choices. Luckily, we are here to help you in making a choice. Here are some of the best candles you may be able to use in an outdoor lantern.
The 5 best candles to put in your outdoor lantern are:
- Candle Idea Store LED Flameless (3 pack)
- UCO 9-Hour White Candles
- UCO Citronella Candle (3 pack)
- Aroma Naturals Patchouli (single pack)
- Lavender & Eucalyptus (single pack)
Table of Contents
Best Affordable Battery Powered Candle for Outdoor Lanterns
Candle Idea Store LED Flameless (3 pack)
This one is for those who prefer having a flameless candle in their outdoor lanterns. It comes as a set of three battery-powered candles, 1000 plus hours of battery life, timer functionality, high-quality construction and flickering IC. The candle is also waterproof making it one of the safest options you can go for.
When it comes to battery-powered candles, one of the most important things is battery life and this one can go for more than 1000 hours, which is amazing. It’s also flameless and so you can comfortably leave it on all night long without any fire risk.
This set comes with three candles that are 3 inches wide and 4, 5, and 6 inches tall, giving you more options when it comes to fitting inside your lantern. It also comes with a timer function so that you can set it up to have it ON for 6 hours and OFF for 18 hours every day. It is priced slightly on the higher side but it’s definitely worth the price.
If you’re interested, check the price on Amazon!
Best Value Traditional White Candle for Outdoor Lanterns
UCO 9-Hour White Candles
If you prefer traditional white candles for your lanterns, then this one may be the right one for you. It comes as a set of 20 candles, a high melting point, good quality cotton wick and a special wax formula.
Each candle has a respectable burn life of 9 hours and since you get 20 candles in this set, it’s more than enough to last a few months (if you burn one for 4 hours every day). Do note that these are standard candles and not scented ones. Their primary purpose is illumination and nothing else.
Each candle is 3.5 inches tall and 1.25 inches in diameter that should fit most outdoor lanterns. With a high melting point, it doesn’t drip too much, which is perfect since you won’t have to clean a lot of wax inside the lantern after using it. This is the costliest of the five candles discussed in this article.
If you’re interested, check the price on Amazon!
Best Citronella Candle for Outdoor Lanterns
UCO Citronella Candle (3 pack)
If you have a lot of insects in your garden and want to keep them away from your lanterns, this one might do the trick. It comes as a set of 3 candles, pleasant aroma, citronella oil and a high-quality wick.
This candle has a burn life of 9 hours but you get only 3 of them in the set. Each candle is priced at $2.5 approximately, which is higher than traditional ones but these have added benefits too.
These citronella-infused candles not only provide a pleasant aromatic experience but also keep various insects away. This makes it perfect for outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. They also don’t drip much and leave very less soot making them very convenient to use. This is the cheapest of the 5 candles on this list.
If you’re interested, check the price on Amazon!
Best Value Aromatherapy Candle for Outdoor Lanterns
Aroma Naturals Patchouli (single pack)
If you have a hot tub outside and want to relax with a great aromatherapy candle in your lantern nearby, this one might be perfect for you. It comes in 3 different sizes, 50-hour burn life, essential oils, food-grade paraffin wax and an all-cotton wick.
The first thing that you will notice is how amazing it smells when you light it up. With pure essential oils and no synthetic fragrances, this one will calm you down no matter how stressed you are. With a healthy composition of organic butter, oils fortified with Omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 and various botanicals, it makes for an excellent aromatherapy candle.
The candle comes in three different sizes; 2.5 x 4 inches, 2.75 x 5 inches and 3 x 3.5 inches. Before you buy one, do check out how big your lantern is as some sizes may be too big or small for your lantern. One of its best aspects, however, is its burn life of 50 hours, which makes this candle an absolute steal when it comes to value for money.
If you’re interested, check the price on Amazon!
Best Premium Scented Soy Candle for Outdoor Lanterns
Lavender & Eucalyptus (single pack)
Want to have a premium scented candle in your lantern for special occasions? If so, you might find this one worth looking into. It comes in 4 different fragrances, premium soy wax, and a 100 percent cotton wick.
This one smells incredible and can easily fill up the surrounding space with an amazing fragrance. When it comes to outdoor lanterns, however, the range of its fragrance may vary based on wind. But if you want to have a nice romantic candlelight dinner out in your garden, then this one will not disappoint.
It has a burn life of 45 hours, which makes the high price worth it. The presentation and packaging also look incredible making it a great gift to buy for a friend or family. All in all, it is a great premium scented all-natural candle worth its price.
If you’re interested, check the price on Amazon!
Conclusion
When it comes to buying candles for lanterns, the most important thing to look for is size. Based on the size of your lantern, you might be able to fit two or three small candles or a single big one. Never buy one without making sure that it will fit well in your lantern and have enough space on top of the wick. The wick should not be touching or be closer to the top of the lantern. Another important thing to keep in mind is to never store the candle in the lantern after use. Take it out, wrap it in bubble wrap and store it in a cool and dry environment to ensure better longevity.