Candle colours and their symbolism: meanings, waxes and safety

Why coloured candles?

The candle is first of all a source of light. But for a long time it has also served as a sign: a flame for a celebration, for a memory, for a moment of silence. Colour is a simple way of adding meaning to that sign. Tallow candles and beeswax candles were yellowish or brown. In the 19th century, stearin (developed by the chemists Chevreul and Gay-Lussac, patent of 1825) and paraffin (marketable from the 1850s) produced white, clean candles that were easy to tint. Plant waxes such as soy, for their part, appeared in the early 1990s (sources differ between 1991 and 1993).

Today, any shade can be chosen, and each shade carries its own associations. This series details twelve colours, one page per colour, while keeping one rule in mind: these are traditions, not laws.

Where do the meanings come from?

When one reads “red is passion” or “green is money”, it is worth knowing which tradition the idea comes from. The meanings of candle colours come from several sources, which overlap and sometimes contradict one another:

• Christian liturgy. In the Roman Catholic rite, colours have codified uses: white (Easter, Christmas, feasts of Mary and the saints), red (Pentecost, martyrs), green (Ordinary Time), violet (Advent, Lent), pink (third Sunday of Advent and fourth Sunday of Lent), black (formerly for mourning). Gold and silver may replace white, red or green at major feasts.
• Cultures. White is the colour of mourning in East Asia, red that of luck in China, blue that of mourning in Iran and of the amulet against the “evil eye” in the Mediterranean. Each society has its own vocabulary.
• Contemporary folk magic (Wicca, hoodoo, modern esotericism). It has produced tables that link a colour to an intention (love, money, protection). These tables vary a great deal from one author to another: blue is sometimes protection, sometimes peace in the home; white sometimes replaces all the other colours.
• The history of dyes and habits. Purple was expensive, and so royal; brown was cheap, and so humble; pink was for a time considered a “boy's colour”.

The twelve colours at a glance

What science says (and does not say)

Candle colours are sometimes presented as tools of “chromotherapy”, that is, care through colour. Research reviews are clear: they find no solid evidence that a specific colour has a particular effect on health or on state of mind, even though soft, warm light can create a pleasant atmosphere. Nothing in this guide should therefore be read as medical advice or as a promise. The candle plays a role of atmosphere, landmark and symbol, and that is already a great deal.

Colour of the wax, colour of the flame

The colour of the wax does not change the colour of the flame: it stays yellow-orange (the glow of heated carbon particles), with a bluish base. A blue or green candle therefore does not have a blue or green flame. Genuinely coloured flames require metal salts, as in fireworks, which is not the case for ordinary candles.

Materials: which wax?

Melting points vary with blends: they are only rough guides. A “soy” candle is often a blend, and the label may not specify the proportions.

Dyes, fragrances, wicks

• Dyes. Dyes made for candles dissolve in the wax and burn with it. Powders such as mica, or craft crayons, do not dissolve and can clog the wick. Very dark shades (black, midnight blue, dark red) need a lot of dye: with poor-quality ones, the candle smokes.
• Tinted throughout or on the surface. Some candles are merely dipped in coloured wax and remain white at the core; others are coloured all the way through. This does not change how they burn, but the colour may fade as the wax melts.
• Fragrances. Essential oils or synthetic fragrances: the word “fragrance” does not say which ones. Allergenic substances must appear on the label. Some essential oils are poorly tolerated by cats and dogs: ask a veterinarian for advice.
• Wicks. Cotton is the standard. Lead-core wicks have not been made for decades; today's metal cores are most often zinc. If in doubt about the origin of a candle with a metal core, avoid it.

Safety rules to remember

• Never leave a lit candle unattended, nor fall asleep while it is burning.
• Place it on a stable, non-flammable holder, away from curtains, paper, dry decorations and Christmas trees. Fire services advise a clear space of about 30 cm around the candle and nothing above it.
• Leave a few centimetres between two candles (at least 7 to 10 cm according to manufacturers) so they do not heat each other.
• Trim the wick to about 6 mm before each lighting; avoid draughts.
• For a candle in a jar, let it burn long enough to melt the whole surface (this avoids “tunnelling”), but no more than a few hours at a stretch, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Extinguish with a snuffer rather than blowing (fewer splashes of hot wax); never pour water on burning wax.
• Stop when there is about 1 cm of wax left, especially in a glass that may crack.
• Keep it out of reach of children and animals; air the room afterwards, since any combustion releases fine particles.
• Have a smoke detector (mandatory in homes in France since 2015).

Choosing and maintaining

Read the label: wax material, burning time, warnings, manufacturer's name. Reputable makers refer to European candle safety standards (fire safety, labelling, soot). For cleaning, remove wax from fabric by letting it harden and then scraping it off; for a glass, put it in the freezer for a moment or pour hot water into it, once it has cooled completely. Store candles in a cool place away from direct light: heat softens soft waxes and sunlight fades colours.

To go further: fumigation and incense complement the atmosphere, and simple moon rituals suggest gestures to make with a candle safely.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to candle colors.