There are 2 aspects to choosing a candle alternative.
First, you may be seeking an alternative lighting option that’s similar in purpose, placement, and ambiance that candles provide.
Second, you may be looking for a scent alternative.
We cover both reasons below.
Related: Types of Candle Holders | Types of Candles | Candle Burning Tips
Candlelight Alternatives
1. Electric/Battery-Powered Candles (Flameless Candles)
Source: Amazon
Electric candles, or flameless candles, are lighting devices that are powered by either a battery or electricity, and they present a lighting effect that’s the same as that of a candle.
We have several of these in our home. We have young kids so it’s a safer option. Besides, whenever we use real candles, our young boys continuously blow them out. It’s actually funny when a 3-year-old tries to blow out a battery-powered candle. He has no chance of course.
Pros:
- Can be left on when you leave the room
- Come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes
- Last a long period of time, since batteries can be replaced
- Device can be controlled by a remote
Cons:
- Don’t give off any fragrance like candles do, unless you can buy certain aroma-infused flameless candles that release the same smell as melted wax
- Batteries needed are more expensive than generic batteries
- Some electric candles don’t give off the same lighting effect that a real candle flame gives off
Electric candles, or flameless candles, usually cost anywhere from $5.00 to $20.00.
2. Table Lamp
Source: Amazon
A good ole table lamp like the one above is a fantastic candle substitute. The above one may be a little tall obscuring the people across the table, but it’s not any bigger than a full bouquet.
Pros
- No flame (although this can be a con given the flame is an attractive aspect of candles). In this instance, I’m referring to no dangerous flame.
- No mess.
- No replacing anything other than a bulb every now and then.
- Looks great.
Cons
- Fairly large.
- Need a cord which gets in the way. You could look for a battery-powered table lamp.
- No ambient flame.
3. Wine Bottle Lights
Source: Amazon
Candle bottle lights are a bit gimmicky, but they work as an alternative to a candle.
4. Illuminated Bowl/Vase
Source: Amazon
This option is much like the illuminated wine bottle. I like the blue light in this one.
5. LED String Lights in Clear Vase
Source: Amazon
Go ahead and create your own illuminated table piece with a string of LED lights and any transparent object. I like this example the most. It’s a plain glass vase with small LED string lights entwined inside. Simple, but looks good.
Another perk with using LED string lights is there’s no cord getting in the way for a power source.
6. Fairy Lights
Source: Etsy
Fairy lights are powered by either electricity or batteries, and are presented as small light bulbs on a strand that are used for the decoration of homes.
Pros:
- Provide the same relaxed lighting that candles offer
- Last for long periods of time
- Come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors
Cons:
- Don’t give off any fragrant scents like candles do
- Light-bulbs need to be replaced after a certain amount of time
- The strands with the lights on them are usually short, and the long ones can be expensive
Fairy lights or holiday lights cost anywhere from $10.00 to $40.00.
7. Curtain with String Lights
Source: Amazon
If it’s unique, ambient interior lighting you seek from candles but don’t want candles, consider an illuminated curtain that you can use on windows, bed canopy, hang on a wall, in a doorway – so many uses. It looks great too. This particular product has sold a truckload on Amazon.
8. Lava Lamp
Source: Amazon
I’m not getting a lava lamp any time soon (those days are over), but they are popular, inexpensive and certainly function like a candle.
Candle Scent Alternatives
9. Oil Warmers
Source: Amazon
An oil warmer is a device that heats up fragrant oils and then disperses the scents from the fragrance into the air. They can be either battery operated or require electricity.
Pros:
- Scent lasts for long periods of time
- Doesn’t affect the air quality
- Delivers the same relaxed lighting that candles do, if you buy one with a light
Cons:
- Can be dangerous to have hot oil displayed
- Oils are difficult to change in the device
Oil warmers cost anywhere from $5.00 to $20.00.
10. Wax Warmers
Source: Amazon
Wax warmers are devices that are either electrically or battery powered and they contain a small dish the wax sits in and melts. As the heat melts the wax, the scents are dispersed into the air.
Pros:
- Most similar to a candle, since they contain melted wax as well as the same relaxed lighting
- Scent is strong
- The same device can be used to put either essential oils or waxes into
Cons:
- The waxes are difficult to clean out of the dish to change scents
- Scents don’t last as long as candles
- The hot wax is a hazard to have displayed
Wax warmers cost anywhere from $6.00 to $20.00.
11. Reed or Stick Diffusers
Stick diffusers are glass bottles or containers that deliver scent by using a wick system. There is a fragrance oil contained in the bottle or container and sticks made of various materials, like reed. And the fragrance from the oil seeps up and out of the sticks, delivering fragrance into the air.
Pros:
- No batteries or electricity are required
- Presents a modern, simple look
- Natural and safe way for your house to smell fresh
Cons:
- Different material sticks give off different amounts of fragrances
- The scents only last a few days
Reed or stick diffusers cost anywhere from $5.00 to $50.00.
12. Fragrant Flowers
Fragrant flowers are plants that give off a natural smell when they’re placed in a room. They can be displayed as either bouquets in a vase with water or they can be placed in pots that contain soil.
Pros:
- Offer candle alternatives because they don’t offer a fire hazard
- No electricity, batteries, or heat required
- Beautiful displays
- Get rid of harmful toxins in the air
- Offers a way to bring nature indoors
Cons:
- Scent from flowers or plants isn’t very strong
- The bouquets of flowers die quickly
- All plants and flowers can die if they’re not taken care of properly
Fragrant flowers and plants can cost anywhere from $10.00 to $30.00.
13. Indoor Herb Garden
An indoor herb garden is a display of a group of various planted herbs that release a fresh, natural fragrance.
Pros:
- Counts as alternatives to candles because they deliver natural scents
- No electricity, batteries, or heat required
- Require little maintenance
Cons:
- Plants can die quickly if not taken care of properly
- Expensive
An indoor herb garden costs anywhere from $70.00 to $200.00.
14. Plug-in Scented Oil Air Freshener
A plug-in air freshener is a device that has a container with scented oil that plugs into an outlet and consistently diffuses the scented oil through the air.
Pros:
- Offers candle alternatives because it requires little maintenance
- The scents last long periods of time
- The air quality is not affected
Cons:
- The oil doesn’t last very long
- The device takes up outlet space, which most people see as problematic
Plug-in air fresheners usually cost around $10.00 to $20.00.
See 20 natural air freshener ideas here.
15. Potpourri
Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and spices that are placed in either a bowl or a bag, and the dried petals release fragrance into the air.
Pros:
- Present as alternatives to candles because it requires no maintenance
- Natural
- Fragrance lasts for several months
- You can make these yourself
Cons:
- The smell is very precise
- Limited scents to choose from
- Time-consuming to make yourself
Potpourri usually costs anywhere from $5.00 to $20.00.
16. Automatic Air Freshener Spray
An automatic spray is a battery operated device that automatically sprays fragrance into the air on a timer. You can insert the fragrance by placing an air freshener spray can into the container, so that the device can push the nozzle down every few minutes.
Pros:
- Comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes
- There is a variety of scents to put into the device
- Requires little to no maintenance
Cons:
- The sound of the spray is loud and unexpected
- The scent that the air freshener gives off only lasts for a few minutes until the device sprays the freshener again
Automatic spray air fresheners cost anywhere from $5.00 to $20.00.
17. Incense
Incense is a gum, spice, or other substance that is usually present in stick form and is burned for the fragrance that it releases.
Pros:
- Encourages emotional release and clams the nervous system
- Provides the same soothing burning smell that candles offer
Cons:
- Affects the air quality
- Doesn’t provide the relaxed lighting that candles offer
- The burning of the sticks counts as a safety hazard
Incense usually costs around $3.00 to $10.00.
18. Essential Oil Diffuser
See essential oil diffusers here
An essential oil diffuser is a device that breaks down oils into micro molecules that are released into the air, giving off certain fragrances that are known for their health benefits.
Pros:
- Scents help you unwind and relax
- Acts as a humidifier too, since the oil-infused water is released directly into the air
- Repels insects
- Each bottle of essential oil lasts a long period of time, since only a few drops of it are needed for each use
Cons:
- Oils aren’t FDA regulated, requiring you to research which brands of oils are healthy and which aren’t
- Can negatively impact the air quality if artificially-scented oils are used instead of organic essential oils
Essential oil diffusers cost around $15.00 to $50.00.
19. Air Freshener Sprays
Air freshener sprays are scented sprays that come in a bottle or a can container that may be dispersed around a room to spread its liquid fragrance.
Pros:
- Cheaper than any other method
- Comes in varieties of scents
Cons:
- Scent doesn’t last very long after it’s sprayed
- Affects the air quality
Air freshener sprays cost anywhere from $3.00 to $20.00.
