Since the very first discovery of the flame, candles have been used to illuminate ancient civilisations and offer atmospheric, aromatic joy for modern households.
As is the case with the vast majority of seemingly modern inventions, it’s the Romans who can be credited with the earliest forms of candle-making. This is likely why “cererias”, artisan candle shops and perfumeries, are so prevalent across Italy – from Cereria Introna which was founded in Puglia back in 1840 and Catania’s Cereria Cosentino, founded in 1795, to Cereria Terenzi Evelino in Rimini, which has roots dating back to 1400.
The early Romans first began producing the modern wicked candle by dipping tightly rolled papyrus into melted tallow and often incorporated candles into their religious rituals. Saturnalia, the Roman festival which celebrated Saturn, the god of agriculture and the harvest, was likely a marvellously illuminated affair.
Italy effectively became Catholic following the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity within the Roman Empire. While many cererias have been operating for the better part of 200 years, many cropped up in response to the immense demand for church candles in the late 19th century – and candles remain a significant part of Catholic religious practices in Italy.
Beeswax didn’t emerge as a common alternative to tallow until the 16th century, though these candles were reserved for the upper classes, and fragranced candles only became popular in the 19th century with the discovery of paraffin wax. Scented candles have, however, existed for centuries to mask odours and would’ve been infused with incense, essential oils and herbs.
With such a strong candle-making heritage, it makes sense that Italian cererias have become experts in wildly popular, modern trompe l’oeil designs which require immense attention to detail and supreme craftsmanship. Otherwise referred to as hyperrealistic candles, these novelty accessories aren’t usually prized for their scent, but rather their aesthetics.
We’ve curated a selection of the best below.
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Nata Concept Store Farfalle Wax Candle
Nata Concept Store’s playful candles look so good you’ll want to eat them. Whether you select the farfalle design pictured, the olive, cheese cracker or Emmental, it infuses notes of jasmine, neroli and orange blossom, but chances are they’ll never get burned (they’re just too cute!).
Buy now £18.00, Selfridges
Hello Lovely Fake Cake Candle Slice Birthday Rainbow Cake
Crafted in Italy, this delightful faux cake slice arrives in a glorious cake box tied with ribbon to look just like the real thing. Fancy an entire gateau? Simply purchase eight slices to create a full cake.
Buy now £27.95, NOTHS
Chateau Merlot Wine Candle
Elevate your dinnertime tablescape tenfold with the help of this vintage-style wine bottle candle, crafted by Swanky Wine World from paraffin wax.
Buy now £15.00, Etsy
Not Another Candle French Fancy
Marvellously realistic, we adore the coquettish aesthetic that these French Fancy candles evoke. Offered in strawberry, lemon or chocolate – each vegan-friendly, handmade candle is scented with Dark Honey and Tonka Bean.
Buy now £15.95, Holly & Co
Cereria Introna Ladyfinger Cake Candle
Hyperrealistic and good enough to eat (but please don’t), Italian heritage brand Cereria Introna’s guilt-free collection of dessert candles are made from natural paraffin wax and use 100 per cent cotton wicks, making them smoke absorbent and drip-free.
Buy now £82.00, Koibird
Friends of NYC Stick of Butter Candle
So realistic that it even has the illusion of folded paper at the edges, this all-American style buttery delight is the perfect gift for the interior maximalist in your life.
Buy now £21.72, Friends of NYC
Choosing Keeping Fruit Bowl Food Candles
A departure from Choosing Keeping’s usual stationery-forward approach to retail, these fruity handmade candles are produced artisanally in a small family-owned business in Italy and are available in a veritable cornucopia’s worth of designs. Our personal favourites are the bunch of grapes and the Bull Heart tomato.
Buy now £33.00, Choosing Keeping
CandleLume Extra Olives Martini Candle
Extra dirty, please. Crafted in Toronto and hand-poured into a reusable martini glass, CandleLume only uses locally sourced materials as well as premium all-natural gel wax. Fear not, this candle is unscented – for while the taste of a martini is certainly delectable, few individuals enjoy the permeating scent of alcohol.
Buy now £25.98, Etsy
Flammes Zodiac Candles
Featuring 12 candles, each with its own unique ceramic vessels and scents, Flammes’ Zodiac candles are the perfect addition to any esoteric astrologist’s coffee table set-up.
Buy now £85.00, Flammes
Summerill & Bishop Lobster Dish Decorative Candle
Crafted in Southern Italy from high-quality wax and cotton wick, this creative crustacean is sure to take pride of place on your next dinner party table.
Buy now £85.00, Summerill & Bishop
Miilkys Fruit Loops Cereal Bowl Candle
Featuring 100 per cent natural, sumptuous coconut soy wax and a delightful Fruit Loops scent, we adore the sweet and zesty aromas that this brilliant candle produces. Choose between three different bowl sizes, each of which comes with an embedded spoon for maximum realism.
Buy now £13.92, Etsy
Simon James Home Croissant Scented Candle
Make your home smell just like an artisan bakery with the help of Simon James Homes’ brilliantly buttery croissant-scented candle. The vanilla base note opens to a bready, creamy and milky mid before revealing a buttery top note.
Buy now £12.00, Etsy
