Leave the candles on the table

A candle holder should still look like itself when the flame is out. White ceramic, unglazed clay cups, a house with cut windows — not a forest of scented jars.

The white ceramic holder with trees (21.4cm) is the one we put on the table: a long base, glossy white evergreens, sandy unglazed cups for thin tapers. Light two, leave the middle empty. The 30cm four-candle tree holder is the longer version, for a table that already has plates.

On the mantel

T-lights belong in a house, not a glass ring. The metallic T-light houses (19.5cm and 15.8cm) glow through the windows. A pair is a street; a row of six is a shop window.

If you want quieter glaze, the grey ceramic T-light houses (15cm and 9.5cm) sit well with the white trees already on the shelf.

A small forest

The forest tree holders (21.7cm) are for a side table, not the dinner. One is a still life. Three in a cluster starts to look like a display.

Burn real tapers. Keep the holders away from drafts and from the edge of the cloth. UK delivery is complimentary over £50. Shop candle holders and lanterns.