I realize all of you sweet readers aren’t quite as …. well….seasoned as I am. What I mean is, some of you weren’t even born when I was burning one of these cool candles in the 70’s.
Now don’t be jealous — but I have one of these . . .
However, if you were born to hippie parents, or were wannabe hippies like me — you have seen these beauties. Chianti drip candles. Back in the day, before candles were dripless or specially made to drip, this effect would sometimes happen when ordinary taper candles would drip a little bit, and over time the wax drips would build up and create a cool effect. Now you have to buy special drip candles — because all the candles are dripless!
These Chianti drip candles were commonly seen in restaurants where Chianti bottles (wine bottles with wicker on them) would be used as candle holders on the tables. In the psychedelic 60’s and groovy 70’s the hippie culture discovered the visual trip of watching the colors and movements of drip candles melting.
I like my drip candle for it’s artistic, relaxing, and retro appeal. I’m not (and never have been) into “tripping”. My drip tapers happen to be white — but some places (we used to call them head shops) sold different color candles … sometimes square tapers that had a really cool effect as they dripped (and turned into spires). Personally, I like the plain white taper — and I can buy them at Hobby Lobby! The Chianti bottle….I found at a garage sale — but they do still sell them … beverage included.
A few things to note:
1. I never was a hippie — but I admit to liking their cool clothes.
2. Back in the day — music (as in albums and 45’s) were bought at “record stores” and some record stores were also headshops. I have great memories of grabbing the latest albums by my faves from the store’s overstuffed wooden racks and gleefully carrying them home sans bags!
Thanks to my sista, Dee dee…. for helping me remember the name of our favorite head shop record store. Hegewisch.
Thank you and good night.