We are delighted to introduce our first guest blogger in The Longest Stay blogging corner: Elias from Social Nesting. Elias describes Social Nesting as a place for his "personal creative journeys, noteworthy things and the original stuff that others are doing" that turn his head. Are you currently mourning summer? Find out why Elias is incandescent with the joys of longer nights, staying indoors and basking in the soft illumination of candlelight…

Anyone who follows my adventures knows that I am always looking for ways to fill my life with luxuries without spending the money. From woolen taxidermy to birdcage lampshades, if I can knock it off, I will.

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Sadly, candles are a different story. I have attempted to pretty up a vessel or two, but the waxy and delicately scented contents are an undertaking best left to the refined experts. Now, I am a cheapskate, but when it comes to candles, I have too often been burned (apologies) by inferior low-cost options. A candle is in most instances where one should not scrimp.

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Let's talk the foundations of a good candle: burn time, burn quality, scent and vessel. You may get one or maybe two of these qualities from a low cost candle, but what's the point of a decent scent if it doesn't last? Or a pretty container that is the home to an offensive scent? My favourites are the Feu De Beaumont Golden Goblet Candle, The Golden Porringer Candle and Glass Vessel Candle all displayed in the image above.

Decorative candles work on so many levels as an undeniably good gifting option. Especially those housed in a beautiful tin or lidded vessel such as the Illume Two Wick Candles

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Spoil a friend or dear relation, or offer one up as the perfect (and quite literal) house-warming present. There will be several on my Christmas wish list this year such as the Marmalade Fragrant Glass Vessel Candle and the opulent Le Pomme Scented Candle by D.L. & Co (as seen in the Evening Standard this week).

 (So take note, friends and family)…

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And if you are lucky enough to be on the receiving end of a luxurious candle, here are my three top candle tips:

1 – To avoid a candle smoking or burning unevenly, keep the wick short. Trim before every lighting, including the first.

2 – Never light a scented candle before or during a meal – the scent might overwhelm the palette and be off-putting to your guests.

3 – Always leave a jarred candle burning long enough so that the whole surface is melted – this will prevent your wick sinking in the middle and getting flooded.

Last but not least –The Longest Stay are giving away a FREE luxury scented candle when you sign up to their stylish newsletter, which is full of inspirational interior ideas and new products! Simply sign up to the magazine from The Longest Stay homepage

A candle that has it all need not cost the earth. However, if it does cost more than you expect it has the added benefit of making those fast approaching winter nights, beautifully scented for hours with the perfect burn and a lovely vessel to keep.

Yours in Design,

Elias