Just as candles come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes - not to mention scents - so too do candle holders. Regardless of your style or budget there are candle holders to help set the mood, complement your decor and impress your guests.

The type of candle -- pillar, votive, taper or specially-shaped -- will determine the type of candle holder for which you are looking. In general, votives are intimate candles best used in the bedroom, by the bath or to lightly scent and illuminate a small reading nook. Pillar-style candles come in several heights and can be used for informal and semi-formal occasions depending on the type of holder. Tapered candles are the most formal type of candle and are generally used in a classic table setting in an elegant candelabra.

Once you have chosen your candle type, size, color and scent, choosing the holder is like choosing the appropriate serving platter or the perfect gift wrap.

Votive candles are small candles that were originally designed for use in religious ceremonies. They are often used as decorative candles in homes. Votive candle holders come in a huge range of styles. Beautiful examples are available in frosted, patterened or mosaic style glass. A quick search online will show the number of styles available.

Crystal or glass candle holders come in varying shapes and sizes but are best suited for semi-formal and formal settings, unless the glass is glazed, crackled or more rustic in design. For example, while a Mason jar-style candle holder is certainly made of glass it would not be considered even semi-formal. One consideration when choosing glass candle holders is whether or not your chosen candle will burn safely without heating the sides of the container if it rests inside. If overheated the glass could break and allow the flame and/or melted wax to escape, not to mention the hazards of broken glass.

Sconces, or holders that hang on the wall, can lend a formal or even a medieval air to a room depending on the style. Glass hurricane-style globes fit charmingly in an old farmhouse, quaint Victorian or other historic setting, while brass or similar metal sconces, especially iron, can lend a sense of the gothic. An added bonus is that if you use sufficiently bright candles, the reflective design of the sconces will help to effectively light a room during a power failure.

Tea lights are a variation on votives, originally designed to fit under a tea kettle and keep the contents warm. Today tealights serve a much more decorative purpose and come in a variety of color and scents. The holders for tealights are as varied as the candles themselves and range from the quaint - a ceramic house with cutouts for windows and chimney - to the formal - blown glass or crystal or silver. Because of their diminutive nature, tealights can even be used in wooden holders with low sides.

Candle holders can be found for purchase everywhere from big box superstores to the corner market. A great place to find candle holders is garage or estate sales where there seems to be an endless supply and variety of candle holders.