E14 and SES are the same fitting. E14 is the IEC European designation based on the 14 mm thread diameter; SES is the UK trade name for the identical connector. If a fitting specification, the fitting's instruction leaflet, or an online product listing says “SES candle bulb”, an E14 candle bulb will fit it. This is the most common source of confusion when ordering decorative candle lamps, particularly for chandeliers sourced from European suppliers that label lamp holders with the E14 code rather than SES. Similarly, B22 and BC refer to the same bayonet cap fitting used across most UK domestic ceiling roses and pendant lamp holders.
Warm white or cool white candle bulbs?
Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). Lower values produce a warmer, more amber light; higher values produce a crisper, bluer-white output. For decorative candle applications, two colour temperatures account for the majority of purchases:
- 2700K (warm white) is the closest match to a traditional incandescent candle lamp and the default choice for chandeliers, crystal pendant fittings, wall lights, living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. All three E14 variants, both E27 options and the B22 variant in this range include a 2700K warm white option.
- 4000K (cool white) produces a neutral, slightly blue-white output suited to kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and modern fittings where colour accuracy or clean visibility matters more than atmosphere. 4000K dimmable filament glass candle bulbs are available in E14 and E27 fittings.
If you are replacing existing incandescent or halogen candle lamps in a chandelier or decorative fitting, 2700K is the safe like-for-like colour match. Mixing colour temperatures across lamps in the same multi-arm fitting will be visibly noticeable at close range, which matters in exposed lamp applications.
Dimmable LED candle bulbs
Not every LED candle bulb is dimmable, and fitting a non-dimmable LED to a dimmer circuit causes flicker, humming from the dimmer module, and premature bulb failure. The dimmable candle bulbs in this range, including the E14 2700K and 4000K filament glass variants and the E27 4000K omni filament option, are compatible with mainstream UK trailing-edge LED dimmers.
If you are replacing halogen candle lamps that were previously on a rotary or push-button leading-edge dimmer, factor in a dimmer switch upgrade. Leading-edge dimmers were designed for the resistive load profile of halogen bulbs and often misbehave with the capacitive load of LED drivers, even on dimmable LEDs. A trailing-edge LED-compatible dimmer is a minor additional cost against the inconvenience of persistent flicker. The B22 candle bulb currently stocked is non-dimmable and is suited to standard on/off circuits only.
Standard candle bulbs versus filament glass candle bulbs
Five of the six candle bulbs in this collection are filament glass types: clear or minimally tinted glass-bodied lamps with visible LED filaments inside, designed to replicate the appearance of a traditional incandescent lamp. In decorative chandeliers, crystal pendants and wall lights where the lamp is visible rather than concealed behind a diffuser, the filament glass body is part of the intended aesthetic. Frosted or standard candle bulbs conceal the light source behind a diffuse coating and are better suited to enclosed fittings or lamp holders where the bulb is not on direct display.
The single standard (non-filament) candle lamp in this range is the Integral LED Candle E27 2700K Non-Dimmable, which provides a cost-effective warm white option for applications where the lamp finish is not a priority.
Compatible fittings at Harbro
The following ranges from the Harbro decorative lighting collection all use E14 (SES) candle bulbs and are available to order alongside this lamp range: