Thanks @KarenLot … I may have to got for those in the end, but I much prefer old-fashioned tapers! I’m starting to think this isn’t really realistic…
I just about remember them a piece of cotton cord dipped in wax it must be a simple experiment melt a few wax candles and immerse a length of cotton string
Italian churches (those minichapels with their own altars round the edges) where they have a stand for you to light a candle off the existing burning candle(s) in the front of that chapel, usually have glasses containing a 7" or so taper next to the burning one so you (after offering a coin or note) can light your own candle.
So I would guess they are readily found in Italy.
Interestingly, all the reviews on the Holyart website found by @vero are in Italian, so might actually be coming from Italy.
Another reason to love living in Europe!
Indeed I did, thank you @stella I suppose they didn’t quite fit what I had in mind, being mainly quite short but I may end up going for one of them
Apologies to @vero - I read your google suggestion as clerges rather than cierges - must start wearing my glasses at the computer… 
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the 
My goodness, isn’t it! In my more hippy period, I remember buying these and also Orthodox incense since the more usual joss sticks of the period tended to make me feel sick. Think I may still have some somewhere…
https://www.holyart.fr/produits-de-consommation/charbons-pour-encens/charbons-allumage-rapide-sachet-de-5-pieces.
I made some small pottery burners to put them on/in as well… sigh… those were the days 
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In the blurb… Holyart describes the “bougies fines blanches x 100” as actually 25cm long… which is hardly short 
unless you’re looking for something more like the olympic flame…
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You’re quite right of course - I’d looked at the brown ones … I don’t think I was “firing” on all cylinders yesterday
I know the feeling… and the 100 thingies might not be really what you want… so difficult to tell from photos…
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I am also grateful to @vero for the fascinating Holyart website tip.
Couldn’t help having a browse through icons and incense burners, though I actually need thin candles for 2 x 1920s candlesticks. Not sure I’ll need 100 in this lifetime but I may set up a little altar for Christmas. 
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I remember tapers as the only way to light the gas lights in the house. Being careful not to touch the mantle.
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These appear to be what you are after!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wax-Lighting-Tapers-5810-5-Long/dp/B00FDT9G9E
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And they come all the way from the USA hence the remarkable price of about 50c per taper.
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They do look right but can’t be shipped to France unfortunately. I think I may well go for the ones in the site @vero and @stella found (and then find someone else who wants to help me use the rest of the 100!!)
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Those are very interesting, thank you @timothy_jarrold1 ! A very definite possibility. I wonder why I didn’t find them when I was looking… 