A taper box or 'bougie box' was a cylindrical type of box to hold a wax taper coil. The name is derived from the French word, 'bougie' for candle which is derived in turn from Bougia, the Algerian town which exported the wax. The box has a slip on cover and usually a single loop handle. A tube or socket at the top of the cover permits the coiled taper to emerge. Some had a candle extinguisher, a small hollow cone which was placed over the lighted taper to extinguish the flame without causing the snuff to smoke. Usually, the extinguisher is attached to the side by a short chain and a hook which slides into a sleeve. The taper, (made of wax and non odorous) was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination.