Candle Care
In order to maintain the quality and life of your candles here are a few candle care tips to help you achieve the perfect burn.
Burning you candle
The first burn is most important to ensure a consistent or even burn over the life of your candle. You want to burn your candle long enough to allow the wax pool to reach the edges of the container. If the first burn isn't long enough it will create a memory ring which will cause tunneling during future burns. Tunneling is when the wick burns down the center of the candle and leaves a good amount of wax on the sides of the candle container. To prevent this from happening make sure to note the diameter of your candle as this will determine how long you should burn a candle for the first time. A good rule of thumb is to burn a candle one hour for every inch in diameter. For example, if your candle vessel is 3 inches in diameter, your initial burn should be at least 3-4 hours long.
Maintaining your wick
A trimmed wick will extend the life of your candle, which helps maintain a quality flame throughout its lifespan. Before each candle burn, make sure to trim your wick to no more than 1/4" long. Anything longer will burn faster, hotter, produce smoke, soot, and create mushroom tops. A candle wick trimmer is a great tool for trimming your wicks.
Keeping away from drafts
Drafty areas of moving air can disturb the flame and lead to an uneven burn. Make sure to keep away from windy areas, open windows, and ceiling fans. Some wicks will curl naturally while burning and may need to be straightened. If this occurs, straighten out the wick using a wick dipper.
Storing your candle
Storing your candles can have an effect on its performance and shelf life. Direct sunlight will fade its scent and cause wax discoloration. After your candle has cooled down, always remember to replace the lid and store the candle in a cool dry place. Replacing the lid helps minimize any dust, dirt, and debris from accumulating on top.
Fix a tunneling candle
If tunneling occurs you may be able to fix it by using a hairdryer or heat gun. Carefully melt the wax around the sides of your candle while not melting too much of the wax or the wick will disappear.
Top safety tips when burning your candle
A lit candle with an open flame is a potential fire hazard. Please keep in mind the following safety tips before lighting your favorite candle and always remember to monitor your candle until it is safely extinguished.
- Never leave a candle unattended.
- Burn on heat resistant surfaces.
- Keep away from children and pets.
- Burn in well ventilated areas.
- Don't burn candles for longer than 4 hours at a time.
- Keep wick trimmings and other candle debris clear from the melting pool
- Never blow out a candle. Instead, extinguish the flame by using a candle snuffer.
- Never use water to extinguish your flame.
- Make sure candle wick ember is not glowing before leaving unattended.
- Do not use the lid to extinguish your candle.
- Discard your candle when there is 1/2" of wax remaining in the vessel. Using a candle without enough wax can cause the glass to overheat and shatter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are soy wax candles safe?
Soy candles are considered safer than using paraffin wax candles. Soy wax is made from soybeans which is a natural renewable source grown by American Farmers. Because soy wax is a vegetable wax it is eco-friendly and burns cleaner than traditional candles. We use natural soy wax in all our candle products with no added paraffin wax or additional additives.
Is soy wax organic?
No. The term organic soy candles is used often in the candle industry and is misleading. In order for any product to be labelled organic, it needs to go through a strict organic certification process through the USDA. Few soybeans (< 2%) that are grown in the USA are organic. Most soybean crops are first treated with pesticides before being harvested, then the beans need to go through a process using chemicals for it to become a wax. Due to this chemical process, soy wax cannot meet USDA organic certification.
How long does a candle last?
Burning time refers to the amount of time/hours a candle burns from beginning to end. Burn times will vary depending on the type, size, usage and proper maintenance of your candle. The industry acceptable norm is generally 5 hours of burn time per ounce of soy wax.
What do my candle tops have a whitish color coating?
The white coasting seen on soy candles is called frosting. This is when a white crystalline layer forms on the surface of natural plant waxes especially in all natural soy wax. When additives are added to the soy wax or non-vegetable wax, the molecular structure is changed and will not frost. These changes do not have any effect on the scent throw or the burning properties of the candle. If frosting occurs then you know the candle your burning is made from pure all natural soy wax.
What is wick mushrooming or carbon buildup?
Wicks can sometimes get a buildup on top that resembles a mushroom. This commonly occurs with candles made with cotton wicks. To prevent this, make sure to properly trim the wick between candle burns.
When a candle is labeled soy blend, what does it mean?
Soy blended candles contain a percentage of soy wax but are blended with other waxes such as paraffin, coconut or palm wax. Some companies will label their products soy blend without actually disclosing what other waxes were used to make the candle. We do not add any paraffin wax, additives or dyes to any of our candle products.
Why can't I smell the candle when it's burning?
After burning the same candle scent for a long period of time your nose can become less sensitive to the surrounding scent that is the air. Candle scent throw can only cover a certain amount of square footage. Larger rooms with high ceilings and a lot of square footage will make it much harder for your candle to fill the room with its fragrance. You may need several burning candles in certain rooms to overcome this situation.
How do you clean up spilled wax?
Since soy wax is softer than paraffin wax it's much easier to clean from surfaces. To remove wax from hard surfaces simply clean up with a paper towel while the wax is still melted. If the wax has already hardened you may use a hairdryer to reheat the wax and wipe it up. For cleaning fabrics or leather surfaces, we highly recommend following the manufacturer's instructions.
How do you get wax out of a candle jar?
After you have enjoyed your favorite candle you can give your container a new life. Soy wax is a softer wax to work with, it's very easy to clean out a candle jar for reuse. Simply heat water in a pot on the stove or use hot water from the facet. Pour the heated (not boiling) water into the candle container. Wait until the container cools down and then pour into a disposable cup lined with paper towels. Gently scoop out wax with a plastic spoon. Wipe clean and wash with warm soapy water. Use rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to remove any remaining scent left on the container.