Candle Care
Whether you burn candles in your home or office they create relaxation, comfort and add a beautiful fragrance to any space. 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.
HOW TO BURN A CANDLE CORRECTLY
Candle wicks have a memory of their own. The initial burn is the most important in order to make a candle burn evenly. You want to burn them long enough to allow the wax pool to reach the edges of the container. If the initial burn isn't long enough it will create a memory ring. Once the candle has a memory ring it will continue to burn to that point where tunneling occurs. Tunneling is when the wick burns straight down the center of the candle and leaves a good amount of wax on the sides of the candle container.
To avoid this, the diameter of your candle will determine how long you should burn a candle for the first time. The rule of thumb is to burn your candle one hour for every inch in diameter. For example, if your candle container is 3 inches in diameter, your initial burn should be at least 3-4 hours.
MAINTAINING YOUR CANDLE WICKS
A trimmed wick will prolong the life of your candle and maintain a quality flame throughout your candles lifespan. Before each burn cycle, trim your wicks no more than 1/4" long. A candle with a longer wick will burn quicker, hotter, produce smoke, soot and create mushroom tops. A candle wick trimmer is a great tool for trimming your wicks. https://greatsouthbaycandles.com/products/wicktrimmer
KEEP AWAY FROM DRAFTS
Moving air can disturb the flame and lead to an uneven candle burn. Keep away from drafty areas, open windows and ceiling fans. Candle wicks can curl naturally while burning and you may need to straighten them. If this occurs, straighten out your wick using a wick dipper.
STORING YOUR CANDLES
Storing your candles can have an effect on its performance and shelf life. Direct sunlight can fade it's scent and cause discoloration. After your candle has cooled down, replace the lid and store in a cool dry place. Replacing the lid also helps minimize dust and debris from accumulation on top.
HOW TO FIX A TUNNELING CANDLE
If candle tunneling does occur you may fix it by using a hairdryer or if you're a crafter , a heat gun. Carefully melt the wax around the sides of your candle. Be sure not to melt the wax too much where your wick will disappear.
SAFETY TIPS WHEN BURNING A CANDLE
- Never leave a candle unattended
- Burn on a heat resistant surface
- Keep away from children and pets
- Burn in a well ventilated room
- Don't burn your candle for longer than 4 hours at a time
- Keep wick trimming and other debris clear from the melt pool
- Never blow out a candle. The safest way to extinguish the flame is to use a candle snuffer
- Never use water to extinguish your flame
- Make sure your candle and wick ember is not glowing before leaving the room
- Do not use the lid to put our your candle
- Discard your candle when there is 1/2" of wax remaining in your container. Lighting a candle without enough wax can cause the glass to overheat and shatter
WAX MELT CARE and TIPS:
- Only use with an approved candle wax warmer
- Remove melts from plastic packaging before burning. Store extra melts in a plastic bag
- Depending on the size of your melting dish, use only 1 to 2 melts maximum at a time
- Do not add oil or water to the warming dish
- Don no touch as the warming dish will become hot
- Keep away from children and pets
- Burn on a heat resistant surface
- Store in a cool dry place
- The melted wax doesn't evaporate so replace with new wax melts when the scent has faded - Wait until the wax has cooled but not completely solidified. To soak up the wax simply wipe out with a paper towel. Most importantly do not discard the wax down a sink or drain as the wax clogs the pipes. Refer to the instruction manual that came with your warmer for further cleaning instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are soy candles safe?
Soy candles are a safer alternative 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 found on the market today. We use natural soy wax in all of 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, misleading consumers. In order for any product to be labelled organic, it needs to go through a strict organic certification process through the USDA. Only 2% of the soybeans grown in the USA are organic. Soybean crops are treated with pesticides then once harvested, the beans need to go through a process using chemicals in order for it to become a wax. Due to this chemical process, soy wax cannot meet organic certification.
How long does a candle last?
Burn time refers to the amount of time/hours a candle burns from beginning to end. Burn times will vary depending on what type , size, usage and proper maintenance of your candle.
What do the tops of my candles have a whitish color coating?
The white coasting seen 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 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. Between each burn make sure you trim the wick to clear any buildup.
What is a soy blended candle?
Candles blended with soy wax will also will contain a percentage of other waxes such as paraffin, coconut or palm wax. Companies will label their products soy blend without actually disclosing what other waxes were used to make the blend. 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 and olfactory system becomes less sensitive to the fragrance. Candle scent throw can only cover a certain amount of square footage. Larger rooms with high ceilings and a lot of square footage make it harder for your candle to fill the room with fragrance. You may need a few lit candles in certain rooms in your home.
How do you clean up spilled wax?
Sometimes accidents can happen if you are not careful. 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 consulting 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. Pour the heated (not boiling) water into the candle container. When the container cools down pour the wax 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.