How to best care for your candles

A lot of people ask questions about candle care, like; Why aren’t you supposed to burn a candle for more than 4 hours? What is a full melt pool? What does hot throw mean? The later two will be addressed in a future post where we talk about candle terms.

We do give out instruction sheets with each purchase. One sheet is for wooden wick care and the other is about candle care. Its an important enough topic that we want you to be aware of some things.

A candle offers peace and tranquility but it is also an open flame and that makes it a fire hazard. That’s why we would like to give you a little more information so that you can burn your candle safely and efficiently.

Before Lighting

It all starts before you even light the wick.

• Before burning, always trim the wick to ¼ inch. You can use a wick trimmer, nail clippers, or scissors. Long or misshapen cotton wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring. A wooden wick that is too long can cause too large of a flame. It’s is important to trim all burnt or ashed areas off the wooden wick before you light it.
• Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times. Melted was is hot, you do not want any kind of foreign debris in the wax.
• Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. It should be heat resistant, sturdy, large and deep enough to contain any drips or melting wax.
• Pick an appropriate spot to burn your candle.

Where to burn your candle

• Avoid drafts, vents, air currents, fans and open widows. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, and sooting.
• Follow the recommendations on burn time and proper use. In general, it’s recommended that candles should not burn for more than four hours.
• Cool a candle for at least two hours before relighting.
• Use long matches or a long-reach lighter to light your candles.
• Keep your hair, loose clothing or décor away from the flame.

During the burn

• Never, ever, leave a candle unattended.
• Do NOT burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not put candles anywhere that they can be knocked over.
• Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied before it cools.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down. Discontinue burning a candle when approximately 1/2 inch of wax remains in the container or 2 inches if using a pillar candle.
• If you use more than one candle, place burning candles at least three inches apart from each other. This is to make sure they don’t melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn dangerously.
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
• Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep.

Putting out your candle

• Use a candle snuffer to put out a candle. It’s the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the wax to splatter and can cause a hot glass container to crack. Water mixing with wax can create serious issues.
• Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick is no longer.
• Don’t touch or move a candle until it has completely cooled.