Candle Care

All about caring for you candles.

Most of us burn candles in our homes, however sometimes we may forget that a candle is a FIRE in our home.  That is why it is first and most important to never leave them unattended.

 A couple more things to know to  keep them safe.

1.  A couple safety features we incorporate: The candle tins we use have small "nubs" on the bottom so the tin is slightly raised off the surface that it is resting on.  This allows air to move under the bottom of the tin reducing the heat being transferred to the surface.  We also use wick pins that won't allow the flame to burn all the way to the bottom of the candle.

2.  Never place candles on a table where it can be touched by a child or  a pet.  Dog and cat tails knock a candle to the floor very quickly just walking by..Tails :)

3.  Never burn a candle near anything that could catch fire. or

The Proper Way to Burn a Candle

1. Before burning your candle each time, trim the wick to 1/8 inch.  The safest way to do this is with a wick trimmer or use scissors in a pinch.  The first burn is the most important, the candle wax must pool to the edge on the initial burn. Wax has memory, meaning that if your candle doesn't burn to the edges, it will begin to tunnel and won't burn evenly the next time. Keeping the candle away from airstreams like open AC vents, windows, or fans is crucial.  During the normal process of burning a candle as the wick pulls wax into the wick you can get what is called "mushrooming.  While we use wicks designed to help avoid this you still get some depending on the burn time.  Trimming the tip of the wick before each burn takes that small "mushroom" off allowing the candle to burn properly . Always trim the wick when wax has cooled.  Always make sure the wick is centered for even burning as the wick can lean to one side if a deep pool of wax is melted.
2.  We like to use a candleholder designed for candle use.  Place the candleholder on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
3.  IMPORTANT:  Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.  Leaving trimmings in the wax can catch fire.  
4.  Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping.
5.  Never touch or move a burning candle. Never move a votive or jar candle when the wax is liquefied.
6.  Don't burn a candle all the way down to the bottom. Discontinue burning a candle when 1/2 inch of wax remains.
7.  If you see a flame that is too high or are seeing the flame flickering continually or see black smoke around the inside of the container extinguish the candle then  after the wax has cooled trim the wick.  Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It's the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
8. So in general burn your candle for the first time from 2-4 hours....watch the wax pool and no more then once in a 24 hour period.  These steps will ensure a longer life of your candle.