Burning Tips

When burning a candle for the first time, it is important to give it a "memory burn". You should burn the candle for 1 hour for each inch of its diameter. Example: a candle 3" in diameter should be burned for three hours to establish its "memory". This allows your jar candle to establish a full melt pool increasing the scent throw. If a candle isn't given a proper memory burn (meaning if your candle is burned for a short period of time), it will "Core Burn" down the center and a good scent throw cannot be achieved. Also, you'll be left with wax at the bottom and at the side.

Tip #1

Trim that Wick:

We've all seen it. Just about any candle will tell you to trim the wick to about 1/4" before lighting, but how many of us actually do it? Well it does help. The main thing it does is to cut down on the smoke.

Soy candles have drastically cut down on the smoking, but if too much of the wick is burning too fast, the wick itself will smoke. Trimming the wick will also help the candle burn more slowly and puddle all the way to the edges.

The little mushroom on the wick will help remind you it's time to trim. Try not to trim the wick too short though, as the flame can drown when the wax melts around the wick.

Puddle Size:

Tip #2

The larger the puddle of melted wax in a candle, the more scent it will give off. A small candle, no matter how fragrant it is, will not give off as much scent as a comparable but larger candle.

It is unreasonable to expect a tiny candle to fill an entire living room with its wonderful aroma. So burn smaller candles in small rooms unless you burn multiples at a time.

Watch for Drafts:

Tip #3

Have you ever seen two candles lit at the same time and one candle burns much faster than the other one? This is especially noticeable in tapered candles such as the kind often used in weddings.

Well it is almost always a result of the fast burning candle being in a draft from the air conditioner. It is amazing how much of a difference it can make!

In order to get the best results from any candle, it is very important to keep the candle away from any drafts. If you see the flame flickering, you're probably not going to get the best results. Move the candle to another location.

To Extinguish:

Tip #4

Instead of simply blowing a candle out, try this. Hold your index finger between your lips and the flame when blowing.

This causes the air to flow around your finger, hitting the flame from both sides. This is more effective at putting the flame out and reduces the chance of blowing wax out onto the table.

To Clean a Spill:

Tip #5

Try this if you ever spill any wax on the carpet or your clothing. First, let the wax harden completely and remove the larger chunks of wax. Then, place a paper towel or two over the wax and place an iron (on low setting) on the paper towels. This should melt the wax and cause it to draw into the paper towel.

Remember, soy and vegetable wax candles are water soluble and much easier to clean off of any surface with soap and warm water.

Keep Out of Sun:

The color in most scented candles will fade over time. This is especially true if the candle is subjected to sunlight. Be sure to place a decorative candle out of direct sunlight to help retain its true color.

Tip #6

Burning Votives:

Tip #7

Votive candles are designed to almost completely liquify. Therefore it is important to burn a votive in a votive holder or glass that is close to the same size as the votive. If not, the votive will not burn correctly or completely.

Tip #8

To Remove a Votive:

To remove a votive candle from its holder, try putting the candle in the freezer for a few minutes. This can cause the wax to shrink a little and enable it to pop off of the glass.

Candle Diet?:

Tip #9

Now this is pure speculation, but I've heard that burning sweet smelling candles such as those of sweet foods can actually help curb a person's desire to eat sweets. They say that smelling the sweet aroma satisfies at least part of the pleasure one gets from eating these foods. Who knows... it couldn't hurt to try it though!