How to Care for Your Candle
Candle-care Tips
Candles can create a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere in your home, but it’s important to know how to care for them properly.
With a few simple steps, you can ensure that your soy and beeswax candles burn safely, evenly, and last as long as possible, while filling your space with their lovely fragrance.
Follow the tips below to get the most out of your candles and enjoy them safely.
General Candle Care Tips
Taking care of your candle is essential to maximizing its burn time and fragrance throw.
Soy and beeswax candles, when properly maintained, provide a cleaner burn and longer-lasting enjoyment.
Here’s how to keep your candle in great shape:
- Trim the Wick Before Each Burn: Always trim your candle’s wick to about ¼ inch before each use. This prevents the wick from mushrooming, helps the candle burn evenly, and reduces the risk of soot.
- Let the Wax Melt Evenly: For the first burn, allow the candle to burn long enough for the entire surface to melt from edge to edge of the jar (usually 2-4 hours, depending on the candle size).
This prevents tunneling and ensures even burning throughout the life of the candle.
- Avoid Drafts: Candles should be placed in a stable area, away from drafts, ceiling fans, or air currents, which can cause uneven burning, smoke, and flare-ups.
- Burn in 3-4 Hour Intervals: Extinguish your candle after 2-4 hours of continuous burning.
Allowing it to burn too long can lead to an overly hot container or even breakage, and it reduces the lifespan of your candle.
- Keep the Wax Clean: Make sure your candle wax is free from debris, such as matchsticks or wick trimmings, to avoid unnecessary fires and to keep the burn clean.
- Extinguish Safely: Use a candle snuffer to extinguish your candle rather than blowing it out. This helps prevent hot wax from splattering and prolongs the life of the wick.
Safety Guidelines for Burning Candles
While candles are a wonderful way to add warmth and fragrance to your home, they do involve an open flame. Safety is critical, so make sure to follow these important guidelines:
- Never Leave a Burning Candle Unattended: Always be present while your candle is lit.
Extinguish it before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep Away from Flammable Objects: Make sure your candle is far from curtains, bedding, paper, and other flammable materials.
- Place on a Heat-Resistant Surface: Set your candle on a stable, heat-safe surface to avoid any damage from heat or hot wax spills.
- Keep Candles Out of Reach of Children and Pets: Candles can pose a serious hazard to curious children and pets.
Keep them in a safe, elevated area.
- Do Not Burn the Candle to the Bottom: Stop using your candle when about ½ inch of wax remains in the container.
Burning it too close to the base can cause the jar to overheat or crack.
Standard Candle Warning Information
Every time you light your candle, it’s important to follow these standard warnings to ensure your safety:
- Burn within sight.
- Keep away from flammable objects.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
By following these guidelines, you can enjoy your candles safely while enhancing their longevity and fragrance.
Treat your candles with care, and they’ll continue to fill your home with light and scent for many hours to come!