If you're just like how I used to be, then burning a new candle involves simply buying it and lighting it when I get home. My experience with making and testing all types of candles has shown me that is not the best way. Like everything else, candles require some maintenance in order to receive optimal performance. The following tips should be followed each burn to make sure that your candle stays beautiful, and burns safely while it fills your home with fragrance.
Candle Care Tips
- This prevents the candle from becoming too hot and prevents damage to any surroundings. This also prevents those times when you'd like to move the candle, but forget it's been burning for a long time, so the vessel is hot and you accidentally spill the wax after a brief touch.
- I understand that we all accidentally (or not accidentally) leave candles burning for longer than 4 hours. That is why Candledales have been "stress tested" to ensure that a long burn period will not be the end of the world.
- This ensures the flame is the correct distance from the wax. That is important because there needs to be an equal balance of heat delivery to the wax so that the candle doesn't burn too quickly but allows enough heat for an optimal fragrance throw.
- Also, each burn accumulates carbon at the end of the wick. It may look like a mushroom. This carbon burns hotter than the cotton wick. Burning carbon creates excess black soot and it burns through your candle faster than it should.
- You can do this with a wick trimmer, a pair of scissors, or simply pinching it while the wick is cool.
- Candles are hot! and the spill can make a mess. This one is self-explanatory but needs to be mentioned.
- Another obvious that still needs to be mentioned. I recommend a terrazzo coaster for both style and function. Flammable objects could be curtains, loose papers, oils, etc.
- Other candle makers will suggest your candle to form a full melt pool for the first burn, but they probably aren't working with coconut wax. Coconut wax is quirky. The first couple of burns will reach to just the edge of the container, but you won't see the walls of the container until you're about half-way down.
- Slight tunneling with coconut wax is normal and will eventually catch up near the end of the candle's lifespan.
These steps seem daunting, but they will become habits after just a couple of burns. Now it's time to allow your Candledale fill your room with fragrance! Or time to buy some more 👀
