Many people have the misconception that all you have to do is light the candle and it will take care of the rest. This theory is fine for people who are not concerned with getting the best burn out of their candles, however for those who want to get the most out of their candles by making sure they burn evenly and totally please follow these simple steps which are directed toward our SoyLuscious® all natural soy wax candles. A different type of candle may require different steps, so make sure you always follow the warning label on the bottom of the candle.

  1. Make sure you burn the candles 1 hour per inch of diameter.  For instance, one of our Frosted Apothecary Soy Container Candles is 4” in diameter which means you should burn it for 4 hours. This is to ensure that the melt pool will extend all the way to the edge of the jar and will prevent tunneling. Once you allow a candle to start tunneling it will continue to tunnel all the way down and will waste a lot of wax.  Keep your wicks trimmed to ¼” and make sure you trim the wick after every burn. This will ensure the flame is the proper size and will eliminate any smoke.
  2. Do not allow wick trimmings to fall into the melt pool. Remove all trimmings and discard them. Allowing wick trimmings to remain in the melt pool will create a fire hazard and can also interfere with the burn quality of the candle.
  3. Do not burn the candle where there is a draft. This will cause the flame to move and create an uneven burn and may also make the candle produce smoke.  Even soy candles can produce smoke if burned improperly.
  4. Always use a wick snuffer when extinguishing your candle. This will prevent the smoking that usually occurs when blowing out a candle.

Also, remember a candle has a flame so treat it with respect. Make sure you follow the warning labels that come on the candles. Generally they will say the following:

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended
  • Keep burning candles away from children and pets.
  • Do not place near flammable objects such as curtains, walls, etc.
  • Place on a protected, heat resistant, level surface.
  • Keep candle free of wick trimmings, matches, or other foreign matter that could be a fire hazard.
  • Avoid burning in drafts.
  • Do not move a burning candle or a candle that is liquefied.
  • Keep wick trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times.
  • Keep wick centered at all times
  • Allow candle to cool before trimming wick or relighting.

It is always the responsibility of the consumer to make sure they are properly burning the candles. Remember to treat all candles with respect.

Extra tip: For maximum scent strength always replace the lid of the candle after it has cooled.  This will allow the candle to continue to cure and over time the scent strength of the candle will become even stronger.
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This article has been reposted from the candle articles section of the Candles of Eden website.