We’ve messed up A LOT of candles in our day. We’ve also spent over 3 years testing, updating and learning until we got them just right. Now we’re here to share all our candle tips and tricks to get the most out of your candles!
The First Burn: That first burn feeling is a good one, just be cautious of how long you enjoy it! The rule is that for every inch in diameter of candle comes an hour of burn time. For our 16oz, 8oz, 6oz and tin candle collection, we recommend at least 2-3 hours the very first time you burn your candle. For Dough Bowl Candles and 69oz candles, we recommend between 3-4 hours.
However, you should still regularly check in on your candle’s melt progress. The idea is to let your candle burn until there is an even layer of melted wax across the entire top of your candle. Soy wax has an incredible memory and will continue to burn in the shape it was previously melted. So, if you only burn around the wick and then extinguish the flame, the next time you relight the candle the wax will continue to melt its way down the wick, and not melt the wax out to the edges.
Stop, Drop & Extinguish: After that first burn, 3-4 hours is the perfect candle burning time frame to ensure you get the best scent throw. A little more or a little less may not be the worst thing, but never keep your candle lit for more than 6 hours. Doing so will affect the scent throw. Although you may be tempted to keep it going, the candle may get so hot that most of the scent will escape and leave you disappointed when you light it next.
Trim the Wick: Trimming the wick is one of the most important tips, because this is what keeps your candle clean and free of soot! Before re-lighting your candle, use a pair of wick trimmers to trim the wick to ¼” (or just underneath the bud). When trimming your wick it is also very important to not cut it too short, anything below 1/4" will drastically affect your burn by drowning the wick in the wax.
Soot is that black substance that appears around the rim of the jar or floats up onto your walls and ceiling if your wick is burning with a large bud on it – it’s also what we worked so hard to never have to deal with. Be sure to trim your wick so you don’t have to deal with it either!
Candle Safety [applies to any & all candles]: Candles are amazing, but their open flame makes them a fire hazard. Never leave your candle unattended and keep out of reach of pets and children. Make sure your fire alarms are in working condition and always have an extinguisher nearby (that you hopefully never need to use). Stay safe, xoxo!
Candle Storage: If for any reason you aren't actively burning your candles, we recommend storing them in a dark and dry spot (aka a drawer or cupboard). Keeping your candles out of the direct sunlight will keep them in the best condition possible for when you're ready to burn them in the future!
