Candle Care

A well-maintained candle burns clean to the bottom. Here's how to get there.

The First Burn

Light your candle and let it burn for 2-3 hours - long enough for the wax to melt all the way to the edges. This creates a memory for the wax. If you blow it out before the melt pool reaches the edge, the candle will tunnel every time after that.

This is the most important burn. Don't rush it.

[Illustration: Cross-section showing proper melt pool vs. tunneling]

Trim Your Wick

Before every burn, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. A trimmed wick burns cleaner, produces less soot, gives you a better flame.

If you see mushrooming or black smoke, your wick is too long. Blow it out, let it cool, trim it, relight.

[Illustration: Wick trimming technique, 1/4" measurement]

Burn Time

Burn for 2-4 hours at a time. Less than 2 hours risks tunneling. More than 4 hours overheats the container and reduces scent throw.

Our 8.5 oz candles burn for 40+ hours if you follow these guidelines.

Keep It Clean

Remove debris from the wax pool before lighting. Keep the candle away from drafts - they cause uneven burning and smoking.

Burn on a heat-resistant surface. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Storage

Cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Heat and light fade color and weaken scent. Keep the lid on when not in use.

Troubleshooting

Tunneling: You didn't burn it long enough the first time. Wrap aluminum foil around the top edge (leave the center open) and burn for 2-3 hours to even it out.

Weak scent: Room might be too large for the candle size. Close doors, turn off fans. Still weak? Contact us.

Black smoke or soot: Wick is too long. Trim and relight.

Wick won't stay lit: Wick is too short or drowned in wax. If there's more than 1/4 inch of wax covering it, pour off some of the melted wax.

When It's Done

Stop burning when there's 1/2 inch of wax left. Burning below this overheats the container.

Reuse your vessel: Pour hot water into the container to loosen remaining wax. Remove the wick base, wash with soap and water. Good for pens, plants, whatever you need.