Buying a candle is just the beginning of your scent journey. Some people are visual, and the vessel alone is the catch. Here are a few essential tips to burn by so you can safely enjoy your candle each time.
First Burn Session (Container Candles)
- Ensure you've found the best space to enjoy your candle– a flat, leveled, heat-safe surface within your immediate sight. Keep out of reach of children and pets and out of the way of drafts and obstructions.
- Remove all packaging and accessories from the candle's surface (including dust covers, etc.).
- trim your wick to the length suitable for your candle & wick combination. *Each container candle's specifications are listed on the vessel's underside; each decorative candle is shipped with a care card.
- After lighting, it's best to allow your candle's melt pool to reach the inner diameter of its vessel fully; however, if that hasn't happened within 3 hours, it's okay.
- Burning a candle for longer than suggested can cause overheating of the vessel and compromise the performance of the wick. So, please don't.
- Never move a candle while it's lit or has a melted wax pool.
- When ending your burn session, opt for the appropriate candle care accessories to extinguish the flame safely. Check out our 2-piece candle care set. The wick trimmer + candle snuffer duo is suitable for all candle types. The wick trimmer + wick dipper duo is best for container candles with cotton wicks.
- Replacing a lid or dust cover is a great way to keep your candle free of dust and debris.
After the First Burn Session (Container Candles)
- It's essential to allow your candle to cool completely before lighting it again. This allows the candle to perform as expected and will help prolong the life of your candle.
- Before lighting, trim your wick to the ideal length based on your candle specifications. A candle wick trimmer is a great tool, but if you don't have one yet, pinching the burnt tip off with your fingers (once cooled) is fine– be sure to have something handy to clean your fingers off.
- Any wax hang-up (residual unmelted wax on the inner vessel) will resolve with subsequent burns.
- From here, follow all precautions as if this were your first burn.
- Discontinue burning when ½ inch (12mm) of wax remains.
Decorative Candle Care (burning)
Although sculptural candles are primarily intended for decorative purposes, burning them is fine. Keep in mind that the life of a decorative candle is much shorter than that of a container candle; you can make the most of it by following this list of care tips.
- All candles share the same base safety tips: burn on a flat, leveled surface within your immediate sight. Keep lit candles away from children and pets, clear of drafts, and free of obstructions.
- Pillar candles don't have a vessel to contain the melted wax, so it's recommended to burn on top of a heat-resistant dish or another suitable surface. While the candle walls are intended to hold the melt pool, spillage may occur.
- Trim the wick to ¼ inch (6 mm) before lighting each time. Once lit, do not burn for more than 1 hour at a time.
- Discontinue burning when ¼ inch (6 mm) of wax remains.
Decorative Candle Care (as decor)
The beauty of decorative candles lies in their smooth finishes and sculptural design. Decorative candles offer so much variety and appeal on their own. They don't require much, but here are a couple of practices to follow.
- Be mindful of placement –– don't display them in direct sunlight, and keep them away from heat sources like heaters or near the exhaust of long-running appliances.
- A concrete tray is a perfect companion. It can help protect surfaces and as a little extra oomph!
- Wipe away any dust that may collect with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth.
