Candle Care 101: Expert Guide
Candle Care 101
Experts agree that proper routine candle care is essential to maximize the benefits of your luxury scented candle. Never underestimate the value of routine candle care, it will extend the burn time (the life of your candle), maximize the hot throw (the distance that the scent travels throughout the space) of your candle, as well as decrease the potential for fire hazards. Keep reading and by the end of this article you will have the keys to unlock the full potential of your luxury scented candle.
Wick Trimming
Have you ever wondered why your candle intermittently smokes and leaves soot residue all over the vessel? If this is happening to you, then there’s a high probability that you’re not properly trimming your wick. It is important to trim a wooden wick to .20 inches (5mm) or a cotton wick to .25 inches (6mm) before EVERY use. An untrimmed wick will produce a larger flame and generate more heat, which will in-turn accelerate the burning process and reduce the life of your candle. To the contrary, a properly trimmed wick will help regulate the flame (based on your wick specification) and reduce possible fire hazards; ultimately resulting in an extended candle life. While it’s suitable to use scissors (in a pinch), we at YouTopia Candle Co. recommend that you purchase Candle Accessories (wick trimmer and snuffer). High quality wick trimmers and snuffers are ergonomically designed to conduct routine candle care with ease and precision.
Burning
When burning your luxury scented candle for the first time it is important to let it burn for approximately 2 hours. Conventional wisdom dictates that you let a candle burn one hour for every inch in diameter (of the vessel). I’ve found this formula to have inconsistent results, so proceed with caution. As mentioned above; I suggest letting your candle burn for approximately 2 hours allowing the melt pool to spread evenly and reach all edges of the vessel. This crucial step will prevent tunneling, weak hot throw, and a drowning flame.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but NEVER burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time. Burning your candle for extended periods of time may cause excessive heat and a fire hazard. When you're ready to extinguish your luxury candle, DO NOT blow it out. Blowing out your candle may displace the wax, making the surface uneven, which in turn could cause tunneling. Blowing out your candle may also dislodge pieces of charred wick…you want to avoid letting debris fall into the melt pool. As mentioned above, we recommend that you purchase a high quality snuffer.
By design, YouTopia Candle Co. includes a natural cork lid (with every candle) that can be used (in a pinch) to smother the flame. Our natural cork lids do not contain any metal, paint, plastic, or rubber that could deform or release toxins when heated.
Care & Safety Checklist
Trim wooden wick to 0.20” (5mm) before every use.
Trim cotton wick to 0.25” (6mm) before every use.
Burn candle for at least 2 hours on the first use. Allow the melt pool to spread evenly and reach all edges of the vessel.
Keep wax pool free of debris.
Do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time.
Do not blow out candle. Extinguish with a snuffer.
Stop burning when only 1/2” unmelted wax remains.
Avoid placing candle in the direct path of drafts, fans, air conditioners, and air purifiers.
Allow candle wax to cool before moving.
Keep away from children and pets.
Place candle on a flat and level surface.
Never leave candle unattended.
Always practice safety precautions.
Conclusion
You’ll be surprised by the vast number of candle users who are unaware that they must perform routine candle care. While they are generally satisfied with the overall performance, they aren’t experiencing all the benefits that can transform a scented candle into a therapeutic tool. Follow the above-mentioned suggestions and you’ll not only extend the life of your candle, but you’ll also maximize its therapeutic benefits. Visit our Online Store if you wish to join the family and support an ethical luxury candle brand that promotes health & wellness.
Key Vocabulary: burn time, hot throw, wooden wick, cotton wick, wick trimmer, snuffer, melt pool, tunneling, drowning flame
