The following information is provided by the National Candle Association and can be found at www.candles.org
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Burning a candle is easy. Luckily, so is following proper candle care and safety guidelines. Extend the life of your favorite candles, prevent unsightly soot and tunneling, and burn candles like a pro by following these simple tips:
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Always trim the wick and check for debris.....
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Before you light a candle, always trim the wick to ¼ inch and remove any debris left in the wax pool such as wick trimmings or matches. Any debris will add more fuel to the candle than it’s designed to handle. Too much fuel can cause the flame to unexpectedly flare up or even start a small fire near the candle flame. Wicks that are left long or crooked can cause uneven burning, dripping, flaring and sooting. Trimming wicks will help prolong the life of your candle. Your candles will burn up to 25% longer if you trim the wick every couple of hours.
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Get it right the first time.....
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Just like the first cut is the deepest, that first burn is the most important. Candles should burn one hour for every 1 inch in diameter of the actual candle size. For example, a candle that is 2 inches across should burn for 2 hours. If a candle is not burned for long enough to allow the wax to liquefy or to melt from edge to edge of the container, it will create a “memory ring.” Once a candle has a “memory ring,” it will continue to tunnel for the life of the candle.
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Don’t keep candles burning for longer than recommended.....
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Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. Avoid this by always following the manufacturer’s instructions. In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than 4 hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
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Keep the flame away from moving air
When burning a candle, avoid proximity to fans, air conditioners, open windows, or crowded areas with people walking back and forth. Moving air can disturb the flame, resulting in those pesky black marks on the glass.
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Store your candles properly
Store candles in a cool, dark and dry place with the lid on to keep them clean of dust and debris, and to help protect the wax and fragrance. Highly fragrant candles have a life span of 6 to 12 months, depending on the scent. If you enjoy fragranced candles, then use and replace them often to avoid deterioration in appearance and performance.
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** Wooden Wick Care Instructions **
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Make sure your wick is trimmed to 3/16”-1/4” before lighting. If the wick is too long, the wax will not pull up the wick and the wick will extinguish. Like traditional cotton wicks, wood wicks do require a little attention before each burn. ***Be sure to gently snap off the ash or top of the burned section along the top edge before every burn and then light as usual. If when burning the candle for long period of time you notice your flame getting too low, it may be necessary to extinguish the flame and when cool tap off any excess ash or burnt wood along the top of the wick. The flame will return to its proper height. Be careful to not let any debris from the wick (or anything else!) fall into the candle. Allow the candle to get a full melt pool (all the way to the edges of the container) each time you burn the candle (typically 1-2 hours) this is especially important during the first time you burn it. This will prevent the candle from tunneling and ensures the candle burns evenly and you get the most from your candle.
Do not burn any candle for longer than 4 hours at a time.
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To learn more about safe candle use, visit NCA’s Fire Safety & Candles page. Happy candle burning!
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**Concrete Candle Care Instructions**
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Coconut wax can easily be removed from the vessels so you can use your vessel for something useful. You can do either of the following:
Pop in the freezer for an hour or so, remove from freezer and with a butter knife break up the frozen wax. It comes out pretty easily and then when the vessel is at room temperature wash with warm soapy water. Never pour boiling water into your concrete vessel as this will most likely crack the concrete.
Hairline Cracks in Concrete
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Occasionally hairline cracking may occur with your concrete vessel. This is either due to burns times longer than the recommended
4 hours or the simply the nature of concrete. Concrete is prone to hairline cracking and we cannot guarantee this won't happen. It won't affect the way your candle burns.
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Caring for Concrete
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Concrete vessels have been sealed with a water-based protective sealer. However, with washing and use over time this will deplete. To get the most from your concrete product don't wash repeatedly and please don't place in the dishwasher.