We know our candles here at Home Smith and we have many to choose from. From paraffin to soy to beeswax, the candle you select depends on many factors and good quality candles - especially artisan-made scented or beeswax ones - are not just an investment, but a gift we want you to enjoy for as long as possible.
Following these tips will make the most of your quality candle…
- When lighting for the first time, burn until the wax melts across entire surface to the sides of vessel (or pillar). This prevents tunnelling, and creates an even burn for the duration of the candle’s ‘life’. This may take up to 2-4 hours.
- Trim wick to 5 mm before each burn to promote an even burn, steady flame and limit sooting/mushrooming of wick. Using a wick trimmer not only makes this easy when dealing with vessels, but ensures that trimmings do not fall into the candle wax.
- If soot forms on the inside of the vessel, extinguish the candle, wait for it to cool, then wipe with a clean damp cloth. Trim the wick and relight.
- Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
- Extinguish your candle with a snuffer. Do not blow out your candle (this causes wax to splatter).
- Drafts decrease burn time, cause uneven burning, dripping, smoking and diminished scent throw, so keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents.
- Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers, or the flame becomes too high. These signs indicate the candle is not burning properly and the flame isn’t controlled. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, then check for drafts before re-lighting.
- Always store your candles in a cool, dark and dry place. Scented candles also look great stored under a glass cloche, which also protects it from dust.
- Avoid placing your candles where they will be directly exposed to sunlight or harsh indoor lighting, such as a spotlights.
- Your can remove dust and fingerprints from a pillar or taper candle by gently rubbing the surface with a piece of nylon or a soft cloth. The cloth can be dry or slightly dampened with water.
- Always read and follow the manufacturer’s use and safety instructions carefully. Don’t burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends.
