Candle care & safety
A few habits make a candle burn cleaner, smell better and last longer. A few more keep everyone safe.
Safety first
Warning: to prevent fire and serious injury, burn the candle within sight. Keep it away from things that can catch fire. Keep it away from children and pets.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and put it out before you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Burn it on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and anything flammable such as curtains, books and paper.
- Keep burning candles at least 3 inches apart.
- Don't move the candle while it's lit or while the wax is liquid. The glass gets hot.
- Don't burn it for more than four hours at a time. Let it cool for at least two hours before relighting.
- Stop using the candle when ½ inch of wax is left in the jar.
- If the flame gets too high, smokes or flickers repeatedly, put it out, let it cool, trim the wick and relight it.
- Never use water to put out a candle. Snuff it out or cover it.
- If the glass cracks or chips, stop using the candle.
- Pets and birds can be sensitive to fragrance. Burn candles in a well-ventilated room and keep pets away from them.
The first burn
The first burn matters most. Let the melted wax reach all the way to the edge of the jar before you put the candle out: about two to three hours. Soy wax has a memory, and if you stop early it will tunnel down the middle on every burn after that.
Every burn after that
- Trim the wick to ¼ inch before each lighting. A long wick makes a big, smoky flame.
- Burn for three to four hours at a time, until the melt pool reaches the edges.
- Keep the wax clear of wick trimmings and matches.
- Put the lid on once the candle has cooled to keep dust out and the scent in.
Burned this way, the large candle lasts about 50–60 hours and the small about 25–30 hours.
Reusing the jar
When about ½ inch of wax is left, stop burning the candle. To clean out the jar:
- Put the jar in the freezer for a few hours. The wax shrinks and usually pops out with a butter knife.
- Or set the jar on a towel and carefully fill it with hot (not boiling) water. The wax melts, floats and hardens on top, and you can lift it out once it cools.
- Peel off the label, scrape out the wick tab, and wash the jar with warm soapy water.
Throw wax in the trash, not down the drain. The clean jar works well for cotton balls, pens, small plants or matches.
Questions
Something not right with your candle? Email [email protected] with a photo and we'll help.