The First Burn is the Most Important: When you light your candle for the first time, always allow the wax to burn so that it melts across the entire surface to the edges and pools to the edges of the container. This will effectively assist in preventing tunnelling and help promote an even burn for the duration of the candle's life.
Avoid light and hot temperatures: Candle waxes and fragrances are sensitive to both temperature and light, so try to be careful when storing candles. Try to always store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. This will always help protect it from discolouration and fading. If you sell your candles, try to keep this in mind when attending outdoor market stalls or other locations which could potentially be exposed to the sun or intense light. You can always keep a few sample products out for display whilst leaving your pre-packaged stock close by to sell.
If you aim to have your candles stocked by retail stores, it is probably worth spending the time including some maintenance instructions which are directly suited to your particular candles (remember all candles are different!).
Keep your wick trimmed: Try to ensure that your wick is always kept to 5mm long at all times. We recommend trimming the wick every 3 hours of burn time. When trimming, always extinguish the flame, let the candle cool down to room temperature, remove any wick debris and trim the wick before relighting. We sell wick trimmers in three colours: gold, rose gold and chrome. This will help to encourage a more even burn, steady flame, and limit mushrooming and sooting.
Try to avoid burning candles for more than three hours in one sitting. We suggest that after burning a candle for three hours, you should allow the candle to cool for two hours before relighting.
Remember to also continually re-position your wick to keep it centred so as prevent the glass being exposed to heat from the wick flame. One of the most important factors which affects the performance of a candle is the position of the wick.The position and shape of your wick will always impact the quality and performance of your candle so it is important to always try to have it straight and centered. Please note that wicks that have taken on a new position or shape can cause the flame to waver and potentially cause heat damage to the glass.
Follow the half-inch wax rule: Always monitor the amount of remaining wax in a candle container. Once the wax falls below the half-inch mark (1.27 centimetres), discontinue use. The container can heat up when the flame nears the base of the jar and there is not much remaining wax. Following this rule will help prevent heat damage to the container and the surface surrounding the candle.
Putting out your candle: Try to always use a proper candle snuffer to extinguish your candles as this will prevent the wick from moving and wax from spilling. This will also assist in maximising your burn times. We sell candle snuffers .
Votives: Always use the appropriate votive glassware to burn these types of candles as the wax will liquify because it is low melt wax. The inside of the votive glass should be a similar size to the votive candle itself as if the container is too wide, the flame will not reach all the liquid wax and excess wax will remain. Generally, if the votive candle fits the glass more snugly, it will burn for longer.In order to help protect your votive glassware from excessive heat, once you have made your wax candle in a mould and before you place it in a votive container, you can try adding a tiny amount of water (1/4 of a teaspoon) to the candle container. This will also make cleaning easier if you want to get repeated use out of your candle glassware.
Cracking Defects: There are many variables in candle making so it's no surprise that we receive many questions related to differences between batches of candles. Some of these include varying types of dye or colour, different types of fragrance and also different percentages of fragrance used, many different types of vessels, i.e. glassware, ceramics & tins all with differing thicknesses and properties and one of the most important variables is temperature.
Adhesion or 'Wet Spot' Issues: This is a very common occurrence so do not worry. Poor adhesion can also be described as wet spots on the side of the glass and looks like a ‘wet’ appearance in parts. First, it’s worth pointing out that this is a very common occurrence when making candles in glassware, particularly with clear glasses whereby it’s easily visible, and natural waxes can also be more prone to it. If you do some research, you will find even some of the most expensive soy wax candles from large manufacturers have the same result. You are certainly not doing something wrong if you do see some container adhesion and it most certainly will not affect the way the candle burns.
Spilt Wax Removal: If you accidentally spill candle wax, ensure that you let it harden so it can be easily removed in pieces. Cover it with paper towels, newspaper or similar spare material you have lying around and gently press with an iron on low heat. The spilt wax should melt and absorb into the paper.
Blackened Edges of Glass: If your candle glass starts to blacken with use, remember to keep the wick trimmed. Also always wait until after the candle is extinguished and cooled before removing the black marks with a dry paper towel.
Extinguishing the Wick: To extinguish the candle flame, use a snuffer or carefully dip the wick into melted wax and then straighten to prevent smoking and prevent hot wax splatter. Try to avoid blowing candle flames out and do not extinguish with water as this can cause containers to break.
Maximising your Scent Throw: In order to maximise fragrance scent throw in a room, keep doors and windows closed and burn for 30 minutes. Opening windows and doors will help the scent to disperse
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: Candles are meant to be enjoyed, but it is important that you follow some common sense safety rules when burning them.
1. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave a room or before going to sleep.
2. Follow the 2-foot rule - don't place a burning candle within two feet of clothing, books, curtains or anything flammable.
3. Keep lit candles away from draughts, ceiling fans and any air currents. Any form of air current can cause uneven burning, smoking, diminish the scent throw and even decrease the burn time.o Trim the wick to 5mm each time the candle is lit. This helps prevent the flame from getting too large.
4. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
5. Place candle holders on a stable, heat-resistant surface that is sturdy and large enough to catch any melted wax.
6. Always read and follow manufacturers' directions for use and safety, and extinguish a candle if the flame gets too close to the candle holder or container.
7. Place burning candles at least 10cm apart from one another.
8. A burning candle should not be used as a nightlight.
9. A candle should not be burned for more than four hours at a time.
10. Do not burn the candle if the container is cracked, chipped, scratched or damaged in any way.
11. If the candle is burning correctly, it should be constant (not flickering), teardrop shaped and upright.
If you would like to find out further information about our extensive range of Candles, please do not hesitate to visit our online store Candles2go or speak to our friendly team on (02) 4602 0510