Burning Tips & Safety
To make sure your candle burns the best it can, here are some candle burning tips!
1- Make sure your wick is trimmed to avoid larger flames which cause soot (about 1/4" is good!)
2- Always make sure the melted wax reaches the edges of the jar or tin to ensure it doesn't tunnel!
3- Keep debris (like wick trimmings) out of candles to prevent uneven burning.
4- Only burn for 1-3 hours at a time!
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Here are some safety rules to follow too:
1- Keep out of drafty areas, and burn on a heat resistant and flat surface.
2- Keep burning candles in sight, and always extinguish before leaving the house or going to bed.
3- Keep away from pets, children, or anywhere it can get knocked over easily!
4- Don't move the candle if it's lit/ just extinguished.
Wick Too Short/Buried Wick:
To avoid this, make sure to burn the candle long enough for the melted wax to reach the edges. This prevents the wax tunneling or building up on the sides which may drown the wick.
If the candle still has melted wax on top, carefully make sure wick is standing up using a tweezer. Pour out the melted wax very carefully (you can pour on a paper plate and wait it to harden – then throw away) or in any other heat safe receptacle. You can also soak some of the excess wax up with a paper towel or cotton swab when the candle is safely extinguished.
If the wick is too short to light, you can melt the top a bit with a hair dryer and carefully pour the excess wax. You can also use a spoon or knife to scrape some of the wax to expose the wick to light it.
Tunneling:
The first burn is crucial – soy wax has a “memory” so make sure the melt pool reaches the edge to avoid tunneling. It is important the candle is on a level, heat resistant surface with no drafts.
If your candle is tunneling, try these tips:
If there is slight tunneling, you can heat the top of the candle with a hair dryer to even out the layer. Next time you light it, try again to make sure the melted pool reaches the edge.
You can also use the aluminum foil method. Light the candle and put a tent of aluminum foil over the top with a hole in the middle so smoke can escape! The foil will help reflect back the heat and melt the wax evenly. Keep a close watch on it and make sure it doesn’t overheat. Once the wax has melted to the edge, use oven mitts to remove the foil which may get very hot!
You can also use a candle warmer which won’t require you to light the wick!