Ever wonder why your candle isn't burning correctly? Here are three simple candle care tips for a better burn.
1. Always trim your wick before each burn.
Trimming your wick before every burn is one of the most important tips for candle care. The wick of the candle is the main powerhouse and arguably the most important part of the candle. If your wick is not prepped for a clean burn, you run the risk of having black soot and an unsafe flame height. No matter how properly wicked a candle is, if the wick is not trimmed before each burn, soot will most likely appear.
With an untrimmed wick, the candle also burns faster due to the large flame which will speed up the consumption rate. Reducing the overall burn time of your candle.
A good rule of thumb for candle care is to make sure you are always trimming your wick to 1/4 inch above the wax before each burn. This helps ensure the candle wax, jar, air, and walls will be clear of soot. Your candle will burn longer, giving you a better bang for your buck, and it will continue to fill your home with lovely fragrance while keeping your family safe.
2. Burn your candle to reach a full melt pool.
First, let's talk about what a full melt pool means. This is a term that is used to describe the melted wax in the burning candle. A full melt pool is achieved when the melted wax reaches all sides of the jar.
In the pictures below, you can see in the picture on the left that the candle has not reached a full melt pool yet. You can see this from the hard wax still around the edges of the jar.
The picture on the right shows that a full melt pool has been achieved.
Now, why does this matter? There are a few reasons why you want to achieve a full melt pool on your first burn with your SOY candles. One reason is that the bigger the melt pool the more fragrant your room will be. A full melt pool should be 1/4" to 1/2" deep which will allow the fragrance to disperse more completely into the room.
The second important factor is that if you don't let your candle burn to a full melt pool the very first burn, your candle will form what we call a memory ring. Which will cause your candle to tunnel.
If the first burn is blown out before a full melt pool is achieved, every time you light your candle again the melt pool will only reach the memory ring. Leaving wax on the sides of the jar.
(This tip only applies to our Soy Wax Candles. Our new Coconut wax candles should not reach a full melt pool on the first burn)
3. Know what your candle is capable of.
An important factor to bring up is knowing what your candle is capable of and setting it up for success.
Not all candle sizes and wax are meant to fill up your entire house with fragrance. Think about how big your candle is and how many wicks are present. If you have a 16oz candle with 3 wicks, this candle will do better in a large space than say an 8oz candle with one wick.
Why? Larger candles have a bigger surface area, meaning they release more aroma.
For example, our 8oz candles with one wick do great in small spaces, individual rooms, apartments, etc. Know your candle and what it is capable of and put it in an environment that will let it thrive.
Get to know your wax. Vegetable waxes such as soy have many benefits, but with all benefits come drawbacks. Soy is a wonderful wax, it is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and a natural resource. However, the one drawback to soy candles compared to traditional paraffin candles is that the scent throw will be a little less strong.
However, if you are someone who likes subtle scents, and are an environmentally conscious consumer, soy candles may be a perfect match for you.
These simple tips will help set you up for success with your newly purchased candle. Letting you enjoy hours of beautiful fragrance and create a space of tranquility and relaxation. Rember to always trim your wick, let your SOY candle reach a full melt pool, and pick a space that suits your candle's needs.
