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Frequently Asked Questions . . .
We have compiled the most frequently asked
questions and listed them here for you. Please also take a moment to
read through our Candle Safety tips to get
the most enjoyment out of your candle burning experience.
1.
Why does my candle smoke?
All candles, especially highly
scented ones like mine, will produce some smoke and soot, but proper burning
(keeping wick trimmed and avoiding drafts, etc.) will help eliminate this
problem.
2.
Why does the flame in my candle keep going out?
Chances are, the wick has been
cut too short. If a wick becomes too short to light, carve away enough wax
around the wick(s) in order to re-light the wick(s). You may get a fairly
large flame at first, but as the melt pool expands, the level of the melt
pool will rise, creating a smaller flame. When you have achieved a full
melt pool, you can extinguish the flame(s), let the wax cool, then trim
again if necessary.
3.
Can I burn my jar candle all the way down to the bottom?
As tempting as it may be to use
ALL the wax in the jar, you need to stop burning your container candle when
the wax level reaches ½ “ from the bottom. If you continue to burn your
candle, you run the risk of the glass container breaking or possibly
shattering.
4.
My jar candle is burning down the center and the wax next to
the jar is not melting, how come?
Before you light your candle, you
should ask yourself if you have ample time to let your candle burn for a
sufficient amount of time. For example, if you continually burn your 16 oz.
Apothecary jar candle for 1-2 hours at a time, it will not be enough time to
create a wax melt pool for the entire diameter of the jar, therefore, it
will only burn down the center, leaving wax around the jar. If you do this
several times, then the next time you burn your candle, you burn it for say,
4 hours, the wax will probably melt all the way to the sides of your jar,
but because you have trimmed your wicks based on the level of the melt pool,
when the wax next to the jar walls melts, it raises the level of the melt
pool and you may have an issue with the melted wax extinguishing your
flames. If this happens, refer to FAQ #1. This burning rule of thumb also
applies to burning pillar candles. The longer you burn your pillar, the
larger the melt pool and the easier it will be to “hug” your pillar. (see
“hugging” definition below)
5.
Is it necessary for me to put a container candle on a heat
resistant surface?
Container candles & votive
containers should be set in a wire holder or on a trivet to protect surfaces
from heat. Hot candle jars can damage furniture.
6.
The wicks in my candle are not centered and creating a
lop-sided melt pool. What can I do?
If the wick(s) move(s) off
center, or out of place if it is a multiple wick candle, use a butter knife
to gently push it back in place. If there is a draft, rotating the candle
can help. This applies to both container and pillar candles.
7.
My candle has faded over time. What causes this?
Candles should be kept out of
direct sunlight. I add a UV inhibitor in my candles, which will help with
this problem; however, if the candle is in the direct sunlight, it will
eventually fade.
8.
The inside of my jar candle is all black. What is it and
what causes this?
What you’re seeing is soot. This
problem can be eliminated if you trim your wick(s) every time before you
light your candle, to ¼”. If soot builds up inside the container, after you
have extinguished the flame and the wax has cooled, spray some Windex on a
paper towel and wipe out the inside of the container. I would not spray
Windex directly in the jar. Wipe over the cleaned area with a water
dampened paper towel afterward. Allow the container to dry thoroughly before
relighting. Baby wipes work as well!
9.
My grubby candle burns like a pillar until I have burned it
for a few hours, then the melted wax leaks out of the melt pool, onto the
candle pan. Is there any way to keep it from doing this?
Grubbies do have a tendency to do
this. To help eliminate this, after you have burned your grubby for a while
(2-3 hours) and the top sides have become somewhat pliable, gently push down
around the edges of the candle, sort of compacting the wax, so that any weak
areas of the wax will be eliminated. With grubbies, it is best if you burn
them for 2-3 hours, then extinguish them, let the wax cool, then re-light is
desired. This will help sustain your melt pool.
10.
What does “hugging” a candle mean?
The term “hugging a candle”
simply refers to gently pressing the outer edge of your pillar or grubby
candle inward after the candle has burned long enough for the outer edge to
become pliable. When you do this, the inner edge of the candle should be
close enough to the flame to melt into the melt pool. You will increase the
burn time of your candle by doing this.
11.
What is the difference between Soy and Paraffin Wax?
There is wide spread debate about this topic. Please
take a look at the research we've done to
help answer your question.
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