Candle Care
Burning beeswax candles is much more of an art than a science. Each Slow Burn candle is hand poured and made in small batches to ensure quality. Once you understand the art to burning beeswax candles you will find your candles outperform any other candle on the market.
To preserve the life of your candle we suggest you follow the guidelines listed below.
Burn Times
First Burn:
Allow your candle to burn long enough for a full melt pool (liquid wax) to reach the edges. This prevents tunneling and sets a “memory ring” for even future burns.
Burn Time Guide:
- 0.5" diameter: Burn for at least 30 minutes
- 1" diameter: Burn for at least 1 hour
- 2" diameter: Burn for at least 2 hours
- 3" diameter: Burn for at least 3 hours
- 4" diameter: Burn for at least 4 hours
If your candle has a tapering diameter, burn it to the approximate width at each point as it melts.
Wick Wisdom
Before each use, trim the wick to 1/4”.
Light the wick from the base of the wick (where the wick comes out of the candle) to allow the beeswax to absorb into the wick.
If you’re burning your candle for longer than the recommended minimum time, keep an eye on the wick. A long wick can cause uneven burning, dripping, or even scorch the walls.
How to Maintain Your Wick:
- If it grows too long while burning, pause to trim it.
- Blow out the candle, trim the wick to 1/4 inch, and relight.
- A properly trimmed wick helps maintain an even burn and prevents drips or uneven melting.
If your wick does any of the following, it likely needs to be trimmed:
- Flame Height: The flame is excessively high (more than 1 inch).
- Flickering Flame: The flame flickers or dances frequently, indicating an uneven burn.
- Smoke Production: Black smoke visible, which is a sign of an overly long wick.
- Mushrooming Wick: The wick forms a mushroom shape at the tip, which can cause soot and uneven burning.
- Excessively Large Melt Pool: The melt pool is unusually large and deep, consuming wax too quickly.
- Irregular Flame: The flame becomes irregular or starts to sputter.
Think your may have trimmed your wick too short? Simply melt the wax (using a safe heat source) around the wick until a small pool of wax forms, pour out the liquified wax, and start over!
Hugging VS Lanterning
When it comes to burning your Slow Burn candles, you have two beautiful options: Hugging or Lanterning. Sometimes it’s a matter of personal preference, but in some cases, one method can actually help you get a better burn.
Hugging
Hugging your beeswax pillar candle involves gently pressing the softened walls of the candle into the flame. This technique ensures that the wax melts evenly, extending the life of your candle.
How To Hug:
- Light Your Candle: Allow the melt pool to reach the edges.
- Gently Hug: When the walls are soft, carefully press them into the melt pool.
- Longer Burn: By using more wax, your candle lasts longer.
- Best for: When you want to get the most burn time out of your candle.
Hugging is perfect for those who appreciate the full utility of their candle, ensuring that every bit of beeswax is used, and nothing goes to waste.
Slow Burn Candles We Recommend You Hug:
Lanterning
Lanterning is a beautiful way to burn your candle, but it’s important to follow minimum burn time recommendations to avoid tunneling. Lanterning creates a stunning, glowing effect, while tunneling is an uneven burn that wastes wax.
How to Lantern Your Candle:
- Allow the flame to burn naturally without pressing the walls.
- The flame will gradually drop down, creating a hollow center while leaving the outer walls standing.
- The flickering flame shines from within, casting a warm, ambient light.
Best for Those Who Love:
- The visual appeal of a glowing, lantern-like effect.
- A mesmerizing, candlelit ambiance.
Slow Burn Candles We Recommend Lantern:
Recycling Reminder:
Don’t forget, if you have leftover wax husks, you can recycle them through my program and earn a discount on your next purchase.
Bloom
100% pure beeswax candles may develop a natural "frost" known as bloom. This soft, powdery coating is a natural characteristic of pure beeswax and a sign of its authenticity. While many leave bloom untouched, embracing its natural beauty, you can easily remove it with heat.
How to Remove Bloom:
Use a soft cloth to wipe away the bloom.
Run the candle under hot water for a few seconds.
Use a hair dryer on low heat to melt the bloom away.
Bloom is purely cosmetic and doesn’t affect the quality, burn, or fragrance of your candle—it’s a beautiful, natural characteristic of beeswax.
Safety
Candle safety is all about remembering that a candle is an open flame and treating it accordingly. In addition, please consider the following:
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Never burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire.
- Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.