There are many elements of a premium candle. From the quality of wax and wick to the science behind the diameter and shape, every detail is an important part of creating a beautiful and functional beeswax candle. There are also some recommendations to effectively maintaining your different beeswax candles. Lighting a candle is a great way to create natural light, a cozy ambiance and relaxing atmosphere, but we encourage you watch your candles as they burn and learn about the things you can do to maximize your candle burn time and improve your experience.
How long should I burn a beeswax candle?
Different candle varieties have different minimum burn times. If you are burning a dinner taper or other stick candle, you can typically burn the candle in short time increments. On the other hand, some candles need to be burned for longer periods – for example pillars should be burned for several hours in order for the melt pool to reach near the edges of the candle and not create a well down the centre. It may seem at times that the bigger the candle, the longer the burn increments ought to be, however this is not always the case. For example, tealights and votives should both be burned for several hours in order to fully liquify and burn effectively. It is because of this liquification, that they also require proper snug fitting tealight and votive holders.
Do I need to trim candle wick?
As your candle burns down you may notice the wick becomes long or it may develop a ‘mushroom’ or carbon cap over time. Too much wick will reduce the effectiveness of your flame and may cause flickering or smoking. It is important to use a wick trimmer to remove any developing carbon caps. Simply extinguish the candle, trim the wick and relight your Honey Candle.
Is there a right way to extinguish candles?
When you are ready to extinguish your candle it is always tempting to blow out your candle. The problem with blowing out candles is that it sometimes splashes wax and may leave the wick smoking ruining that lovely beeswax scent you’ve been enjoying. There are better methods!
Extinguishing your candle by dunking –
Pillar candles or other large diameter candles are best extinguished by dunking the wick into the pool of wax and then re-straightening. This method is smokeless and soaks the wick in wax making it easier to relight next time. A wick dipper is perfect for this, or you can improvise a simple tool for the purpose.
Extinguishing your candle by snuffing - For tall candles like dinner tapers when there isn’t a pool of wax to dip the wick into, it is best to snuff the candle using a wick snuffer. Simply pinch the wick with the snuffer for a smokeless extinguish. You’ve probably seen bell snuffers too! They work, but typically fill with smoke before the flame runs out of oxygen and goes out. We love this snuffer because there is much less smoke created.
Is it ever OK to blow out a candle?
Of course! Honey Candles Birthday candles and Gala candles are made with specially designed wick that smokes as little as possible when blown out. So, smile for the camera, make a wish and blow them out!
For more information and tips about Honey Candles visit our learn pages.
