Candle Care

 Candles are magical in the way they can transform a room simply through smell. However, just like anything they require proper care in order to work best. Below we've outlined best practices for Care.

When you first get your candle

Our candles come clipped and ready to light. It's important when you light your candle to let it burn for at least 2 hours in order for the wax to melt to the edges. This is known as getting a full melt pool and prevents problems like tunneling.

Be mindful of where you place your candle. Heat travels upward and can burn or discolor objects above.

In between lightings

After the initial burn it's important to clip your wicks. If you've ever wondered why candle jars get covered in soot it's usually because the wick wasn't clipped before lighting. As a wick burns the end of the wick "mushrooms" due to build up of soot and other elements. Lighting the wick without properly clipping can create a large flame that will throw off soot covering the inside of your candle and any nearby objects or walls.

Burning candles safely

Never leave a lit candle unattended and don't burn it for more than 4 hours at a time. When a candle is reaching the end of it's life (when 1/4" of wax is left) it's best to not light it anymore. A live flame without any wax can cause the jar to explode and shatter from the heat.

What to do with finished candles (for recycling & upcycling)

In order to recycle or upcycle your candle jar, you'll need to remove the wax and clean the jar. Here are a few ways to melt the wax:

Warm Oven Method

  1. Preheat oven to 170–200°F (low heat only).
  2. Lay aluminum foil or parchment on a baking sheet.
  3. Turn jars upside down on the tray.
  4. Heat for 10–15 minutes until the wax fully drains out.
  5. Wipe jars with napkins while warm (only handle jar when it’s safe enough to touch)
  6. To clean the grease residue off the jar, wipe the jar with rubbing alcohol
  7. Once the jar is fully clean, you can now wash it

Double Boiler Method

  1. Place the candle jar in a shallow pot with a bit of simmering water.
  2. Let the wax melt inside the jar.
  3. Carefully pour melted wax into a disposable container (ex: paper cup) or paper towel.
  4. Wipe jars with napkins while warm
  5. To clean the grease residue off the jar, wipe the jar with rubbing alcohol
  6. Once the jar is fully clean, you can now wash it

Heat Gun or Hair Dryer Method

  1. Use a heat gun or hair dryer at low to medium speed to melt wax
  2. Carefully pour melted wax into a disposable container (ex: paper cup) or paper towel
  3. Wipe jars with napkins while warm
  4. To clean the grease off the jar, wipe the jar with rubbing alcohol
  5. Once the jar is fully clean, you can now wash it

Removing Labels

  1. Soak in warm, soapy water for 20 minutes.
  2. Peel off labels and use a bit of oil (ex: coconut or olive oil) to remove residue.

Important Tips

  1. Don’t pour melted wax down the sink - it can clog drains.
  2. Use rubbing alcohol to clean off any greasy residue
  3. Do not heat the jar over 300°F. High heat can break the glass!

 

Now that you have a clean jar to either recycle or repurpose :)