What Is Your Opinion: Getting the Most Out Of Your Candles

[jackbenimble]

I found this article about burning tips for different types of candles and melts. What is your opinion on these guidelines? Could there be others that were left out?

Getting the Most Out Of Your Candles: Candle Burning Tips

Do you really need tips on how to burn a candle? Well, you might be surprised! ) Yes, it can be as easy as lighting the wick... but to get the most out of your candles, there is a science to it, believe it or not!

There are a few very simple things you can do to get the most out of your candles. The more you take care of your candles, the more you'll get back from them in return! I know this is starting to sound like a new puppy, but I promise it isn't that much responsibility! :0)

Votive Candles

Probably the most important tip for burning votive candles is to burn them in a tight-fitting container, one that is snug all around the sides. A quality-made votive will completely liquify in the votive holder, which will give you the maximum amount of scent throw. Scent throw is how we define the amount of fragrance released into the area... and whether or not you can smell it! It is also very important... and I can't stress this enough... for you to trim your wicks! Candles smoke if the wick is too long. It does NOT matter what type of wax is used... paraffin, soy, palm, ALL candles will smoke, regardless of wax used, if the wick is too long! You do NOT need a large flame to have a good scent throw. The scent throw comes from the melt pool, which is the amount of melted wax that forms around the flame. The flame does NOT need to be large in order to produce a good sized melt pool. Different wicks produce hotter flames without making it necessary to have a larger flame. You can literally double the life of your candle, just by keeping the wick trimmed! Before lighting, trim the wick to approximately 1/4". Every couple hours or so during the burning time, put out the flame, trim the wick again and relight (be sure to remove any wick trimmings from your melt pool of wax!). This will not only help to keep your candle from smoking, but will also extend the life of your candle!

Wax Tarts, Melts or Potpourri

These are easy, no wick to worry about! ) Simply place the tart or melt in the bowl of your potpourri or oil burner, place a tealight underneath (or, if your melter is electric, plug it in and turn it on!) and enjoy! A quality melt or tart should have scent that lasts approximately 8 - 10 hours, consecutively (depending on the size of the melt/tart). If you want to switch scents or are done with that melt/tart, simply allow to cool, and then you can either pop it in the freezer for a few moments and pop the used tart out, or relight/turn on your melter for a few minutes to get the bottom liquified, then pop it right out!

Jar Candles

Jar candles use pretty much the same guidelines as the votive candles do... except they are already in a tight-fitting holder! ) Just remember to trim those wicks! Scented candles will smoke more than unscented ones, and highly scented candles do have a tendency to develop what we call a 'mushroom' on the wick. When this happens, it is a hint to you that your wick needs to be trimmed! Our premium quality handpoured candlesare made with the highest quality fragrances, and have the maximum amount of fragrance in them that the wax can hold. Smoking does not mean your candle is lower quality, it means you need to trim your wick!

Pillar Candles

A quality pillar candle should burn so that it leaves a melt pool that reaches about 1/4" from the edge of the candle. When you first begin to burn a pillar candle, you need to burn it for approximately 1 hour per inch of candle diameter to form a complete melt pool. This means that if your candle is 3" in diameter, it will take approximately 3 hours of continuous burning to get a full melt pool. This will help to prevent your candle from 'tunneling' down and leaving a lot of wasted precious wax!

As the candle burns, you will want to 'hug' your pillar. This basically involves cupping your hands around the outer rim of the candle and gently running your thumbs around the edge of the top of the pillar, pushing in slightly to form a ridge. This helps to completely burn your pillar, evenly and thoroughly, leaving no wasted or unused wax and therefore extending the life of your candle.

Never blow out the flame on a pillar candle (or any candle, for that matter!), as it can push the wick to one side, making it burn more unevenly and possibly causing your candle to eventually drip. Instead, using a wick dipper or candle snuffer (or some other non-flammable object such as a butter knife), gently press the flame into the melt pool, then lift out of the melt pool before it cools. This will help keep it from smoking as you extinguish it, too! And don't forget, this is also a great time to trim that wick as well!

General Tips For All Candles

If your candle is still smoking even though you have trimmed the wick, check to be sure there are no wick trimmings or other debris in the melt pool. If there are none, then put out the flame, trim the wick a little bit more, allow the candle to cool for a bit and then relight. This should take care of the smoking problem!

Always use a wick dipper or candle snuffer to extinguish the flame from your candles!

A candle flame needs oxygen to 'breathe'. Keep in mind that if you burn candles in a small, enclosed room, they are more likely to smoke! Try burning smaller candles such as tealights or votives in small rooms to help avoid this.

Remember to never lean too close over a burning candle, especially if you're wearing hair spray! Always keep long hair tied back and up out of danger of falling into the flame.

Never leave a burning candle unattended! This is how terrible accidents happen!

Always burn candles in a candle holder or on a heat-resistant surface.

Remember that even if you aren't burning your candle, you should have pillar candles or any other candles inside some sort of container or on a candle plate, because the fragrance oils in the candle wax can damage furniture surfaces!

Never allow wick trimmings or match stubs to remain in the topof a burning candle. They can catch fire and beginto smoke.

Keep burning candles away from drafts. Drafts cause candles to burn unevenly, thereby increasing the chance of smoking or dripping.

Discontinue burning when only 1/2" of wax remains on the bottom of your candle.

Keep candles away from children and pets. Sometimes they smell good enough to eat, and you don't want anyone to be tempted!

NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED!! Yes, it's so important we mentioned it twice!

And last but not least, enjoy your quality-made candles!

Edited October 26, 2012 by jackbenimble

[ksranch]

I would add a comment on jar candles about soot - as in if you are experiencing soot build up on the jar, the wick probably needs to be trimmed, or the candle is in a draft. Good comprehensive explination though!

Edited October 26, 2012 by ksranch

[franu61]

I like it! It is giving instructions in a FRIENDLY way I would like to use some of the (pertinent to me) parts and print some handouts...was there any kind of copyright that would not allow that?

[Scented]

did i miss something about drafts? and i tend to disagree about pillars and leaving a 1/4 inch rim and hugging them, but that's me.

[jackbenimble]

The one thing I thought of was that the A/C can cause the HT of a candle to not be as strong. When I'm testing I like to not have the AC on but in the summer time that's pretty hard to avoid. I guess that would fall under drafts.

[Scented]

typing on phone so this is a pita. i also dont like that the votive discussion indicates the whole votive will liquify to give off scent. that simply isnt the case. yes tight votive holder is ideal. votives should never be burned as a stand alone. thing about the liquifying you get a decent throw with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch melt pool. there are in any type of candle exceptions to the rule on scent throw. my thought on mushrooms is there are other things besides scent that cause the shroom. the basic info is fine but could use some clarifications in spots. just saying.