Caring for your Applewood coconut-soy candle is essential in achieving the perfect burn and getting the most life out of your candle.
Our candles are a pure coconut-soy wax and free from harmful chemicals. With coconut-soy wax, we obtain the cleanest burn possible!
In this article, I will share my tips, tricks, and instructions on how to care for our soy candles.
1. Allow a Full Melt Pool
Make sure to keep your soy candle lit long enough for the melted wax to almost reach the sides of the vessel. This is called a full melt pool. Typically, this process takes 2 - 4 hours to be achieved.
One new coincidence we've noticed with our new coconut-soy blend of wax is that a full melt pool is sometimes not achieved until you get half-way through the life of your candle - and that is a-okay! A major benefit of our switch to coconut-soy wax is that this wax is a little more forgiving and, most times, does self-correct!
2. Trim Your Wick
The key to a perfect burning candle is not only in how it is made, but also in how it is burned. Keeping your wicks trimmed allows your candles to burn longer, burn cleaner, smell stronger and burn safely!
Pinch the black portion of the wick between your thumb and index finger and remove before re-lighting candle - or, use a wick trimmer. Our wick trimmers are made just for us and are strong enough to cut through our wooden wicks. They are also designed to cut the wick to be the perfect height. All you have to do is open your wick trimmer, rest the bottom on the top of the wax and snip for the perfect 3/16" wick.
Failure to trim your wick can cause the candle to extinguish itself, or in contrast, the candle flame could burn too high.
Pro tip: before lighting the actual wick, with your lighter melt a bit of the wax around the wick, this will assist the wax flow, which helps to keep your candle lit.
If your candle flame is burning too high (over 1 inch), you are burning your candle in a drafty location, or your wick has not been trimmed enough.
3. Practice Safe Candle Burning
It is imperative that you never leave a candle burning unattended (always be in the same room as your lit candle).
Be sure to keep your candles away from drafts, burn on a level fire-resistant surface, and always extinguish the wicks when the melt pool has almost reached the sides of the vessel. Never leave your candle where children and pets can reach it.
Discontinue use when the silver wick clip is visible, or a 1/2 inch of wax remains at the bottom of the vessel.
4. Never Burn a Candle for More Than Four Hours
An ideal candle burn time is between 2 and 4 hours. If you burn a candle longer, it runs the risk of overheating and it will not burn as clean.
Did you know the best way to extinguish your candle flame is with a Candle Snuffer?
Blowing out your candle could result in wax flying everywhere - which is why we don't recommend that. Plus, a Candle Snuffer looks darling sitting next to your candle - talk about a cute décor piece!
5. Help Prevent Discoloration
Our sustainable wax is 100% pure and additive-free. A natural characteristic of soy is that it discolors when exposed to light (both natural and artificial). Keeping your soy candle out of direct sunlight will help to maintain its creamy white coloring.
6. Repurpose Your Vessel
When only a half inch of wax remains in the vessel (or you see the silver wick clip), your candle is finished.
Almost all of our vessels can be reused! We suggest reusing our jar or tin vessels as flower vases, succulent vessels, desk décor, etc. We also suggest reusing your dough bowls for a holiday décor piece or a coffee table décor piece.
To clean out your vessel of the remaining wax, carefully pour hot water into the vessel and allow it to sit until the water cools. The wax will melt and float to the top of the vessel. Repeat, if needed. Clean with paper towels and dish soap. Let dry and restyle your new vessel!
If after reading this article, you still have any questions on caring for your Applewood coconut-soy candle, please contact me here.