Scented Candle Care Guide

Caring for Your Artisanal Scented Candle: A Comprehensive Guide

At Artisanal Candle Co, we take pride in crafting high-quality, artisanal scented candles designed to elevate your space with warmth and delightful fragrances. To ensure you get the most out of your candle, follow this comprehensive care guide. Proper care not only enhances the scent throw but also extends the life of your candle, allowing for a clean and even burn every time. To ensure you get the most out of your candle, follow these essential care tips.

First Burn Matters

The first time you light your candle is crucial. Allow the wax to melt evenly across the entire surface before extinguishing it. This process, called a full melt pool, helps prevent tunneling and ensures an even burn for future uses. Depending on the size of your candle, this may take 1-3 hours.

• Allow the candle to burn long enough for the wax to melt across the entire surface. This typically takes 2–3 hours for most standard-sized candles.
• A full melt pool prevents uneven burning and maximizes scent diffusion.
• Avoid extinguishing the flame too soon, as this can lead to tunneling, where wax builds up on the sides of the container.

Trim the Wick Regularly

Before lighting your candle each time, trim the wick to approximately 1/4 inch (6mm). A properly trimmed wick promotes a steady flame, minimizes soot, and prevents excessive flickering. Avoid cutting the wick too short, as this may cause difficulty in relighting or lead to an uneven burn.

• Before lighting your candle each time, trim the wick to approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm).
• A trimmed wick helps control the size of the flame, reduces soot, and prevents excessive flickering or smoking.
• Use wick trimmers or scissors to cut the wick cleanly. Avoid breaking the wick off unevenly with your fingers, as this can cause improper burning.

Burning Time

For optimal performance, do not burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time. Extended burning can cause the container to overheat and affect the candle’s fragrance throw. Allow the wax to cool and harden before relighting.

• Never burn a candle for more than 4 hours at a time. Extended burning can lead to overheating and soot buildup.
• Allow your candle to cool before relighting to maintain proper wax integrity.
• Always place your candle on a heat-resistant, stable surface away from flammable materials.
• Keep burning candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Never leave a candle unattended while lit.

Safe Placement

Always place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts, flammable materials, and out of reach of children and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended. If using multiple candles, keep them at least 3 inches apart to avoid uneven burning.

Soot can diminish the aesthetic and performance of your candle. Reduce soot buildup with these tips:

• Keep the wick centered to ensure an even burn.
• Avoid burning candles in drafty areas, as strong air currents can cause uneven burning and excess smoke.
• Extinguish your candle with a snuffer rather than blowing it out to minimize soot production.

Extinguishing Your Candle

Use a snuffer or gently blow out the flame instead of extinguishing it with liquid, which can damage the wick. To minimize smoke and maintain the candle’s quality, dip the wick into the melted wax using a wick dipper, then straighten it for the next use.

• Use a candle snuffer to gently extinguish the flame without producing smoke.
• A wick dipper can also be used to push the wick into the melted wax and then straighten it back up, ensuring a smokeless experience.

Storage & Maintenance

To preserve the fragrance and quality of your candle, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and dust. If you notice any debris in the wax, remove it carefully to prevent uneven burning.

• Keep candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and melting.
• Store candles with lids on to maintain their scent potency.
• Avoid stacking candles to prevent accidental deformation.

Common Candle Issues and How to Fix Them

• Tunneling: If your candle is tunneling, wrap aluminum foil around the top, leaving an opening in the center, and burn it for a couple of hours to even out the wax pool.
• Wick Drowning: If your wick keeps drowning in wax, carefully remove excess wax with a paper towel while the candle is warm.
• Uneven Burning: Rotate your candle occasionally if you notice uneven burning due to environmental factors.

Candle Safety Precautions

• Never leave a candle burning unattended.
• Keep candles away from curtains, furniture, or other flammable objects.
• Avoid burning candles in rooms with poor ventilation.
• Discontinue use when only 1/2 inch of wax remains to prevent container overheating.

Repurposing Your Candle Jar

Once your candle has burned completely, consider reusing the container. To clean, place the jar in the freezer for a few hours; the remaining wax should pop out easily. Wash with warm, soapy water and use it as a decorative holder, planter, or storage container.

By following these simple care tips, you can extend the life of your candle and enjoy its exquisite scent to the fullest. Thank you for supporting our artisanal candle company—we hope our handcrafted candles bring warmth and comfort to your space.