How are candles made?

While modern candle-making processes vary, most candles are made through the timeless process of placing a cotton wick into wax which is then molded, dipped, extruded, pressed, rolled, drawn or filled into a desired shape and size.

What is the best way to store candles?

Candles should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place and, for tapers, in a flat position to prevent warping. When stored properly, candles can be enjoyed for years and play an important role in traditions.

Are candles safe to use?

Candles are safe when burned properly and responsibly, and according to manufacturers' directions. When burning candles, consumers should always follow these simple, common sense steps:

General Safety for Any Candle

• Never leave a burning candle unattended!
• Keep burning candles away from children and pets.
• Do not place near flammable objects such as curtains, walls, etc.
• Place on a protected, heat resistant, level surface.
• Keep candle free of wick trimmings, matches, or other foreign matter that could be a fire hazard.
• Avoid burning in drafts.
• Avoid walking with lit candles.
• Keep wick trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times to avoid carbon build up on the wick (mushrooming), dark smoking, and soot in the air and on walls or furniture.
• Allow candle to cool before trimming wick or relighting.

Container/ Jar Candles

• To avoid glass containers shattering: Do not burn a candle in a container that is chipped or cracked. Do not allow candle to burn completely down to the bottom of container, stop about 1/2 inch short. Do not allow flame to touch sides of container.
• Containers may become very hot, handle with care!
• Allow candle to cool before replacing lid on jar.
• Container candles & votive containers should be set in a wire holder or on a trivet to protect surfaces from heat. Hot candle jars can damage furniture.
• All candles, especially highly scented ones, will produce some smoke and soot, but proper burning (keeping wick trimmed and avoiding drafts, etc.) will help eliminate this problem.

Helpful Tips

• Burn candles 1 hour for each inch of it's diameter. This allows the flame time to melt the wax to the outer edge. Burning less time will cause the candle to core burn down the middle & shorten burn time. Example: a 3" wide candle should be burned for 3 hours at a time.
• Use toenail clippers to trim wicks in jars in which scissors won't fit.
• Candles will fade if left in direct sunlight or spotlights for extended periods of time.
• Before a party, light and extinguish candles. They will light more quickly and easily later.
• Candles (generally tapers or pillars) refrigerated before using will burn more slowly and evenly. Wrap in foil or plastic before refrigeration to prevent wicks from absorbing moisture.
• To extinguish a candle, use a candle snuffer, or hold fingers in front of the flame and blow. This will prevent hot wax from splattering on furniture.

Problem Solving

• If a wick becomes too short to light, carve away enough wax to expose the fresh wick, then trim 1/4 inch off the top of the candle and burn the candle to reform it's appearance.
• Crooked burning: If wick moves off center, use a butter knife to gently push it back to center. If there is a draft, rotating the candle can help.
• If soot builds up inside container, clean with a paper towel & lighter fluid or Windex. Wipe over the cleaned area with water dampened paper towel afterward. Allow the container to dry thoroughly before relighting. Baby wipes work as well!
• Clean soiled or scratched candles with old nylons or use a touch of salad oil on a soft cloth.
• Remove wax from holders by running very hot water over them.
• To remove wax from washable fabrics, scrape off excess wax and run boiling water through the material.

Pillar Instructions & Tips

• Trim wick before each burn session by cutting wick where it is naturally 'weak.' Trim wick occasionally to 1/4'' during burn session.
• Burn on suitable plate-type holder.
• Burning candle in drafty locations will cause uneven burning and will dramatically shorten usable life of candle.
• The flame must be very still, so it is best not to burn candle where there is a lot of activity. Do not burn near open windows or where doors opening or people walking by can fan it.
• Keep wick centered at all times.
• To maintain the wax shell, occasionally 'hug' the wax inward by cupping your hands and very gently squeezing the wax inward. Do this when the candle has been extinguished but the wax is still warm and soft. Be very careful when doing this, as the wax chunks may break off is squeezed too hard.
• Burn at least one hour per inch in diameter during each burn session, and a bit longer for first burn. Maximum is 2 hours at a time per inch in diameter

Why do candles drip and burn Uneven?

'Help! My Candles always are leaking Wax....'

Have you ever had a candle that burned down uneven causing "gapping rivers" of hot wax to spill out over the sides?
Chances are that you have.

Provided that you keep your candles out of drafty areas and use proper candle burning technics your candles should NEVER spill wax out the sides, properly manufactured candles should not melt down uneven or have a 'mushroom effect'.

'Some candles may burn fairly even but may form "ridges" or have a "mushroom effect". Any suggestions?'

The rule of thumb when burning candles is to allow a minimum amount of one hour per inch burning time as the candle needs to burn long enough that the melted hot wax extends practically the full diameter of the candle. Doing so on the first initial burn is crucial to assure a uniform burning "pattern". On the other hand burning a candle for too long of a period of time may cause the walls of the to misshapen and if the pool of liquid wax is allowed to continue to grow it can melt a hole through the the sidewall of a candle, causing wax to run down the side of the candle.

'OK, so I did allow the minimun burning time for my candle but some candle manufactures candles still Drip!'

If you allow the appropriate amount of burn time per burning sessions and your candles still drip, burn down uneven or mushroom out, chances are the candle was not manufactured properly. There are a number of reasons that could cause this, the manufacture may not be using quality wax, not enough amount of additives or too much. Knowing the correct measurements of additives is essential. Other reasons could be, and the most common is that the wick is not the right type for the specific type of candle. Beyond all this the type of frangrance or color dyes also plays a part on the outcome of how a candle burns.

'Does it cost more for a candle manufacture to make a non-drip Candle?'

No! Again the secret to get a non-drip candle is all in the "recipe" and knowledge of how to burn candles properly.

'How can your sell quality candles so Cheap?'

We buy our supplies from a quality supplier in bulk which cuts back on our cost, therefore we can pass the savings on to our customers.

We hope you enjoy burning our candles as much as we do making them!