Do You Know How to Care for Your Candles?

CANDLE CARE 101 + A GIVEAWAY!

As the nights grow longer and the days shorter, I attempt to bring a little hygge into my home.  🍂 Are you familiar with that term? Hygge is the Danish concept that encompasses coziness, contentment, and togetherness. This book explains all about the Danish obsession with all things cozy and once can see why hygge has become a lifestyle trend. One way I incorporate hygge is by burning candles daily. Because I continuously light candles, it became necessary to learn how to maintain them for longevity, safety, and health.

“Days full of a fine, pale sunshine that sifted through the late, leafless gold of the juniper-trees and glimmered among the grey beeches…”  

L.M. Montgomery

Do you know how to care for your candles?

Here you will find six tips for candle care, how to select non-toxic candles, some candle safety tips, and a few of my favorite brands.

Six Tips for Candle Care

1. When you burn a new candle, trim the wick down to 1/4″ and allow the entire top layer of the wax to melt. This usually takes about two hours. If you don’t burn it for long enough, there will always be those layers/rings in the candle, and it’ll never burn properly.
2. Every time before you light your candles, trim the wick. Keep your wick at 1/8-1/4″. Long wicks will cause your candle to give off black smoke and the flame to flicker.
3. Never burn a candle longer than four hours, or carbon will collect on the wick. The wick will then begin to “mushroom” and become unstable.
4. Allow candles to cool completely before moving them, or your candle surface will be uneven.
5. Once a candle is cooled, wipe around the inside edges of the candle container so black soot doesn’t build up.
6. When extinguishing your candles, use a snuffer instead of blowing them out. Blowing on them creates smoke, pushes the wick down into the wax, and creates extra soot in the container.

How to Pick a Clean Burning Candle

• Notice the Wax Ingredients

1. The healthiest candles to burn are made from beeswax or soy or a combination of both. They are both non-toxic.
2. Avoid paraffin wax candles. Many candles on the market are made from paraffin. Fumes from paraffin wax are one of the common causes of indoor air pollution. Did you know paraffin wax is made from petroleum? It’s the part of the organic material in the petroleum sludge leftover from the oil and gas production. One study showed long-term exposure to the emissions of certain types of candles could be hazardous to your health.

• Scented or Unscented?

1. Choose candles made with essential oils that offer natural scents versus synthetic fragrances. This is particularly important for anyone with allergies or respiratory issues.
2. Avoid fragrance altogether around specific populations such as babies, asthmatics, and senior citizens who may be more sensitive to scented products.
3. Scented candles are often made with chemicals; however, all these fragrances typically conform to the safety standards established by the Interaction Fragrance Association, which ensure the chemicals are safe for human use.

• Check the Wick

1. Candle wicks are often made of cotton, metal, or paper-cored. Lead wicks, found primarily in inexpensive foreign candles, were banned in the U.S. in 2003. Take caution if you buy an imported candle.

Candle Safety

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Avoid placing the candle in direct air drafts from opened windows, ceiling fans, or heater vents.
• Keep the wax clear of wick trimmings and burnt matches
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room
• Place the candle on a stable, heat resistant surface before lighting
• Extinguish the candle if the flame becomes too high. Let it cool and trim the wick.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a tiny commission when you purchase something I linked. You can read more about that here.

Some of My Favorite Candles

I consider myself a candle fiend. As I mentioned earlier, I burn candles daily, so I love trying new-to-me brands as well as lighting some of my favorites. Here is a list of candles and candle companies I enjoy:

P.F Candle Co~ My favorite one is Golden Coast. All their candles are lightly scented and made in Los Angeles.

Borealis Candle Co.~ My favorites are Cactus Blossom & Sweet Fig & Citrus

NEST Fragrances~ I burn the Holiday candle every December. It smells divine! Here is another lovely holiday-scented one.

Candlefish~ You can shop by the type of fragrance you most like

Himalayan Candles~ My favorites are Rainbarrel and Honeysuckle

Boulangerie~ I can only find these at Anthropologie. Sweet Vanilla Cinnamon smells great!

Garden Mint by Tatine~ This candle smells like herbs, soft mint, and summer rain. It’s my absolute favorite candle!

Bluecorn Beeswax~ my favorite unscented candles

Candle Tools

Candle Snuffer~ one, two, three

Wick Trimmer~ one, two, three

So, now that you know how to care for your candles, turn down the lights, burn one or two, and get cozy!  It’s the perfect time of year to bring a little hygge into your home, too.  🍂

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*GIVEAWAY*

I would love to know what your candle favorites are or which candle you would love to try. Respond in the comment section, and I will pick one winner at random to receive a free candle! The giveaway ends 11/22/19.

*WINNER* is Patti 🕯Congratulations!