Keep Your Light Burning Right: Candle Care

  • For the initial lighting, allow your container candle to create a full and even burn pool across the entire candle.
  • Trim your candlewick to ¼ inch each time before burning. BTW, have you seen our wick trimmers?
  • Keep your burning candle away from flammable objects such as curtains, plants, and beards.
  • Burn candle on a heat-resistant surface. For further safety and protection, try placing candle in a hurricane candleholder.
  • Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches, and debris at all times.
  • Keep your candles out of the reach of small children and mischievous pets. We'd like to avoid any impromptu magic tricks involving curious paws and wagging tails.
  • Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
  • Never touch a burning candle or move a candle while the wax is pooled.
  • Before you bid your candle adieu, make sure the flame is completely extinguished and that the wick ember is no longer glowing. Safety first, and then we can proceed with dramatic exits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the last remaining wax from my candle vessel so I can reuse it?

If you find yourself dealing with liquid wax, carefully transfer that molten goodness into a lined waste container. Whatever you do, avoid the temptation to introduce hot wax to your drain—trust us, your plumber isn't going to appreciate the clogging and your wallet won't appreciate a broken disposal. Once the wax is out, grab a spoon or butter knife and gently wedge the wick free from the container. Don't forget to wipe down any remaining wax with a paper towel before rinsing with dish soap and warm water.

Now, if the remaining wax has already solidified, it's time to give that container a chill and send it to the freezer for a few hours. Once it feels as cold as your ex's heart, grab your spoon or butter knife and gently crack the wax apart. Those tiny wax fragments will find their final resting place in the trash, and if that stubborn wick tab is still clinging on for dear life, be a little forceful with your utensil to set it free. Running it under hot water is also helpful. After you've removed as much wax as possible, give the container a warm soapy bath.

Popular Ways to Reuse:

  • Cocktails, beverages, cold brew coffee
  • Plants or wild flowers
  • Bathroom vanity: water glasses, toothbrush or utensil holder, makeup, lipstick, cotton balls, etc
  • Dessert: perfect for ice cream, affogato, chocolate mousse, cheesecake, etc
  • Candles: a holder for smaller candles like tea lights, votives, or standalone tapers
Should I bother with this whole wick-trimming business every time?

Absolutely! By snipping that wick down to around 1/4 an inch, you're ensuring a burn that's truly top-notch. What does that mean? Usually, a smaller flame, wider melt pool, and maximum scent throw. Plus, with that smaller flame, your candle becomes a true marathon winner, lasting longer and producing less of that pesky soot.

Why blend soy with paraffin?

Soy and other vegetable-based waxes possess an intriguing characteristic known as polymorphism, causing their molecules to rebel and form irregular structures. The consequence? Lots of transformations. These waxes often undergo strange changes over time, including shifting towards a yellow-brown hue, the emergence of "cauliflower" tops, dryness, cracking, and even hardening over time, potentially making it more difficult for your candle to burn effectively,. Furthermore, these waxes can be finicky, exhibiting surface sinkholes and cracks at the slightest change in temperature. Candlemakers face the challenge of rectifying these stubborn imperfections, which demands extra effort, time, and resources—an often exasperating ordeal for artisans focused on growing their business.

Now enters our hero: paraffin. This wax, with its neatly stacked molecules resembling a fully stocked gumball machine, comes to the rescue. When blended with soy and other vegetable waxes, paraffin acts as a bridge, bringing order and stability to the rebellious polymorphic molecules. Shine intensifies, scent diffusion improves, and surfaces cure more uniformly. Here's the real kicker: paraffin addresses the common issues of cracking, warping, discoloration, uneven tops, and over-hardening that often plague vegetable-based waxes. It significantly reduces these problems, allowing our candles to maintain their value, performance, shelf life, and stability over long periods of time.

If you've noticed that your (non Light Provisions) soy or vegetable-based candles remain relatively unchanged for an extended period (like, more than 3 months), regardless of temperature fluctuations and sun exposure, chances are they harbor a secret paraffin crush (ooh la la). They may contain a blend of paraffin wax, paraffin-based stabilizer additives, or even a hint of stearin, typically derived from palm or animals, or even synthetically produced. Depending on your values and concerns, these factors could hold significant importance.

Still on the fence about our candles? Give our Discovery Pack a whiff and try em all for $12. Happy burning!