Soy Candle Care and Safety

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Helpful information on soy candle care and safety from CT RIVER Candles:

General safety for any candle.

Never leave a burning candle unattended!

Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep.

Never use a candle as a night light.

Keep burning candles away from children and pets.

Do not place near flammable objects such as curtains, walls, bedding, papers, etc.

Keep candle free of wick trimmings, matches, or other foreign matter that could be a fire hazard.

Make sure the candle is placed on a stable, heat resistant level surface.

Avoid burning in drafts such as open windows, ceiling fans and air currents.

Extinguish if flame become too high or if flickering repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick and check for drafts before relighting.

Keep wick trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times to avoid carbon build up.

Allow candle to cool before trimming wick or relighting.

Never extinguish candles with water. The water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might cause the container to break.

More helpful information on soy candles specifically -

How long should I burn my soy candle? Are you a Candle Power Burner?
The optimal burn time is based on the diameter of the jar, one hour for each inch. Doing so allows both the candle fragrance to distribute throughout a room, and it allows the soy wax to heat evenly to the sides of the candle, so that it burns down evenly and with minimal residue. However, if you are a Power Candle Burner that likes to keep a candle burning from morning to night, it’s very important to extinguish the candle every 3-4 hours and trim the wick and let the candle cool. This will keep the flame from becoming too large, the jar from becoming too hot and prevent soot from accumulating around the top of the jar.

Why is my soy candle leaving wax on the sides of the container as it burns?
This occurs when the candle is extinguished before reaching a full melt pool and is referred to as “Tunneling”. A candle should be burned 1 hour for each inch of the jar diameter. For example, a jar with a diameter of 2 ½” inches should be burned for at least two and a half hours each time it is burned.

Why do I occasionally see soot coming from my soy candle?
Check the wick length. If the wick is longer than 1/4", it’s time to trim. Do not attempt to trim the wick while the candle is lit. Extinguish the flame, trim the wick and relight. It is best to trim the wick to 1/4" every time you light your candle. It is also important to burn your candle away from drafts. Drafts can cause the flame to burn hotter and erratically, thus causing soot to appear.

Why does my candle burn unevenly to one side?
As you check the wick length, also be sure to check that the wick is centered. If it leans to one side, the flame will melt the wax on one side of your candle and not the other. To straighten the wick, gently push it with a wick dipper or a knife until the wick is centered in the jar.

Why does my wick have a large black carbon deposit on it?
Carbon Deposits are referred to as “Mushrooming”. Long burn-times can easily create a mushroom in any candle, especially if the wick isn't kept trimmed to 1/4". Other reasons mushrooms occur are due to the combinations of scent and dye. Mushrooming can be more common in heavier or floral scents but if the wick is kept trimmed, mushrooming should not be a problem.

Can I reuse the container after I have finished burning the candle?
Certainly. If you have wax left in the container, you can remove the wax by scooping it out with a knife. If desired, use the leftover wax in a tart melter. Soak the container in warm soapy water and wash as you would any other glass. The wick is attached to the bottom of the glass with an adhesive that is easily removed with a pair of pliers or tweezers. Our mason jars make perfect storage containers for many different items and you will be helping the environment by recycling the jars instead of adding them to a landfill.

What is the best way to care for my candle wick?
Always keep wicks trimmed to 1/4" to keep candles burning correctly. Soy candles do not emit toxins but if the wick is too long or the candle is burned more that 3 hours, soot from the wick may accumulate on the jars. This is NOT the same as the toxic soot left from paraffin candles but it can still be unsightly. Keep your candles burning nicely by adhering to our wick trimming guidelines.

Why is there is oil on top of my container candle?
This is called "Soy Sweat". Since soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin wax, it can release excess moisture that it cannot hold. Typically this is due to temperature changes. You can leave it or wipe it out with a tissue. Sweat from soy candles will NOT affect the burn quality and will generally not show up again after your first burn. For optimum performance of soy candles, please do not put them in direct sunlight.

Why is there sometimes frost in soy candles?
Soy wax is a natural substance that has it's own natural traits. Natural wax often produces a frosted look similar to "mottling" or what some call "star-bursts". The natural vegetable base is much like chocolate and reacts like chocolate when warmed and cooled. This is a natural characteristic and should not be considered a flaw. We have opted not to use additives to combat frosting.

Should I trim the wick of my soy candle before lighting?
Yes, the optimal wick length is 1/4". Trimming the wick prior to burning your soy candle makes for a safer burn. It also cuts down on soot, and promotes a longer candle life. An easy way to trim your candle prior to burning is by using a wick trimmer.

Why is the top of my soy candle a white color?
Other common occurrences are a white frosting on the top of the soy candle. Sometimes you may even see bubbles around the edges of your melt pool, none of which will affect the performance or safety of your soy candle. This is simply one of the natural occurrences of natural waxes.

See the website linked above for even more.