FAQs

Candles are one of the most affordable and easily accessible luxury items. They fill the air with pleasant scents and can create a cozy atmosphere, promoting relaxation and a feeling of well-being.

Candles are safe when burned properly, responsibly, and in accordance with manufacturer directions. A well-made and properly burned candle will burn cleanly and safely.

While scented candles are generally safe, it’s essential to consider individual sensitivities. It is always possible that a particular fragrance might trigger a negative reaction in sensitive individuals. Individuals with known sensitivities to specific fragrances should avoid candles of those scents. Additionally, always burn candles in a well-ventilated area.

The most commonly used candle waxes are beeswax, paraffin wax, palm wax, soy wax, coco wax etc. Each type of wax has its own unique characteristics and benefits. Manufacturers use them in pure form or as blends of two or more. Beeswax stands out in candle making due to its unique qualities. It’s natural, emits a subtle honey-like scent when burned, and burns cleanly emitting little to no soot or toxins.

Paraffin wax is a petroleum (or crude oil) byproduct. There are various types of petroleum wax byproducts, but the paraffin wax used in candle making is known as fully refined paraffin. Sometimes also called petroleum wax or fully-crystalline wax, fully refined paraffin contains less than 0.5% oil. Fully refined paraffin undergoes a stringent purification process, including steps like hydro finishing (treating it with hydrogen under high temperature and pressure to further remove impurities and improve its colour, odour, and stability) and clay filtration.

As paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, it is a non-renewable resource which may concern environmentally conscious individuals. When burned, paraffin wax releases harmful chemicals into the air, including benzene and toluene. Breathing high levels of benzene can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, and unconsciousness. Breathing toluene vapours in small amounts may cause mild symptoms like headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea.

Beeswax is naturally produced by honey bees. It’s the material they use to construct their intricate honeycombs. Beeswax is used for many purposes, one of the most popular uses is in candle making.

Beeswax candles are preferred for their long burn time, their bright, steady flame, and the gentle, sweet aroma they give off when lit. Additionally, beeswax is completely biodegradable and a renewable resource. Beeswax is a fantastic option for those who want to enjoy candles but also care about their environmental impact.

Soy wax is naturally produced by soybeans. Soy wax is a vegetable wax derived from the oil of soybeans. After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, and rolled into flakes. The oil is then extracted and hydrogenated, turning it into the wax.

Soy wax candles are known for their clean burning properties and longer burn time compared to traditional paraffin candles.

Source | Beeswax is produced naturally by honey bees, and harvested directly from beehives. While soy wax is made by hydrogenating soybean oil, a process that involves industrial methods.

Processing | Beeswax requires minimal processing, just a simple filtering process. Soy wax requires more processing, including hydrogenation.

Genetic Modification | Soy wax is commonly made from genetically modified soybeans.

Chemical Treatment | Soybeans treated with chemicals and pesticides making many soy wax candles slightly more toxic in nature.

Toxicity | Beeswax is very natural and non-toxic, making it a great choice for a clean burning beeswax candle, and also a great choice for those that suffer from asthma or allergies of any sort.

In candle making, fragrance load refers to the amount of fragrance oil added to the candle wax, expressed as a percentage of the total wax weight. This percentage is crucial as it determines the scent’s intensity and influences the burning characteristics of the candle.

A well-made candle will create virtually no smoke when burning properly. it’s essential to understand that it’s primarily due to flame and combustion disturbances, rather than the wax type, fragrance, or additives. If the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed. Here are some tips to prevent sooting:

• Trim the wick to the length specified by the manufacturer (usually approx 1 cm).
• Place candles away from drafts, vents, or air currents.
• If a candle consistently flickers or smokes, it’s not burning properly. Extinguish it, allow it to cool, trim the wick, ensure a draft-free area, and then relight it.

. Minimum and maximum burn times of candles vary from candle to candle, so it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow the candle to burn long enough for the entire surface to melt. Extinguish a candle if the flame gets too close to the candle holder or container.

No. Candle soot is a natural result of incomplete burning. It’s made up of tiny carbon particles, similar to the soot from kitchen toasters and cooking oils. Unlike industrial soot, household candle soot is not a health concern. To reduce it, trim the wick to ¼ inch, keep the candle away from drafty areas to avoid flame flickering, and ensure that the wax pool is free of debris.

The wick plays a crucial role in a candle’s performance. To achieve the perfect burn, the wick needs to be right for the diameter and shape of the vessel as well as the wax and oil combination. It is best to keep the candle wick trimmed to approximately 5mm before re-lighting to help candle burn evenly and for longer

If smoking or soot forming is noticed, you need to extinguish the candle, let the wax cool and then trim the ‘mushroom’ from the wick before re-lighting. Removing the excess wick will not only stop smoking and flickering but also help in making the candle last long. A well-maintained wick contributes to a longer-lasting and cleaner-burning candle.

. To get the most out of a candle, it is recommended not to burn the candle for less than 1 hour or for more than 4 hours at a time. It’s crucial on the first burn to melt the wax pool until it reaches the edge of container, as candles have a memory and melting to the edges will prevent tunnelling.

After the first burn, try to avoid lighting the candle for short periods of time to avoid tunnelling later on. Make sure to never burn the candle for more than 4 hours at a time, and let it cool for at least 2 hours before relighting.

Candle memory means that the candle ‘remembers’ the distance it reached to the edges on its first burn and will not melt further despite how long you try to melt it. So always allow your wax pool to reach the edge of the container on the candle’s fire burn. This will prevent tunnelling and maximise the life and fragrance of the candle.

. To extinguish a candle, either dip the wick into the melted wax, use a snuffer, pinch it out or use the lid. To minimise smoke, it is recommended to dip the wick – simply flick the wick downwards into liquid wax and allow the wick to flick back upwards. The wick will extinguish immediately with little to no smoke and will also coat the wick with a thin layer of wax, which will make it easier to light the wick next time.

No. Do not burn candles until there is no wax remaining as the bottom of the tin or glass may get too hot. Although it is tempting to continue burning the candle until the wax is gone, it is strongly advised against this as the flame needs a solid base of wax to avoid overheating the container

The strength of the candle fragrance is known as ‘scent throw’ that has both a ‘hot throw’ and a ‘cold throw’.  Cold throw measures how strong the scent is before the candle is burned. If you can smell it well without lighting the candle, it has a good cold throw. The hot throw is the fragrance strength while the candle is burning. A strong hot throw means the scent fills the room when the candle is lit. The proportion of fragrance oil to wax determines the candle’s strength.

Candles don’t have a hard expiration date like food but they can certainly degrade over time. The fragrance can actually get stronger the longer they lie. As our candles are made with a natural wax product, they may get a slight discolouration due to sun exposure or when there is vanilla in the fragrance. This does not affect the burn of the candle.

Candles should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. This will keep moisture, light, and air from affecting them. If candles came with a lid, put it back on when not in use to keep dust from settling.