Choosing a Candle

It is important to consider your burning style when deciding  which beeswax candle to choose. Candlesticks are a good option if you like to burn candles for a short period of time. Pillars are great if you tend to burn candles for several hours at a time. Votives are low maintenance and can be burned for various lengths of time but must always be used with a snug fitting votive cup. Learn how to properly burn different types of beeswax candles by reading the tips below.

Pillars

Pillars require regular attention however, if properly cared for, you can expect your round beeswax pillars to burn completely and evenly without tunnelling or leaving excess wax. Always place Pillars on a heat and flame-resistant plate. Trim the wick to ¼” long before each lighting. Burn for at least 3 hours each time you light to allow a wax pool to reach the outer edge of the candle. Periodically “hug” or fold the edges into the wax pool. To extinguish a pillar candle, dunk the wick into the wax pool and straighten. It’s best to light pillars from the base of the wick not the tip.

Please note: Hurricane candle holders or glass lanterns are not recommended for beeswax pillars as the high glass walls hold in the heat.  This may result in the wax pool spilling over the side.  Reduced airflow resulting from some candle holders can cause the flame to produce smoke which can darken the glass. 

Candlesticks – Tapers, Bases, Columns, and Tubes

These candles must fit snuggly in a secure holder. Generally, the wicks do not need to be trimmed, but if they appear too long or start to develop a carbon cap you should trim to ½”. Candles should be extinguished before trimming and then relit.  Wicks trimmed too short or broken off may cause dripping to occur as the candle melts more wax than it can burn. Be sure to extinguish the flame of your candle before it reaches your holder as the heat may crack some glass holders.

Votives

Because Votives are designed to fully liquefy they must be burned in a snug fitting cup. Do not trim the wick of a Votive before lighting. Only trim the wick of a votive if the flame is flickering excessively or producing smoke in a draft free environment. Votives have a large wick tab to keep the flame centered and disperse heat for a more complete burn. Be aware that in cool temperatures especially thick holders or cold surfaces may draw heat away from the candle which may cause some wax to be left behind around the edges. After burning, place the cup in the freezer for easy tab and wax removal. You can also put a teaspoon of coarse salt in the holder before lighting to make cleaning easier.

Tealights

Tealights must be burned in cups, either those provided or other cups made specifically for the shape. They are designed to fully liquefy as they burn. You don’t need to trim the wick and they are best burned in one lighting. If less than half the wax is left when you extinguish your candle it may be difficult to relight and/or cause an incomplete burn.  Be aware that in cool temperatures especially thick holders or cold surfaces may draw heat away from the candle which may cause some wax to be left behind around the edges. After burning, place the cup in the freezer for easy tab and wax removal.

Ornamentals

Always place Ornamentals on a pillar plate. Due to the intricate design of our decorative candles, you may find they need extra care. For example, the petals of the Ponderosa Pine Cone may fall onto your pillar plate. You can slowly feed the fallen wax back into the candle. When burning candles with varying diameters, you may need to extinguish the flame when the melt pool gets too close to the edge. Let the wax cool and relight. 

Tins

Tins get very hot and must be burned on a heat resistant surface. There is no need to trim the wick before lighting for the first time. If you notice the flame flickering or smoking extinguish the candle, trim the wick, and relight. To avoid tunneling, always burn tins for long enough to let the wax pool melt to the outer edge. Dunk the wick in the wax pool to extinguish.