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Candle Care

How to safely burn soy candles 

The Urban Scent Clean Cotton Candle - Soy Candle Care

As much as we all love to just light a candle creating a wonderful smelling, relaxing environment, there are a few safety tips we should go over.

Before Lighting:

  • Before burning any candle, always trim the wick to ¼ inch. Long or crooked wicks can uneven burning, cause dripping or flaring. Items like wick trimmers, nail clippers, or scissors can do the job.
  • Make sure to keep the wax pool clear. Things like wick trimmings, matches among other debris need to be kept out of the wax, before, after, and while burning a candle.
  • Make sure you always use a candle holder specifically designed for candle use. It needs to be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.

 Burn candles in a well ventilated area:

  • Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This helps prevent fast or uneven burning, creating soot, and excessive dripping.
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on burn time and proper use. It is generally recommended candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
  • When lighting a candle, use long matches or a long-reach lighter. Keep your hair, loose clothing, and paper products away from the flame.

While Burning:

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended.
  • Never burn a candle on or near flammable items. Keep candles away from drapes, curtains, furniture, bedding, carpets, books, paper, and any other flammable items.
  • Never touch, pick up or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is in liquid form.
  • Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lit candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
  • Do not burn a candle all the way down. Discontinue burning a candle with about 1/2 inch remaining in the container or 2 inches if using a pillar candle.
  • Keep burning candles at least three inches apart from each another. This helps to ensure they don’t melt one another, or create drafts that will cause the candles to burn unevenly or improperly.
  • Never leaving a candle for light as you are about to go to sleep or as a night light.
  • If a flame grows too high or is flickering repeatedly, extinguish it.  Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
  • Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment like lanterns or kerosene heaters.

When Extinguishing a Candle: 

  • Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. This helps to prevent hot wax from splattering, and it is the safest method.
  • Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause a splash which could cause hot wax to splatter. It could also break the glass container.
  • Make sure the candle is completely out. Make sure there is no longer a glowing wick ember before leaving the room.
  • Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled, this included the liquid wax.
  • Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon future use.