Posted on March 27th, 2023.

If you're like us, you love the cozy ambiance that a candle brings to your home. There's nothing quite like lighting a candle and letting the scent fill the room. At Upstate Candle Co, we specialize in luxurious soy candles that are not only pleasing to the senses but are also eco-friendly. Soy candles are a natural, renewable resource that burns cleanly and efficiently. In this blog post, we'll share our top tips for caring for your soy candle to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Section 1: The Importance of Proper Candle Care

Just like anything else in your home, your soy candle needs proper care to ensure that it performs at its best. With a little attention and care, you can maximize the burn time of your candle and enjoy it for longer. Here are a few reasons why proper candle care is important:

Optimal Performance: When you care for your candle, you ensure that it burns evenly and cleanly, which maximizes the scent throw and ensures that you get the most out of your candle.

Safety: Proper candle care also ensures that your candle burns safely. For example, if you don't trim the wick, it could lead to a larger flame that could be a fire hazard.

Longevity: Taking care of your candle will also help it last longer. If you don't care for your candle properly, it could burn through quickly, and you'll need to replace it sooner.

Section 2: Preparing Your Candle for Its First Burn

Before you light your soy candle for the first time, there are a few things you should do to ensure optimal performance.

Trim the Wick: Trim the wick to ¼ inch before lighting. A longer wick can cause the candle to burn too quickly, while a shorter wick can cause it to tunnel.

Let the Candle Burn for a Few Hours: Allow the candle to burn long enough for the wax to melt evenly across the surface. This will help prevent tunneling.

Avoid Drafts: Keep your candle away from drafts, such as open windows or fans. A draft can cause the flame to flicker and burn unevenly.

Section 3: During the Burn

Once you've prepared your candle for its first burn, there are a few things you should keep in mind during the burn.

Keep the Wick Centered: As the candle burns, the wick can sometimes move off-center. If this happens, gently reposition it to the center.

Burn in Intervals: It's best to burn your candle in intervals of 3-4 hours at a time. This will prevent the candle from overheating and ensure that it burns evenly.

Monitor the Flame: Keep an eye on the flame while the candle is burning. If the flame gets too high, extinguish the candle and trim the wick to ¼ inch before relighting.

Section 4: After the Burn

Once you've finished burning your candle, there are a few things you should do to care for it.

Trim the Wick: Trim the wick to ¼ inch before lighting the candle again. This will ensure that the candle burns evenly and cleanly.

Remove Debris: If there's any debris, such as wick trimmings, in the wax, remove it with a clean spoon or tissue. This will ensure that the candle burns cleanly the next time you light it.

Protect the Wax: If you're not planning on using the candle for a while, cover it with a lid or wrap it in plastic wrap to protect the wax from dust and debris.

Section 5: Troubleshooting Common Candle Issues

Despite your best efforts, sometimes things can go wrong with your candle. Here are a few common candle issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Tunneling: If your candle has tunneled, meaning that there's a hole in the center of the wax, try melting the wax around the edges with a hairdryer or hot water. This will help the wax melt evenly and prevent further tunneling.

Mushrooming: If your wick has mushroomed, meaning that there's a buildup of carbon on the tip of the wick, trim the wick to ¼ inch and remove the carbon buildup before relighting.

Soot: If your candle is producing soot, make sure that you're burning it in a draft-free area and that the wick is trimmed to ¼ inch. If the issue persists, try switching to a different brand of candle or wick.

Section 6: Wrapping Up

Caring for your soy candle is easy and can make a big difference in how long it lasts and how well it performs. By following the tips in this blog post, you can ensure that your candle burns cleanly, safely, and efficiently. If you have any questions about caring for your candle or would like to learn more about our luxurious soy candles, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at our contact form or by email at [email protected].