Did you know that all of our candles are made with 100%, eco-friendly soy wax? This wax is smooth and creamy, and burns slow and clean (learn more about our all natural soy wax and why we use it here!). Our candles are vegan, free from phthalates, and hand-poured in small batches in San Francisco using quality essential and fragrance oils.
To enhance your candle experience and ensure safe burning, we've put together a quick guide for you on candle care.
How to Properly Care for a Candle - The Essentials
- on your first burn, let the entire surface of the candle pool before blowing out; this will help ensure that your candle will burn evenly every time thereafter
- keep wick trimmed to 1/4" - trim before each burn and every couple of hours while lit
- to prevent fire and serious injury, do not let flame burn over 1" high
- keep candle wick centered and free of any foreign objects, including wick trimmings
- never leave lit candles unattended
- keep out of reach of children and pets
- always place on a temperature safe surface, and do not burn near anything flammable
- do not attempt to burn if vessel is cracked or damaged
- do not burn longer than 4 hours at a time
- discontinue burning the candle when 1/4" of wax remains
What is wax memory?
During a candle's lifecycle, melted wax cools into a soft solid. This wax is softer than the unmelted portion, and has a lower melting point. Next time the candle is lit, this wax re-melts more quickly than the previously unmelted wax. This phenomenon is referred to as wax memory.
This phenomenon is the reason we recommend allowing the full surface of your candle to pool with each burn, especially the first one! Incorrect burning can lead to tunneling, (see below) where the wick sinks and leaves a ring of unmelted wax in the container. Three hours should be about enough time for your candle surface to pool, but don't let it burn unattended!
What is tunneling?
Wax tunneling happens when a candle burns down the center, leaving a thick ring of unmelted wax around the edges. This usually happens when the wax doesn't melt evenly across the full surface of the candle and leads to wasted fragrance and a shorter burn time (☹️).
How to Stop Candle Tunneling
Allow your candle to burn for a minimum of 3 hours, especially the first time you burn it. This isn't a strict rule, but it helps ensure that the candle has enough time to melt all the way to the edge of the container. You should also make sure that you burn your candle in an area that's away from open windows or drafts.
Can You Fix Candle Tunneling?
- Barely Tunneling: This might mean that there's a small amount of unmelted wax around the rim of your container, or maybe the candle isn't burning completely centered. Simply allow your candle to burn for an extended period! If the candle exhibits minimal tunneling, it may resolve itself given sufficient burn time. Let the candle burn for at least 3-4 hours on two occasions. If this doesn't work, try our suggestions for moderate tunneling.
- Moderate Tunneling: If you're several sessions in to burning your candle and there's still more wax lingering than you'd like, you can use tinfoil to redirect heat. Place tinfoil around the candle's edge, trim the wick to 1/4", and create an opening in the foil above the wick, ensuring that the foil covers the wax shelf. Be sure that you cut the foil enough to allow adequate air flow to keep your candle burning! Carefully light the candle and allow it to burn for 3-4 hours. If this still doesn't help, you might need to read on.
- Severe Tunneling: If your wick has burned a narrow tunnel, or the steps above have not resolved your burning troubles, you may need to replace the wick, or use a candle warmer to enjoy your fragrance without the flame. We're happy to help out with any of your burning woes or replace your wick for you - just reach out to us at hello@oftenwander.com!
How to care for a wood wick
Our Element and Holiday Collection candles have warm, crackling wooden wicks! Wooden wicks are similar to cotton wicks and require similar care, with a few exceptions.
Keep your wick trimmed to 1/8" - 1/4" by removing charred wood. This will ensure a cleaner flame.
Be sure to keep candles with wooden wicks away from drafts, as they are more susceptible to burning unevenly.
Low flame can happen with a wooden wick, but stick it out. The wick will continue to burn and the flame height will return.
Need a fresh start? You can shop all of our candles right here.