Vela Vida | Candle Care Tips
At Nahui Residence, candles are made with 100% soy wax and cotton wicks, each one carefully hand-poured. Designed to burn clean and even, they offer a longer burn time and a more eco-friendly experience. While every candle is unique, the following tips will help ensure the most is made of each one, allowing for maximum enjoyment of their warm ambiance. Whether you're a candle connoisseur or just love the atmosphere they bring, knowing how to properly care for your candles can make all the difference. Dive into these tips to get all the goodness for your candle!
Trim the Wick Before Each Burn
Trimming the wick to about 1/4 inch helps prevent excessive soot and ensures a steady, controlled flame. This reduces the risk of your candle burning too quickly or unevenly.
Alternative: If you don’t have a wick trimmer, you can use a pair of small scissors or even nail clippers to achieve the same result.
Allow the Wax to Melt Evenly
Allowing the wax to melt evenly across the entire surface (reaching the edges of the container) prevents tunneling. Tunneling is when the candle burns down the middle, wasting a lot of wax around the sides.
Alternative: If you notice tunneling, wrap aluminum foil around the top of the candle (leaving an opening at the center) to help the wax melt evenly across the surface.
Avoid Drafts While Burning
Drafts cause the flame to flicker and burn unevenly, leading to uneven wax melt and quicker burn times. It can also increase the amount of soot produced.
Burn Your Candle for the Right Amount of Time
Burning your candle for the proper amount of time (typically 1 hour per inch of the candle’s diameter) helps ensure an even wax melt and extends the candle’s life. Burning for too short a time can cause tunneling.
Alternative: If you’re in a hurry, consider using a wax melt burner instead of a candle. Wax melts offer the same fragrance without the risk of tunneling.
Keep the Candle Clean
Keeping the candle free of debris (like wick trimmings or dust) prevents these from catching fire and causing uneven burning or excess soot.
Store Your Candle Properly
Why It’s Important: Proper storage (in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight) helps maintain the candle’s integrity and fragrance. Heat can cause the wax to soften, and sunlight can fade the color and scent.
Use a Candle Snuffer to Extinguish the Flame
A candle snuffer extinguishes the flame without blowing, which prevents hot wax from splattering and minimizes smoke. This keeps the wick in good condition for the next burn.
Alternative: If you don’t have a snuffer, you can dip the wick into the melted wax using a metal tool or spoon and then straighten it. This method also helps to prime the wick for the next use.
Avoid Burning the Candle to the Bottom
Burning a candle all the way to the bottom can cause the glass container to overheat and potentially crack, which is a safety hazard.
Leave about 1/2 inch of wax at the bottom. If you want to use the remaining wax, consider melting it and pouring it into a wax melt burner.