All natural beeswax is a unique wax that creates long burning candles with a distinct amber glow and gentle honey aroma. Pure beeswax candles are non-toxic and burn clean, so they are safe for you and your family. Below are some simple measures you can take to get the most out of your beeswax burning experience and avoid things like left over wax, smoking wicks and tunneling pillars.
Getting ready to burn your beeswax candles
The first step to burning your beeswax candle is ensuring you have a proper holder and a safe burning surface. Many candles have their own dedicated holders. Tealights and votives for example, fully liquify, meaning they must be burned in snug fitting glass tealight and votive cups. Taper candles also have their own holders but you may find that no two candlestick holders are quite the same size. An advantage of beeswax is that when it’s warm, it’s pliable and can be shaved down to fit different holders without cracking or splitting. Free standing candles such as pillars and decorative ornamental candles need to be burned on heat-resistant plates. Remember candle holders can get hot and should always be placed on heat safe surfaces. Once your candle is in its candle holder, ensure that it is placed in a safe and draft-free environment where it is not likely to be knocked over and has plenty of overhead space.
Lighting your beeswax candle
Now you are ready to light your candle. Using a lighter or match hold the flame at the base of the candle wick, rather than the tip. This will encourage the formation of the wax pool and give your candle flame a strong start.
Maintaining your beeswax candle
While no candle should be left unattended during burning, different varieties of candles require different levels of maintenance as they burn. With some candles such as pillars and tapers, you may find the flame begins to flicker or even smoke. This happens if there is a draft or if a carbon cap forms on the end of the wick. When this happens simply extinguish the candle and using small scissors or a wick trimmer, remove the carbon cap and relight. With pillars you will notice a mantle or thin edge of wax forms as the candle burns down. The mantle is quite beautiful but if it becomes too large it can reduce oxygen to the flame. To prevent this simply hug or push in the sides of the pillar so the mantle burns and oxygen continues to flow to the flame.
For more information on burning different types of candles check out our Choosing a Candle page.
Extinguishing your beeswax candle
When it’s time to extinguish you candle our instinct is often to blow out the candle. This can cause candles to smoke and sometimes the wax pool will even splatter. For a safe and smoke-free experience it is best practice to dunk or snuff the flame. For candles with a large wax pool, use a wick dipper or long straight object like a straightened paper clip, to push the wick into the wax pool and restraighten it for a seamless re-light. For candlesticks and other candles without large wax pools, use a smokeless wick snuffer to extinguish the candles. There is one exception to this rule; always blow out your birthday candles, and make a wish!
