Why does a candle wick need to be trimmed?

Keeping the candle wick trimmed helps control your flame height. Too big of a flame will cause the candle to burn to hot which isn't safe for you, your space or your candle. It will also cause and create black soot, not cute.

What happens if you don't Trim candle wicks?

Leaving a wick long means that you'll have a larger flame, which will melt more wax and give the candle more fuel. This larger amount of fuel can lead to incomplete combustion, which in turn creates more soot, making your candle container black and dirty.

Should you trim the wick of a new candle?

So, back to WICKS...the first thing you should do when you buy our candles or any other, is trim the wick before first burn. Trim it about 1/8" above the surface of the wax. Then burn your candle. We burn our candles 2-4 hours each time.

How often should you trim a candle wick?

When to Trim Candle Wicks. You should get into the habit of trimming your candle wick before each use. In general, you should trim candle wicks to about 1/4 inch before lighting them. Doing this before each use helps ensure that your candles burn safely and brightly.

What happens if candle wick is too long?

Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot.

The Difference Between Trimming and Not Trimming a Candle Wick

Why did my glass candle explode?

Since the hotter area of the candle is generally the center and the wax pool becomes a little cooler as it spreads out to the edge, the hot splattering water/wax, and fire combination reaches out towards the glass container causing the candle to break or “explode.”

How do you stop a candle from tunneling?

The best way to fix candle tunneling is to prevent it from happening in the first place. And it's very simple, too. To prevent tunneling, all you need to do is burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of wax is melted. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle!

Why is the first burn of a candle so important?

The candle's first burn is an important step to avoid tunneling. Your goal on a first burn is to fully melt the top layer of wax, evenly. If you do not, a “tunnel” will form in the center of the candle, creating a memory ring. Tunneling happens when the first-burn is not a long enough period of time.

Why can't you burn candles for more than 4 hours?

If you burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time, carbon will collect on the wick, and your wick will begin to "mushroom." This can cause the wick to become unstable, the flame to get too large, your candle to smoke, and soot to be released into the air and around your candle container.

Should you light all 3 wicks?

If you decide to burn just one wick at a time, still do the first burn with all three wicks -- then alternate between wicks for the single burns, so that you keep the level of wax more or less even across the surface of the candle.

Can you cover a candle right after blowing it out?

Candle jars usually come with a lid, which can be used when it's time to extinguish the flame. Simply blow out the candle gently and then cover immediately with the lid to prevent dust and dirt from getting on the wax and wick. It also helps trap the smoke.

Why is my wick drowning?

If your candle wick is drowning, that means the size of the wick might be too small for the candle container or the quality of the wick is low. This causes the wick to burn too quickly and “drown” in its own wax pool.

Do you have to burn a candle to the edge every time?

"The first burn is the most important—the candle wax must pool to the edge on the initial burn. We always like to remind people that wax has memory, meaning that if your candle doesn't burn to the edges, it will begin to tunnel and won't burn evenly the next time.

What causes sinkholes in candles?

They vary in size and depth, and have a direct effect on how your candle wick functions. Sinkholes occur naturally from the process of the wax setting up. As wax is heated to melt it into liquid form, the wax expands literally taking up more space as it changes form from solid to liquid.

Is it okay to sleep with candles lit?

Candles Expert at TaBo Candles Factory…

Most candles will have burning instructions that say to only burn three or four hours at a time. The problem with sleeping with a lit candle is that a candle burning in a container will get hotter and hotter as it burns. The longer it burns the hotter the system will get.

When should you throw out candles?

STOP BURNING WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN 1/4" OF WAX LEFT IN THE GLASS. When the majority of the wax has been consumed, the flame will heat the container making the bottom of the jar hot. To prevent possible heat damage to your container and surface, stop burning after only 1/4" of your candle is left.

Is it safe to make candles in mason jars?

Is it safe to make candles in mason jars? Absolutely, mason jars are safe candle containers. Designed for pressure canning, they can withstand up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. They are nonporous, smooth, and thick enough to avoid cracking.

Should you let candles burn all the way down?

The National Candle Association (www.candles.org) states that the reason to not burn the wax (in a container or just a candle itself) all the way down is SAFETY. A glass jar or container can become too hot, causing it to break or shatter and possibly causing a fire as well as other damage.

Why do my candles never burn to the edge?

Wax memory stops the wick from having the chance to melt the outer wax, but bad wick size makes it impossible. When a candle wick is too small it can't generate enough heat to melt a large enough area of wax. In this case it will burn downwards in a hole as wide as the wick is capable of melting.

How do you rescue a drowned wick?

How do you stop wick mushrooming?

A wick standing straight up is more likely to mushroom, while a wick that's bent at a gentle angle is less likely to have any buildup. Luckily if you have a wick that's mushrooming, the fix is pretty simple. All you need to do is trim the wick on your candle (when it's no longer burning).

How do you fix short wick tunneling candles?

Where does the smoke go when you put the lid on a candle?

Second, the lid traps smoke and soot within the jar when the flame goes out. While it's great that it stops smoke from escaping into the rest of the room, the downside is that it leaves black, sooty residue on the underside of the lid and on the insides of the container.

Can you extinguish a candle with your fingers?

Place your hand about 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from the flame/wick. Quickly grab the wick and then let go. This should put out your flame. If it does not, blow out your candle, shorten your wick and try again.

Why do you smell the lid of a candle?

It's all because fragrance molecules, when trapped in a closed container, actually rise to the top of the packaging and accumulate over time. So if you smell straight wax, you're only getting the top notes, which burn off first when a candle is lit and start to throw it scent.