Candle Care
A hand-poured candle asks for a little attention. These five habits will roughly double the life of yours.
1. The first burn matters most
Burn your candle until the melted wax reaches the full edge of the vessel — usually two to three hours. Soy wax has a memory. If you put it out early the first time, it will tunnel down the middle for the rest of its life and you will lose most of the wax.
2. Trim the wick
Before every burn, trim the wick to about 5mm. An untrimmed wick smokes, flickers, and burns through your candle faster.
3. Do not burn for more than four hours at a time
Longer than that and the vessel overheats and the scent starts to dull. Put it out, let it cool, light it again later.
4. Keep it away from draughts
An open window or a fan makes the flame dance, which sounds lovely and is actually the fastest way to an uneven burn and a sooty glass.
5. Store it cool, dry and dark
Essential oils fade in sunlight and heat — a real consideration in an Egyptian summer. A shaded shelf or a closed cupboard keeps the scent true. Salt candles in particular should be kept away from humidity.
When the wax is finished
Pour a little hot water into the vessel, let the last of the wax lift and set, then lift it out and wash the glass with warm soapy water. What you have left is a handmade vessel — for a plant, for brushes, for whatever you like.
Safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended
- Keep away from children, pets, and anything that catches
- Always burn on a stable, heat-resistant surface
- Stop burning when about 10mm of wax remains