Candle Care & Burn Tips

Care & Safety: 

  • Trim cotton wick to 1/4" before every lighting
  • For an even burn always allow candle to melt entirely across the top
  • Burn in increments of 4 hours or less
  • Do not burn on or near flammable materials
  • Never burn candles unattended
  • Keep away from children and pets
  • Container will become hot when burning
  • Keep away from vents, fans, or air drafts

Proper candle care will keep your candles burning longer and also keep them looking beautiful. Maximize the life of your candle by following these care tips for getting the most out of your Serena Basics candles.

Trim Your Wick before Each Use:

Trimming your wick will help preserve the life of your candle and provide maximum fragrance performance.  Before you light your candle, trim your cotton wick to 1/4" high. This prevents the flame from being too large, causing the candle to burn too hot, and lessens any black smoke or residue created by already burnt wicks with excessive mushrooming. Wicks that burn too hot will consume wax at a faster rate, decreasing your total candle life expectancy. Remember to blow out any fallen carbon pieces off the candle before lighting.

Note: Don’t trim your wick too short as the wax will flood your wick causing issues for relighting (See wick issues below).

 
The First Burn – Is The Most Important Burn:
On your very first burn, burn your candle for 2 to 4 hours or until the wax forms an even melted pool across the entire candle surface (edge to edge) before extinguishing. The “edge to edge melt pool” is a standard for every burn to keep the top layer level for the next burn and to prevent your candle from tunneling. All soy wax candles have a "memory" and the next time you light the candle, it will only burn as wide as the time before. The “edge to edge melt pool” rule will encourage a maximum scent throw, even burn and longevity of your candle. Reach out to us at info@serenabasics.com for techniques to reset your candle & to keep it burning in your home.

Prevent Tunneling:

Do your candles have giant craters in them or does the wax build up against the sides of your candle jar when they are lit? 

This is called Tunneling. Tunneling happens when candles are not burned long enough to let the wax melt evenly across the top.  This can cause the wick to create a tunnel in the middle of the candle or also can create problems lighting your candle as wax will pool towards the middle drowning out the wick flame.  Be sure to allow the wax to fully melt across the top of the candles before blowing them out (especially during the first time it's burned).

 

Wood Wick Guidance:

Wooden wicks should be cared for similar to cotton wicks but can be much more finicky. Always remove the burnt top layer of your wood wick before each burn by trimming down to roughly ¼”. The best method is to gently snap off the loose ash burnt along the top edge of the wick and then light as usual , trying to make the top as level as possible. Be patient when lighting wood wicks as they take a moment to catch on. This may take a few lightings. Remember: the melted wax is the fuel for the fire. Soy & wooden wicks takes a moment for that combustion process to happen.

 

How do I prevent a high flame?

The flame on a lit candle should only be roughly 1 inch high. If you are experiencing a high flame, your wick is too long. This can occur even if you've been burning your candle for a long period of time during a single use. Always trim your wick to 1/4" and burn your candle no longer than 4 hours at a time.

 

The 4 Hour Rule:

To get the most life out of your candle (and as a general safety precaution), do not keep them burning for more than 4 hours at a time.  Also remember to not burn candles in drafty areas or near anything flammable.  Stop burning your candle when only 1/4" of wax remains on the bottom and reuse the container for another purpose.

 

Fragrance Performance:

There are a number of reasons why your candle may not be releasing a strong fragrance. Burn your candle for 3-4 hours (or until a full melt pool of 1/4” develops) each time you light the candle. This will allow the wax and wick to heat properly and emit fragrance into the room. Take note that single wick candles are meant to be used in smaller rooms to enhance fragrance performance. Double or triple wick candles work best in larger rooms as they are emitting more fragrance via two wick points.

 

Wick Issues & Self-extinguishing Flame:

If you have a candle experiencing some tunneling & the flame is self-extinguishing, try these steps to get the candle back to an even burn. This process will work for a cotton wick or wood wick candle.  

Light the candle and allow some of the wax around the wick to melt. Blow out the candle and ensure the wicks are completely extinguished. Use a paper towel to absorb some of the wax near the wicks of the candle. Safely dispose of the paper towel and ensure no debris is left in the wax. Relight your candle and note if the candle begins burning properly.

The objective is for the flame to melt enough wax to keep burning without getting drowned out by excess melting wax from the outer sides of the candle. This process may need to be slightly repeated until you get a full melt pool across the candle. Once this is achieved, you candle will perform as intended going forward

Reach out to us at info@serenabasics.com for techniques to reset the candle or if your candle will still not remain lit.

 

Candle Soot and Debris:

If you notice soot or debris collecting on the top of your candle, allow the candle to harden and cool. Use a soft cloth to gently wipe the top of the candle to remove any soot build-up that has accumulated.

 

Safety:

CAUTION: Failure to follow instructions could result in fire hazard or injury.

Do not place a burning candle near clothing, books, curtains, an open window or anything flammable. Burn candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts, ceiling fans and any air currents. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave a room or before going to sleep or if the flame gets too close to the candle holder or container. A candle should not be burned for more than four hours at a time. Discontinue use when only 1/4" of wax remains on the bottom. Keep out of reach of children and pets.