Candles: Turns out you've been doing them wrong
I've always thought candles were low grade if they didn't melt all the way, or the wick got crumbly and crooked, or worse just spontaneously go out.
Turns out, I was just using them wrong.
Candles have some requirements to get the most of them. Here's what you need to know. Depending on size you may find these more important than not. Our boxes all come with a 8 - 10 oz. candle so it's important to follow these steps.
Plan ahead. You will need to light the candle for the first time for quite a while. The candle needs to really warm up to be set for life. Similar to us without a full cup of coffee... okay, the whole pot. Plan to enjoy the aromas and environment for a few hours or until all the top layer has fully melted. This avoids that frustrating tunneling effect. AND no you can just take your lighter and try to melt it away again, even though it can be kind of fun. This unfortunately won't work as the new melt will drown the wick putting it out and discoloring the wax.
Trim the Wick. While you may think the longer the wick the bigger the flame or more enjoyable candle. But no, you should always trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting. Yes, this will correct that wonky wick that leans a little causing uneven wax melting. Always check for fallen wick pieces and dust when trimming and before lighting. A long lick will not only cause concern in the melted wax and flame ups, but when the wax cools - the appearance will look like the ruins of a cigarette butt.
Watch the clock...and the candle. We know we send really great candles and you may be distracted while enjoying your evening but it is recommended with candles our size to only burn for about 4 hours at a time. It's important to not relight until about 2 hours after so the wax will fully reset and be ready for next time. And of course, as all our collective mothers would say "Don't forget about the candle." You'll already want to keep it away from airflow, such as air-conditioners and fans or it will cause the candle to create that black flame scorch marks you've always wondered how to avoid. But definitely keep an eye on the candle and follow fire safety precautions.
We hope these simple tips will help you enjoy our speciality candles and all others for a long time... well, at four hours at a time.