Candle Tips and Tricks
To ensure that your candle don't tunnel, make sure to burn your candle until the wax pool has reached the edge of the jar.
Burn for 2 - 4 hours to establish a full melt pool. Burn candle max. of 4 hrs.
Traditional cotton wicks need trimming. Wooden wicks remove the charred part of the wick.
Discontinue use when you reach the last 1/2" of wax at the bottom of the vessel.
Wooden wicks take longer to light. At times, they can self-extinguish and need re-lighting, just like firewood.
This means that the candle’s burning process is in balance. The wick is efficiently pulling up the right amount of wax, which is then being “consumed” by the flame to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide.
No Flickering or Wisps of Smoke
Constant flickering and smoking occur when the teardrop shape of the flame is disturbed. This allows small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) to escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. If too much (or too little) air reaches the candle flame, it will disturb the flame’s teardrop shape, causing it to soot. To avoid this, always burn your candles in a well-ventilated room, away from drafts, vents or strong air currents.
A few simple rules and best practices are all you need to keep your candles in tip-top shape!
- Always store your candles in a cool, dark and dry place.
- Soy wax drippings can be removed by tipping it off with a damp cloth or soap or water.
- You can remove leftover wax from its container by first placing the candleholder in the freezer for an hour or so. This allows the wax to shrink and easily pop out when the candleholder is removed from the freezer.
- Never use a knife or a sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass votive holder. It might scratch or weaken the glass, causing it to break upon subsequent use.
- Avoid burning candles in any glass item not specifically designed for candles. Glass candleholders are specifically manufactured to withstand the temperature changes that occur when burning a candle. Everyday glassware is not designed for burning candles.
- Avoid placing your candles where they will be directly exposed to sunlight or harsh indoor lighting, such as a spotlight. Candles may fade if they are left in bright light for an extended period of time.
Get the best out of your clean candle.
If you love candles, but don’t like when the candle doesn’t burn all the wax, you might look for a way to make the wax burn completely. Here’s what you should do about leftover wax on the side of the jar.
- Avoid short burns. If you light your candle for brief periods only, the wax is not able to melt completely. Never burn candles unattended.
- Don’t touch! Pushing the wax down into a hot candle puts you at risk of skin burns, and shortens the length of exposed wick. This can actually result in more wax remaining in the next burn.
- Accept ‘leftover’ wax. Residual wax can have the benefit of preventing the candle from becoming too hot. Variability in burning conditions result in different amounts of leftover wax. For example, the length of time the candle’s been burning or the temperature of the room can affect the amount of leftover wax. The candle is likely performing as designed, in some conditions.
How to Burn Candles
What causes a candle to smoke, and what can I do to correct it?
Our candles will create no smoke when burning properly. Sooting is primarily due to flame and combustion disturbances. If the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed.
To avoid this, always trim the wick to ¼ inch before every use and be sure to place candles away from drafts, vents or air currents. If a candle continually flickers or smokes, it is not burning properly and should be extinguished. Allow the candle to cool, trim the wick, make sure the area is draft free, then re-light.
How long should I burn a candle?
Maximum burn times vary from candle to candle. However, we recommend to not burn your candles longer than 4hrs. Always extinguish a candle if the flame gets too close to the candle holder or container. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains (½ inch if a container candle or jar candle).
If you have any issues with your candle, please email us at hello@themayancollective.com and we'd gladly help you.
How to clean your Signature Jars from The Mayan Collective
Did you know you can refill your Signature vessel from The Mayan Collective? Take a look at our best selling scents. Here are some ideas on how to remove soy wax from your vessels and clean them.
Fridge Method:
Place your jar in the freezer for 15 minutes. After with a spoon scoop the old wax and throw it into the garbage can. Remove old wick and wash with soap and water.
Coffee Maker Method:
If you have a coffee maker with a hot plate this is a great way to clean your jars. Turn your coffee maker (don't pour water on) and place your jar on the hot plate. Let the left over wax in your jar melt and throw it away in the garbage can. NEVER PUT SOY WAX IN THE SINK. Remove old wick and wash with soap and water.
Double Boiled Method:
Place a pot with water on your stove at low temperature. Place your jar in the pot and let the left over wax melt. Throw it away in the garbage can. NEVER PUT SOY WAX IN THE SINK. Remove old wick and wash with soap and water.