Candle Information

Did you know that Candles Have a Memory? Well, they do and it’s important to remember on your first burn.

Let me explain, if you light a new candle to see what it smells like and then blow it out 15 mins later, a small ring will form in the middle. The next time you light the candle, it will only melt to that ring, creating a tunnel. This is known as a memory pool in the candle making world. And is exactly why it is important to learn how to burn a candle properly. Candles are not cheap. I want you to get the most enjoyment out of every candle you purchase.

• Start by trimming the wick to 1/4 inch (discard the excess wick – never leave it in your candle)

• Place the candle in a safe place to burn.

• Light your candle with a long match or candle lighter (never tilt the candle to the side when lighting. Wax will melt quickly. It can and will burn you.)

• Allow the candle to burn until the entire top layer of the candle is liquid, reaching from edge to edge across the candle (this can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.

• Always burn candles away from open windows, fans, or drafty areas. These can cause a candle flame to dance, smoke, bend, flame high and cause soot. All of which cause an uneven burn and unsafe conditions.

• Never burn a candle on an uneven surface. The candle could knock over at any time and start a fire. If you have a pet or little one in the house choose a surface that is out of reach.

The most important thing – never burn your candle more than 4 hours at a time. Bear with me, this is important. If you burn a candle longer than 4 hours, the scent throw could be reduced, and the candle wick will likely mushroom (a little black top) due to the excessive carbon buildup. When a wick mushrooms, it becomes unstable, and the flame will grow very high. Another thing to consider is that the wax may become too hot and could risk exploding the container. I take great care to ensure your candle jar will not overheat. That said, if at any time your candle jar ever feels too hot to touch, please blow it out immediately. Once the wax has cooled, trim your wick to 1/4 inch and relight. This should resolve the issue. Let’s say it’s the weekend and you want to burn your candle all day. You can! But, please follow the 4 hour rule. Every 4 hours, extinguish the candle flame, allow the wax to cool and harden (typically an hour). Trim the wick and light the candle again to enjoy for another 4 hours. Remember, if you overheat your candle and wick, it can and will cause problems with scent throw. Allowing the candle to cool after a 4 hour burn gives the wax and wick a rest.

Frequently Asked Candle Questions

Please reach me at Susan@fnbrilliant.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What kind of wicks do you use?

I use 100% cotton wicks.

What kind of wax do you use?

January 1, 2023: I currently am using a personal blend of Para-Soy. Soy Wax at 80% and a Pro Blend Paraffin Wax at 20% for fragrance and shipping stability. Update: January 28, 2023 I have now added 10% Coconut Wax to my blend. So it's officially 80% Soy, 10% Paraffin, 10% Coconut.

Will my candle soot?

The short answer is yes. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Moving your candle to a less drafty area should immediately resolve the issue and keeping your wick trimmed to 1/4 inch. The longer answer is that a small amount of soot produced by a candle is the natural by product of incomplete combustion caused by a tall flame. Keeping your wick trimmed to 1/4 inch and away from drafts will stop any soot issues.

Are soy candles as good at scent throw like those well-known big brands who use 100% Paraffin wax?

This is a tough question. One person’s opinion of a strong scent may be another’s idea of a weak scent. For me, I believe if done correctly, a Soy Candle can smell just as wonderful as a Paraffin candle. You should smell scent within the first 15 minutes of burning your new candle. Once a candle reaches its full melt pool (1 inch per hour - my jars are 3 inches so you should have a full melt pool within 2.5-3.0 hours) the scent should fill the room. If not, make sure your wick is trimmed to 1/8' - 1/4" and try moving it to another spot in the room. Trust me, there is a perfect spot for your candle in your room based on the candles size.

I cut my wick too short. Can I save my candle?

Yes! Light your candle (if possible) and let a little wax build up. Blow out the candle and dip a rolled paper towel end into the wax to absorb. You may need to do this a couple times to get the wick freed to a 1/4 inch. You want to be sure you have the right size wick otherwise your candle will burn too slow and this lower your scent throw. If you happen to cut the wick level to the wax, don't worry. Use the edge of a fork or screwdriver to dig out a small area around the wick. Then, proceed as noted above.

What is a dancing flame?

Great question! Honestly, there are 3 types of flames. One that flickers, one that dances, and one that bends. The first one is the best one. A little flicker with your flame is a good thing. They are pretty and very normal. A dancing flame is a bit different. Those flames move around the jar a bit too much. I call those the flames that have the Zoomies. Move that candle to another spot. Chances are it’s in a draft. The really bad flames are the ones that bend like a gymnast going for the gold. You’ll know when you see it – it will be the one going sideways. Blow that flame out immediately. Trim the wick back to 1/4 inch, and place your candle in a new spot. More than likely there was a heavy draft and your candle got the zoomies, but then it got out of control. It happens. The problem with zoomie flames that bend is they can heat up your candle jar, which in turn can cause them to shatter. Bottom line - when it comes to candles, zoomies bad.

Will You Teach Me How To Make Candles

I get this question a lot. My answer is - No. Here is why. I didn’t learn the “professional” way. I did take a few classes but found them to be a waste of my time and money. Instead, I bought 6 different types of popular candle wax, every wick size I could find and a ton of mason jars. I took a lot of notes and made binders full of mistakes. With every mistake I learned a valuable lesson of what not to do next time. Honestly, it was the best way to learn. Most people think candle making is a quick way to make money. This is the farthest thing from the truth. It is expensive and takes tons of time and patience. So, if you are serious about learning this craft, then put in the hours, the burns, the tears and the failures. In the end, you will have a trade you will be proud of and you can say you did it on your own!

What are those wet spots on my candle?

In a nutshell, those things are the stuff of my nightmares and every other candle maker. Either way, let’s talk about it. Those are exactly what you said, they are called “wet spots” and are almost impossible to get rid of during cold months. Even big brands who make millions of candles each year get them. Why does it happen? Well, the wax gets cold and shrinks is the best answer. Even under the perfect conditions when making the candles – meaning warm temperatures during pouring the candle, and warm storage temperatures, there is these things called “Winter, and then shipping.” The minute the cold air hits the candle, that wax shrinks up (kinda like we do when we go outside when it’s really cold…burr). However, even once it arrives at your home where it’s warm inside, that wax will probably never re-adhere to the jar in those areas. Yup, welcome to wet spots. Most people say they don’t see them. I do, and I dislike them more than I can ever express in the written word.