Beeswax Candle Safety and Tips

In this blog post I may use words and terms that are unfamiliar, you will find a glossary list at the bottom of this post.

The most common comment I get about my candles, is they're just to beautiful to burn. My response is always you don't have to burn them, I have a few that I myself will likely never burn because I just love their look. If you are going to burn them, however, there are a few things you need to know so that you get the best value and have the safest burn from your candle.

Tips for getting the most value from your beeswax candle.

Always make sure your first burn is at least 1-2 hours. Candles retain what are called burn memories, burning for the recommended time will allow the melt pool to fully form and retain that melt pattern in the future. Failing to allow the melt pool to fully form may result in undesirable melt patterns in subsequent burnings.

Tips for safe burning of beeswax candles.

We have all heard and read the usual candle safety instructions; don't leave unattended, keep out of reach of pets and children, don't burn on a surface that is unsteady or uneven, etc however, there are some others that you may not have heard before but are just as important.

Trim your wick before lighting EVERY time.

I feel like most people believe that when they are sold a candle it is perfect ready to burn, in fact before I started the journey of learning to make beeswax candles myself, that is exactly what I thought too. So if you were under this impression you are in good company. Trimming the wick stops the flame from getting too high, lowers the chances of smoke and soot and will help your candle to last longer. Your wick should be approximately 6mm (1/4in) higher than the top of the beeswax candle. It is important to note, as I and many other beeswax candle makers prime their wicks, when measuring how low to trim the wick measure from where the candle actually begins rather than where the beeswax stops.

Properly extinguish your candle.

To blow it out or not to blow it out. This is a debate that has been going on for longer than I have been alive, and the longer that it goes on the less actual information is passed on. So lets settle this debate once and for all and look at why you might choose one method or the other. Starting with large pillar candles; these candles usually have a substantial melt pool which doesn't make them ideal for extinguishing them by blowing them out. Potentially the melt pool could splatter and catch fire. It is best to use a candle snuffer or a wick dipper with beeswax candles this size. Smaller candles, like tapers, do not have a large melt pool so blowing these candles out should not cause the same safety issues. However, it is still best to use a snuffer to extinguish candles over all.

Containers

Beeswax tends to burn hotter than most other waxes so they are best burned free of containers. If you are going to put your beeswax candle in a container there are a few precautions to take when matching a beeswax candle to a container, first and foremost always make sure the container you are going to burn your candle in is safe for candles. Some containers may look lovely for decoration but can melt, explode or set fire to surrounding areas by getting too hot. Always make sure there is sufficient space between the candle and the edge of the container this will minimize how hot the container can get. In the case of hurricane glasses it is recommended to use only tealight size beeswax candles due to the way the glass directs heat.

Glossary

Burn Memory

Wax melts through the path with the least resistance, just like how water travels, in this case it is easier for the flame to melt the melt pool from a previous burn.

Melt Pool

The wax that melts to a liquid state around the flame.

Prime

Priming a wick refers to the process of soaking the wick in wax before pouring or dipping the candle. Some find that candles burn more efficiently if the wick doesn't have to work as hard to move the wax to the flame.

Pillar Candles

These are candles that are usually tall 5cm (2in) wide candles.

Taper Candles

Taper candles are thinner candles similar to what you would see used in older style candelabras.

Candle Snuffer

This tool looks like a small bell with a long pole and is used to "snuff" out a candle.

Wick Dipper

This tool looks like a long pick, you use it to dip and fully submerge the wick into the melt pool, it insures that the wick will be covered in wax for the next burn as well are eliminates smoking as the flame extinguishes.