Get the most from every pour
Candle Care Guide
A few small habits are the difference between a candle that burns evenly for forty hours and one that tunnels away in ten. Here's everything we'd tell you if we were handing it to you in person.
The first burn sets the memory
Coconut wax remembers its first burn. Light your candle and let it burn until the melted wax reaches the full edge of the glass — usually two to three hours. If you blow it out before the pool spreads all the way across, the candle will keep burning to that same narrower ring every time after, leaving a tunnel of hard wax up the sides.
Give it those first few uninterrupted hours and the candle will burn evenly for its whole life.
Every time you light it
Four small habits
None of these take more than a few seconds, and together they add hours of clean, fragrant burn.
Trim the wick
Before every burn, trim the wick to about a quarter inch. A long wick makes a tall, flickering flame that produces soot and burns through wax faster. Nail scissors work fine.
Burn three to four hours
That's the sweet spot. Less and the pool may not reach the edge; more and the wax overheats, the glass gets hot, and the scent starts to dull.
Keep it out of drafts
Open windows, vents, and passing traffic pull the flame sideways. That's what causes uneven burning, black marks on the glass, and dripping down one side.
Stop at half an inch
When about half an inch of wax is left, retire the candle. Burning past that point puts too much heat into the base of the glass.
Quick reference
Do and don't
Do
- Burn on a flat, heat-resistant surface away from anything flammable.
- Keep the wax pool clear of trimmings, matches, and dust.
- Use a snuffer or the lid to extinguish — it avoids smoke and splashing.
- Let the glass cool completely before moving or re-lighting.
- Store somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
- Centre the wick while the wax is still soft if it drifts off-centre.
Don't
- Leave a burning candle unattended, or within reach of children and pets.
- Move a candle while it's lit or the wax is molten.
- Burn for more than four hours at a stretch.
- Add water to put it out — it can crack the glass and spit hot wax.
- Burn it down to the very bottom of the vessel.
- Leave it in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill.
If something's not right
Troubleshooting
The first burn was probably cut short. You can often recover it: wrap the top of the glass loosely in foil, leaving the centre open, and burn for two to three hours. The trapped heat softens the wall of wax and lets the pool level out. Once it's even, go back to normal burns and always let the pool reach the edge.
The wick is too long, or the candle is in a draft. Extinguish it, let the wax cool and set, trim the wick to a quarter inch, and move it away from vents or open windows before re-lighting.
Almost always an untrimmed wick or a draft. Let the candle cool completely, wipe the inside of the glass with a dry paper towel, trim the wick, and relocate it. It shouldn't recur.
Scent throw depends on room size, airflow, and ceiling height — a candle that fills a bedroom may go unnoticed in an open-plan space. Give it a full burn so the pool spreads edge to edge, and close the door for the first half hour. Noses also adapt quickly to a scent you've been sitting with; step out of the room and come back to judge it fairly.
That's natural coconut wax behaving like natural coconut wax. Frosting, slight colour variation, and an uneven set after burning are cosmetic and have no effect on the scent or the burn. It's a sign the wax hasn't been treated with hardeners.
Extinguish the candle and, while the wax is still soft, gently nudge the wick back to centre with the tip of a spoon handle. Hold it a moment while the wax firms up around it.
Pour just-boiled water into the glass and let it sit until the remaining wax floats and hardens on top — then lift it off and discard it in the bin, not the sink. Wash with warm soapy water and the jar is yours for brushes, plants, or trinkets.
Beyond the candle
Sprays and car diffusers
Room & body spray
- Shake gently before each use — natural oils settle.
- Hold about eight inches away and mist lightly.
- Patch test on your inner arm before wider use on skin.
- Test on a hidden area before spraying fabrics; some oils can mark delicate finishes.
- Store away from heat and direct sun to keep the scent true.
Car diffuser
- Secure it so it can't swing loose or obstruct your view while driving.
- Keep it off dashboards and leather — fragrance oils can mark interior finishes.
- Expect four to six weeks of scent; heat shortens that, so consider removing it on very hot days.
- If the scent fades, a light turn or shake will often revive it.
Safety essentials
Everything above helps your candle burn better. This part keeps everyone safe — please read it once.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it whenever you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Keep away from children and pets, and from curtains, bedding, paper, and anything else that can catch.
- Burn on a stable, heat-resistant surface. The glass becomes hot in use.
- Never move a lit candle or one with molten wax in it.
- Never use water to extinguish a candle.
- Stop burning at half an inch of remaining wax.
- Sprays are for external use only. Keep away from eyes and don't ingest. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
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