critical candle care
we have gone to great lengths to engineer our beeswax candles to burn as perfectly as possible. a little bit of quality care from you is all it takes to maximize burn times and prevent any smoking, tunneling, or excess wax buildup.
because our candles are made from 100% pure beeswax rather than soy, paraffin, or blended waxes, they behave a little differently than conventional candles. beeswax has the highest melting point of any common candle wax, resulting in a slower, longer-lasting burn; but it also requires a bit more patience and proper care.
follow the guidelines below to enjoy a cleaner, safer burn and maximize the life of your candle.
why beeswax candles burn differently.
beeswax is one of nature's most remarkable candle materials. unlike paraffin or soy wax, beeswax is naturally dense and has a significantly higher melting point.
this means our beeswax candles:
- burn slower and last longer
- produce a brighter, warmer flame
- require longer burn sessions to achieve a full melt pool
- may take more time to reach the edges of the jar during initial burns
for this reason, beeswax candles perform best when burned for approximately 3-4 hours at a time, rather than short periods.
the first burn is the most important.
the first burn sets the memory of your candle.
when lighting your candle for the first time, allow it to burn until the melted wax reaches as close to the edge of the jar as possible. depending on candle size, scent and room conditions, this may take 3–4 hours or longer.
extinguishing a candle too early can create a tunnel around the wick. once tunneling begins, candles often continue burning down the center, leaving usable wax along the sides of the jar.
for best results:
- burn your candle for at least 3–4 hours during the first use.
- avoid extinguishing the candle before a full melt pool develops.
- keep the candle away from drafts, fans, open windows, or air vents.
trim your wick before every burn.
before each lighting, trim the wick to approximately ¼ inch (6 mm).
a properly trimmed wick helps:
- prevent smoking and soot
- promote an even flame
- reduce mushrooming
- extend candle life
- improve scent performance
if the flame becomes excessively large or begins producing smoke, extinguish the candle, allow it to cool completely, trim the wick, and relight.
for best results, use a wick trimmer rather than scissors.
burn long enough, but not too long.
because beeswax melts more slowly than other waxes, short burn sessions are one of the most common causes of tunneling.
we recommend:
- burning for 3–4 hours at a time, or until the wax pool hits the outer edge of the container
- avoiding burn sessions shorter than 2 hours
- extinguishing once the wax achieves a full edge-to-edge melt pool, and allowing the candle to cool before relighting
this helps maintain an even wax surface and promotes the longest possible burn time.
keep the wax pool clean.
always keep the candle free from:
- wick trimmings
- matches
- dust
- debris
- foreign objects
debris in the wax pool can affect how the candle burns and may create unnecessary smoke.
avoid drafts.
drafts are one of the biggest causes of uneven burning.
keep candles away from:
- ceiling fans
- open windows
- air conditioning vents
- heating vents
- frequently used doorways
moving air can cause flickering, uneven melting, smoking, and reduced burn performance.
if wax builds up along the sides.
because beeswax is naturally firm and slow to melt, a small amount of wax remaining along the sides of the jar during early burns can be normal.
as the candle continues burning through future sessions, the heat generated lower in the jar often helps melt and consume this wax.
if necessary, extending your burn session slightly can help encourage a more complete melt pool.
candle safety.
always follow basic candle safety practices:
- never leave a burning candle unattended.
- keep away from children and pets.
- burn on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
- keep away from flammable materials.
- do not move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is hot.
- stop use when approximately ½ inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar.
- extinguish the candle if the flame becomes excessively high, flickers repeatedly, or produces persistent smoke.
frequently asked questions.
why does my beeswax candle take longer to melt than soy candles?
beeswax has a naturally higher melting point than soy wax. this is one of the reasons beeswax candles burn longer, but it also means they require longer burn sessions to establish a full melt pool.
why is my candle tunneling?
tunneling is usually caused by extinguishing the candle before a full melt pool forms, especially during the first burn.
why is my candle smoking?
smoking is most often caused by a wick that is too long or by drafts disrupting the flame. trim the wick to ¼ inch and move the candle away from moving air.
why does my candle seem to burn slower than other candles?
that's one of the benefits of beeswax. its dense structure and high melting point allow it to burn more slowly and often last longer than candles made from paraffin or soy wax.
have additional questions? head over to our faq page.
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our beeswax candles are handcrafted in small batches using 100% pure beeswax and pure essential oils - nothing else. no synthetics. no fillers. just beeswax and pure essential oils.