A soy candle is a small ritual. You light it, and the room changes pace. There's not much to do, but a few habits make it burn cleaner, more evenly, and for longer. Here's what we've learned from making them, and from living with ours.
Where to burn it
On a stable, level surface, away from draughts. An open window, a fan or the AC makes the flame flicker and the burn uneven. Keep it away from curtains, paper and anything that catches easily. And always somewhere you can see it, never lit in an empty room.
The first burn
The first burn sets the rest. Let the candle burn for two to three hours, until the whole surface melts to the edges of the jar. Soy wax has a memory: put it out early and it will keep burning in the same narrow tunnel, leaving wax on the walls. Give it time the first time, and it will burn evenly to the end.
Wick care
Before every burn, trim the wick to 5mm. A short wick means a steady flame, a clean burn and less soot. A long wick flickers, smokes and burns the candle faster. A small pair of scissors or a wick trimmer is all you need.
How long it lasts
A 200g candle burns for around 45 hours, depending on the room and how long you leave it lit each time. Don't burn it for more than four hours at a stretch. Beyond that, the wick drifts, the flame grows and the burn loses its rhythm.
How to put it out
Use a snuffer rather than blowing it out. Blowing scatters melted wax and leaves a smoky smell in the room. A snuffer puts the flame out quietly and keeps the scent clean.
Safety and handling
Keep out of reach of children and pets. Never leave it burning unattended. The jar gets hot while it burns, so let it cool before you move it. Stop using it once about 10mm of wax is left at the bottom.
When it's done
When the candle is finished, the glass jar stays. Pour in a little hot water to soften the last of the wax, clean it out, and keep it. It becomes a tumbler, a vase, a small candle holder, whatever suits it.
The new collection
Our new soy candle collection is now live. A small range, made in Athens, to fill your space for hours at a time. Browse the collection.
