Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Candle Questions

Question: Why does the flame on my candle become smaller after a few hours of burning?

Answer: The pool of liquid wax near the wick may be flooding the flame. This will cause the flame to either become smaller or extinguish. If you start to notice these characteristics, blow out the candle and pour off the liquid wax. Repeat as necessary.

Question: Some of my candles either do not fit securely into their holders or the holders are too small. What can I do?

Answer: If you have been unable to find a candleholder which properly fits your candle, try the following: (1) If the candle is too big for the holder, shave some wax off the bottom of the candle or hold it under warm water until the wax is pliable; (2) If the candle is too small for the holder, use candle adhesive to keep the candle upright. Whatever you do, please make sure your candle is secure in its holder.

Question: Why does my candle drip or burn unevenly?

Answer: Any candle (even dripless candles) will drip or burn unevenly when placed in a draft. Therefore, if you are having problems, check for drafts from windows, air conditioning units, etc., or try rotating your candle to offset uneven burning. If you continue to have problems, you might want to try a better quality candle.

Question: What general safety tips should I follow while burning candles?

Answer: The most important candle rules to follow are never leave a candle burning while unattended and make sure the candle is being burned in a proper candleholder or on a suitable candle base. Also, never allow a candle to burn within 2 inches of any decorations which may be surrounding the candle or candleholder. Most accidents occur when people either forget about the burning candle are careless.

Question: Should I trim the wick on my candle?

Answer: Most candle wicks should be trimmed to about 1/4 inch for burning. If the wick on your candle is too long it may cause the candle to burn unevenly and faster than normal. Additionally, if you are using a glass candleholder, it is smart to keep the wick trimmed and centered to avoid breaking or cracking the glass.

Question: When I blow out my candles I either cause them to drip or splatter. How can I avoid doing this in the future?

Answer: When blowing out your next candle, hold your finger perpendicular in front of the flame and blow at it. The air will flow around your finger and extinguish the flame from both sides without splattering the hot, fluid wax.

Question: Once I have finished burning a votive candle, how do I get the remaining wax out of its holder?

Answer: There are two methods to make this job easier: (1) before burning, place 1/2 tsp. of water in the bottom of your votive holder before inserting the candle or (2) after burning, place the votive holder in the freezer overnight and try "popping" the frozen wax out the holder.

Question: I am planning a dinner party and will be having candles on the table. What advice do you have?

Answer: For presentation purposes, even if you do not intend to burn the candles, the wick on each candle should be burnt temporarily to give it a charred look. Not only will this make the candle look better, but, if you intend to burn the candles, it will make lighting them during dinner quicker and easier.

Question: Can I use my candle to eliminate smoke and other bothersome odors?

Answer: Most scented candles will cover or overpower odors. They will not eliminate them. Try our destroyer candles to eliminate odors from cigarettes, cigars, cooking, etc.

Question: Why did my candle burn down the middle without consuming all of its wax?

Answer: Wax consumption is related to several variables such as: (1) Adding color and scent oil affects the wax's melting point and burning characteristics, much like salt changes the boiling temperature of water. Some blends melt and burn more readily than others. You can compensate by using wicks of different sizes, but you must also be concerned with flame size. Very large wicks tend to smoke; and (2) Specific usage is also important. A candle that is repeatedly burned for short periods of time is liable to "tunnel" down the middle, while one burned for 3 to 5 hours at a sitting is more likely to burn completely.

Question: What is foliation and how do I get my candle to foliate?

Answer: Foliation is simple, fun and it gives your candle an interesting look. Simply burn a three (3) inch diameter candle 4-8 hours until the outer upper edges become soft and pliable. At that time, push in two sides and pull out the opposite two side forming an oval. Repeat this same process approximately four to six times. Try to develop a lip of wax the thickness of one finger at the top edges of the candle. The overhang and weight of the wax at the outermost edges of oval will cause the candle to cascade or foliate down the side as depicted in the following photo.

Question: At a dinner party, what is the appropriate height for a candle on the table?

Answer: At a dinner party, be sure the flame height is not at eye level. The gentle flickering of candlelight can be annoying or distracting at eye level during cross-table conversations. For the most elegant of tables, select tall tapers. The larger the table, the taller the candles can be. Tall candles illuminate the room and diner's faces, while short candles illuminate the food.

Question: Why do candles sometimes get mushroom shapes on the wicks?

Answer: When the candle is consuming wax more quickly than the flame can burn completely, carbon deposits may develop. This will most likely occur when the wick needs to be trimmed. Blow out the flame, trim the wick, clean off the carbon deposit and relight the candle. Do not allow the wick trimmings or other materials to fall into the wax pool.

Question: How can I restore the luster of my candle?

Answer: Soiled or dusty candles can be cleaned by using alcohol and a soft cloth. A drop of salad oil, wiped on a dull candle with a soft cloth will restore luster.

Question: How do you get wax out of fabrics?

Answer: Let the wax harden and then scrape it up using the back of a knife. Always, consult the laundering instructions provided by the manufacturer of the item. If possible, have the item cleaned professionally, especially if the wax contained a strong colored dye. Boiling water poured through the cloth is helpful, especially for a tablecloth (if the type of cloth permits). The final traces of wax can often be removed by applying dry cleaning fluid after the fabric has dried out completely.

Question: How do I remove wax from furniture?

Answer: To remove wax from furniture, make sure the wax is as hard as possible by running an ice cube over it. If there is a big pile of wax, you can scrape most of it away with a dull knife. As you approach the surface of the table, switch to an ice cream stick or a paint stir-stick. Remove the last traces of wax with a piece of clean cheesecloth and a couple of drops of lighter or cleaning fluid. Turn the cloth often and confine your efforts to the stained area. Follow up with furniture polish or paste wax.

Question: How can I remove beeswax from countertops or tables?

Answer: You can use lemon oil to remove beeswax from countertops and tables. The beeswax mixes with the oil and wipes right up!

Question: What is a unity candle and how is it used during wedding ceremonies?

Answer: During the wedding ceremony three candles are positioned at the alter. These three candles usually consist of one pillar candle, (the "Unity Candle"), centered between two taper candles, (the "side candles"). During the ceremony, the bride and groom each light the side candles from burning alter candles. The couple then lights the Unity Candle from their respective side candles and extinguish the side candles. This act symbolizes the bride and groom "becoming one in marriage." A contemporary variation on this tradition is to have the parents of the bride and groom light the side candles from the alter candles and to have the bride and groom take their respective parent's side candle to light the Unity Candle.

Question: Why are some candles more fragrant than others?

Answer: Most candle fragrances are heat released. Therefore, the longer you burn your candle and the larger the pool of melted wax at the top of the candle, the more fragrant the candle will be. Because taper candles and formal candles do not create pools of wax, they are not as good a source for fragrance as pillar, votive or jar candles. If a particular pillar, votive or jar candle is not as fragrant as another candle, it could be because the maker did not use enough scented oil in the manufacturing process. Typically, "cheap" candles are not as fragrant and do not burn as well as better quality candles such as ours.

Question: I read an article about health issues related to lead core wicks. Do you sell any candles with lead core wicks?

Answer: Recent coverage in the media regarding possible health issues relating to candles containing lead wicks has been somewhat confusing and misleading. Very few "American-Made" candles have wire core wicks and those that do have zinc core wicks, not lead. Candle Factory Products does not sell any candles with lead core wicks. We care deeply about the health and well-being of our customers.