Candle Care Guide

A peaceful candle experience begins with a little care.

Each Ida & Christine’s candle is hand-poured in small batches to help you create moments of warmth, comfort, and calm. These simple habits will help your candle burn more evenly, perform beautifully, and remain a safe part of your everyday ritual.

Before Every Burn

1. Trim the wick to ¼ inch

Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to approximately ¼ inch. A properly trimmed wick helps maintain a steady flame and reduces excess smoke, soot, and carbon buildup. Remove the trimmed piece and any other debris from the wax before lighting.

2. Choose a safe place

Set your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Keep it away from curtains, bedding, paper, décor, drafts, ceiling fans, vents, open windows, children, and pets. Never place a burning candle directly on delicate furniture or near anything that can catch fire.

The First Burn

3. Give the wax time to melt evenly

The first burn helps establish how the candle will perform in future sessions. Allow the wax to melt evenly across most of the surface, ideally reaching close to the sides of the vessel. For most candles, this takes approximately two to four hours.

Never burn a candle longer than four hours simply to force a full melt pool. If a little wax remains along the sides after the first burn, it may naturally melt during later sessions.

During Each Burn

4. Keep burn sessions between two and four hours

Short burns may create a narrow melt pool and contribute to tunneling. Very long burns can make the vessel excessively hot and cause the flame to become unstable. For the best balance, enjoy your candle for two to four hours at a time, then allow it to cool completely before relighting.

5. Watch the flame

A healthy flame should be calm and steady. If the flame becomes unusually tall, flickers continuously, produces black smoke, or the wick develops a large carbon “mushroom,” extinguish the candle. Let it cool completely, trim the wick to ¼ inch, and relight it away from drafts.

6. Never leave a burning candle unattended

Remain in the room while your candle is burning. Do not move or touch the vessel while the wax is melted or the glass is hot. Keep the wax pool free of matches, wick trimmings, and other debris.

Extinguishing Your Candle

7. Put out the flame gently

Use a candle snuffer whenever possible. If you blow out the flame, do so carefully to avoid splashing melted wax. Never use water to extinguish a candle; water can cause hot wax to splatter and may damage the vessel. Confirm that the wick is no longer glowing before leaving the room.

When It Is Time to Say Goodbye

8. Stop burning with ½ inch of wax remaining

Retire your candle when approximately ½ inch of wax remains at the bottom. Burning beyond this point can overheat the base of the vessel. Once the candle is cool, it is ready to be cleaned and thoughtfully repurposed or recycled according to your local guidelines.

Caring for an Unlit Candle

Replace the lid after the candle has cooled to keep the wax clean and protected.
Store the candle upright in a cool, dry place.
Keep it away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Avoid leaving candles in cars, garages, windows, or other areas with large temperature changes.

Natural Soy Wax Notes

Soy wax has a personality of its own. You may notice frosting, slight color changes, tiny oil beads, or a textured surface after the candle cools. These are common characteristics of natural soy wax and do not necessarily affect the candle’s performance or fragrance.

Quick Troubleshooting

Why is my candle producing black smoke?

The wick may be too long, or the candle may be sitting in a draft. Extinguish the flame, let the wax cool, trim the wick to ¼ inch, and move the candle away from fans, vents, or open windows.

Why is wax remaining around the sides?

The candle may not have burned long enough to form an even melt pool. During the next session, allow it to burn for up to four hours. Do not leave it burning longer in an attempt to correct the wax.