Candle Care, Burning + Safety Tips

We have lovingly created pure soy wax candles and want you to enjoy them to their fullest.

We have put together some of the frequently asked questions to help you get the most out of your candle.

Enjoy

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What safety measures should I take when burning my LS Apothecary Candle?

It is vital that you follow these safety tips when lighting your candle. 1. Never leave your candle burning unattended. 2. Keep your candle out of the reach of children and pets. 3. Never burn your candle on or near anything that might catch fire. 4. Be sure your candle is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface. 5. Keep burning candles away from any drafts. 6. Don’t burn your candle all the way down, leave 1/2 inch of wax in the bottom of the container. 7. Never touch or move a burning candle when the wax is liquid. 8. Place burning candles at least 10cm apart from one another. 9. Use a snuffer or dip your wick into the wax to extinguish. 10. Trim your wick before burning so the flame doesn't smoke, flicker or rise too high.

Are you products vegan?

Yes, all our products are vegan friendly and cruelty free. We never use ingredients that are derived from animal products, use suppliers who share our values and against animal testing.

Do I need to trim my wick?

It is important to trim your wick before each burn. If your candle wick is too long is can cause smoking, and burn the sides of the glass. We recommend a length of 1/4 inch. We also recommend using a wick trimmer, but smaller household scissors can do the trick. Make sure only to trim your wick once the wax has cooled again - you don't want your excess wick dropping into the melted wax as this can be a fire hazard. Having a long wick will cause the flame to burn through your wax alot quicker and may cause dmage to the glass holder and items around the candle.

I want to reuse my candle container. How can I get rid of excess wax?

Empty LS Apothecary holders can make for lovely storage jars, ideal for makeup brushes for example. If you plan on reusing your candle holder, a good way to remove the excess wax is to add washing up liquid then run it under warm water to wash out the remainder of was. Soy wax has a lower melt point than paraffin, so make sure not to use boiling water – water that’s too hot can damage the label on the glass, or even damage the glass itself. Also take care not to use any sharp or metal objects on the glass as it may take off the white paintwork. With a little gentle persuasion, the sticky tab holding your wick in place, should be easily picked off.

Why should I choose soy wax candles over paraffin?

There are a number of benefits to using soy wax over paraffin. Soy wax is a relatively new product discovered in 1991, and is made from soya beans - 100% natural, renewable, and friendly to the environment. Paraffin wax however, is a bi-product of the refinery process for petroleum oil and essentially just a cheap waste product. Soy wax has a low melting point and can burn up to twice as long as paraffin wax - giving you more burn for your buck. It's also biodegradable, meaning any spills are easy to clean up. It's made from vegetable oil, which is non toxic and gives a clean burn. Compared to paraffin wax, it also gives off much less soot.

Do you use additives in LS Apothecary candles?

Many candle companies use additives in their candles for a variety of reason, to harden candles, to improve colour, and increase scent throw for example. As we are a manufacturer of natural, clean and cruelty free products, we have decided not to use additives but to perfect our candles using 100% Soy Wax and Fragrance only. When burning your candle you can be assured that you are not burning and releasing additives.

How can I avoid tunneling?

Tunneling is the term used to describe when wax near the centre of a candle burns deeper than the edges. To avoid this it’s vital that you get your first burn just right. Normally 1 hour per inch in diameter will allow for tunneling to be avoided - this creates what's known as a memory ring. After your first burn, try to avoid lighting the candle for short periods of time to avoid tunneling later on. However, make sure to never burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time, and let it cool for at least 2 hours before relighting.

How can I avoid mushrooming?

Mushrooming is the term used to describe when the tip of the wick blooms. The "mushroom" shape, formed at the end of a candle wick after burning, is the result of carbon buildup, where the flame consumes more wax than it can burn. It is a common occurrence and can be a sign that the wick is to large. We have carefully selected our wicks for their quality and ensure their size is suitable for our glass containers to minimise the chance of mushrooming occurring. However if "mushrooming" occurs with your candle, we recommend trimming the carbon buildup off the wick between burnings.

Will the candle scent my room?

Yes, however this will depend on the size of your room. If you have a large open plan space then we recommend burning additional candles (depending on the size of the space) at different locations around the room.