There is something deeply satisfying about lighting a candle you love — the soft glow, the rising scent, the way a beautiful wax sculpture transforms a room. But sculpted candles deserve a little more intention than your average jar candle. With the right care, they'll reward you with hours of fragrance and artistry that lasts.
Trim the wick before every burn.
Keep your wick trimmed to about ¼ inch before each lighting. A longer wick causes uneven flames, soot, and burns through your wax far too quickly. A small pair of wick trimmers (or clean nail scissors) makes this effortless.
Allow a full melt pool on the first burn.
The first burn sets the memory of your candle. Let it burn until the melt pool reaches the edges of the vessel, this prevents tunneling and ensures an even, consistent burn for the life of the candle. For our Luxury Candles, plan for 2–3 hours on that first lighting.
Burn in sessions of 2–4 hours.
Extended burns overheat the wax and can distort the shape of sculpted designs. Keep sessions to 4 hours maximum, then let the candle cool fully before relighting.
Keep it away from drafts.
Airflow causes uneven burning and flickering flames that can darken the wax or warp sculptural details. Place your candle on a stable, heat-safe surface away from fans, open windows, and vents.
Store with intention.
When not in use, cover your candle to protect the surface from dust and direct sunlight, which can fade both colour and fragrance. A cool, dry drawer or linen-lined box works beautifully.
Know when to stop.
Stop burning when about ½ inch of wax remains at the base. Burning beyond this point can overheat the vessel and diminish the integrity of the design. The vessel itself especially our Concrete Jars — often has a second life as a planter, trinket dish, or diffuser.
A note on sculpted and decorative candles.
Our Cake Candles and Bouquet Candles are works of art first, candles second. Many customers choose to display the unlit which entirely valid. If you do burn them, follow the tips above and enjoy the transformation as the wax softens and releases its scent.
Treat your candle the way you'd treat any luxury with a little care and a lot of appreciation.