The ART of Burning Beeswax Candles
The Art of Burning Beeswax
Beeswax Candles burn hotter and brighter than any other wax. That’s why we like to say “You’re in for an Experience”. All our candles at Lazy Goat are handmade whether they are hand poured into a stately molded cylinder or hand dipped as a stunning and glamorous taper. You should expect the candles to burn for long periods, be drip free and exude a beautiful light fragrance that fills your home. They are all made from naturally filtered Beeswax and are lead, phthalate, and paraben free.
Of course, you also need to be their friend which means always place them on a fireproof surface, never leave unattended and keep away from drafts.
Enlightened candle lovers have learned there is an “Art in burning Beeswax” and that’s why we provide this tip sheet.
Initial Burn: Always keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch. The initial candle burn should be approximately one hour per inch of candle diameter (3" diameter candle should initially burn for 3 hours). Beeswax candles have a burn memory, so a shorter burn creates a narrower wax pool decreasing the overall life of the candle. Never physically move a burning candle.
Prolonging the Burn: For cylinder shaped candles, each candle should be "Hugged". "Hugging" means gently compressing the warm wax down and closer to the wick allowing more wax to be melted during the next burn and thereby increasing the overall burn time. We recommend a maximum burn of 3-4 hours each time you light your candle. You can then extinguish the flame, allow it to cool for a few minutes, trim the wick and relight.
Fancy Shapes: Fancy shapes need to be burned carefully, always on a fireproof surface, as they are often designed "for the look" and may not be able to support a long or balanced burn (i.e. a lamb, frog, etc.)
Extinguishing the Flame: Try using a Wick Dipper or a simple chopstick to extinguish the flame. Just dip the end of the wick into the wax pool and voila...no smoke or rogue candle debris. Because Beeswax candles burn at higher temperatures than any other candles, they are not recommended for enclosed containers such as a hurricane lamp (Tea lights are an exception). Try to prevent drafts or currents which could create smoking, dripping, and eventually an early slump and death of the candle.