The Ultimate Guide to Pillar Candle Care
Unscented square and round pillar candles
Pillar candles are a beautiful and versatile addition to any home, perfect for creating intentional spaces that promote relaxation and mindfulness. At Alkeme, our handcrafted, non-toxic pillar candles are designed to enhance your rituals and transform your environment. To ensure you get the most out of your candles, it’s important to care for them properly. In this ultimate guide, we’ll share tips and best practices to keep your pillar candles burning beautifully and safely.
Trim the Wick Regularly
One of the most crucial steps in caring for your pillar candles is trimming the wick regularly. A properly trimmed wick helps maintain an even burn and prevents excessive smoke or soot.
Why Trim the Wick? A long wick can cause the flame to flicker excessively and produce soot, which can stain your candle and surrounding surfaces. It can also lead to uneven burning and tunneling.
How to Trim: Before each use, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch. This helps ensure a clean, even burn and reduces the chance of the wick mushrooming or producing black smoke.
Wick Trimmer & Wick Dipper
Burn Your Candle Long Enough
To achieve an even burn and prevent tunneling, it’s essential to let your pillar candle burn long enough each time you light it.
The First Burn: During the initial burn, allow the candle to burn for at least 2-3 hours or until the entire surface of the candle has melted. This sets a “memory” for the wax and helps the candle burn evenly in future uses.
Subsequent Burns: Aim to burn the candle for at least 1 hour per inch of its diameter during each use. This prevents tunneling, which occurs when the candle burns straight down the center, leaving unmelted wax around the edges.
Place a Tray Underneath Your Candle
Using a tray or plate underneath your pillar candle is an important safety measure that also helps keep your surfaces clean.
Why Use a Tray? A tray or plate can catch any dripping wax and protect your surfaces from heat damage. This is especially important for long-burning candles, as wax can accumulate over time and cause stains or other damage.
Choosing the Right Tray: Opt for a heat-resistant tray made from materials like metal, glass, or ceramic. Ensure it’s large enough to catch any wax drips and has a stable base to prevent tipping.
Tray made by local artist (Alkeme trays to come)
Keep Candles Away from Flammable Objects
Safety is a top priority when burning candles. Always keep your pillar candles away from flammable objects and materials to prevent accidents.
Maintain a Safe Distance: Place your candles at least a foot away from curtains, papers, furniture, or any other flammable items. Avoid placing candles on shelves or near hanging decorations that could catch fire.
Supervise While Burning: Never leave a burning candle unattended, especially around children or pets. Extinguish the candle if you need to leave the room or go to sleep.
Prevent Tunneling with Proper Burn Techniques
Larger square pillar candles have a tendency to tunnel. Tunneling occurs when the candle continues to burn down its center rather than across the entire surface area, creating a tunneled look.
To help prevent this, we recommend burning the candle for 4 hours for the first burning sessions. This will allow the candles to burn more evenly and prevent extreme tunneling. If tunneling does occur, allow the candle to cool completely before chipping away at the thinnest part of the wax. This method will allow you to maintain the longevity of your candle.
Pillar Candles burning
Proper care is essential for enjoying your pillar candles to the fullest. By following these tips, you can ensure a safe, clean, and even burn every time. At Alkeme, we are committed to providing high-quality, handcrafted, non-toxic candles that enhance your rituals and create beautiful, intentional spaces.
Remember, every candle is more than just a light—it's an experience. Care for them well, and let them bring warmth and tranquility into your home.
Explore our collection of pillar candles and discover the perfect addition to your intentional spaces today.
