FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FQA:

General Candle Care + Wick Trimming

Trim the wick to ¼” before lighting every time!  This makes all the difference in the longevity and clean burning of your candle. A long wick burns much too hot and will both use up the candle more quickly and create soot.  Grab a wick trimmer, use nail clippers to get a close cut or pinch of the burnt wood with your fingers!

Burn your candle for up to 3-4 hours at a time.  It’s very important that the first time you use the candle to burn it long enough for the melted wax to reach the edges of the container.  This prevents the wax from building up and possibly tunneling and drowning the wick during future use.

Never leave a candle burning unattended or within reach of a draft, pets, or small children.

• If the flame seems high or the container is too hot in the midst of burning, simply extinguish the flame, let it cool down, trim the wick and restart!

My Candle Won't Stay Lit, What Do I Do?

• Make sure your wick has been trimmed to 1/8-1/4in, if not, trim your wick! The wax is the fuel for the flame and the longer the wax has to travel up the wick the less power your flame will have.

• Make sure you leave your candle burning long enough for the melt pool to reach the edges of the vessel, if not it can cause the wick to drown out.

• If you happened to blow your candle out before it reached the sides and now your wick is drowning in wax simply dump out a little bit of the wax and use a blow dryer to remelt the top layer of wax until your top is even again, trim your wick and relight!

• Wooden wicks are a natural wood product and therefore can be inconsistent in the way they are cut and manufactured. If you are still having issues with your candle, please reach out to us at westernflamecandleco@gmail.com and we will be more than happy to help!

Why Does the Top of My Candle Look Rough and Bumpy?

• This is a characteristic of 100% natural soy wax! It is totally normal and will not affect the performance of your candle at all :)

Why Does My Candle Look Discolored After Burning?

• This is also a characteristic of soy wax and natural wood wicks. As the wood burns the burnt particles can mix with the wax and cause discoloration. Natural waxes are just more prone to staining and it will not affect the performance or safety of your candle.

• To minimize discoloration with wood wicks, consider: 
• Regularly trimming your wick to the appropriate length and removing any burnt wood that falls in the wax before relighting.
• Burn long enough to create a full melt pool.
• Ensure good ventilation to the room you're burning your candle in.

How long will my candle last?

• Candles that are 10-13oz will last around ~70-80+ hours and are well suited for larger, open areas in your home or studio
• Candles that are 8-9oz will last ~50+ hours and are well suited for small-medium sized areas in your home or studio
• Candles that are 5-7oz will last ~25-40+ hours and are great for bathrooms, bedside tables and smaller, cozy spots in your home

Why Soy Wax?

Our wax at Western Flame is 100% natural soy wax, derived from soybeans. It is PARAFFIN free, gluten free, toxin free, paraben free, and phthalate free. The entire wax is FDA approved so you have peace of mind while using our candles in your home or studio.

Why is what wax you use important?

Most candles have a wax blend, most commonly you will see a soy-paraffin blend. Paraffin is the most widely used wax for a lot of candles because of it’s low cost and optimal scent throw (how much you smell both when the candle is lit and when it’s cool). Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum and crude oil, it releases harmful chemicals and soot in the air causing lung irritation. In an effort to carry as many clean products as we can, Western Flame went the route of soy wax!

What’s the deal with wood wicks?

• Great question, not only do they provide a subtle crackling sound, but they are also organic, non-toxic and eco-friendly, sourced from FSC-certified mills and made in USA.

• Because of the natural characteristics of Wood Wicks, candles can sometimes exhibit inconsistences. Each wooden wick is cut from natural wood, and variations in wood grain and thickness can lead to differences in burn performance. The moisture content of wood wicks can vary, affecting how the wick burns. Just be sure to keep your wick trimmed to 1/8-1/4 inch before each burn!

• Wooden wicks offer a unique and visually appealing aspect, but they may require a bit more attention to achieve consistent burning compared to traditional cotton wicks. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at westernflamecandleco@gmail.com and we can help!

Can I reuse my container? How?

YES! We want you to up-cycle after you use your candle.  A great way to make this happen is easy:

• Place your container in the freezer
• Remove the container after a few hours and dislodge the wax
• Rock the wick holder back and forth to wiggle free from the container (this takes a little elbow grease)
• Clean the container with for favorite cleaning product and VOILA!

Here are some ways we love to reuse our Western Flame containers: desk or office accessory, pencil holder, mini planter (make a drainage system inside or drill a hole), jewelry or hair tie holder, home decor (fill with potpourri, vase for flowers, stones).