Candle Safety
It goes without saying that where there's a naked flame there's a danger of fire if not respected. Actually, maybe it doesn't go without saying, it needs to be said! Fire brigade statistics and news items that appear from time to time act as stark reminders of the dangers. However, it's not our aim to scare the life out of all, all things can be enjoy if a few basic do's and don'ts are followed. Please don't ignore your common sense, we can't possible list everything thats sensible or stupid.
Basic Candle Safety (things you may have ignored)
Remember a flame is a fire, albeit controlled, and fire burns hot! Ok, that may sound obvious, but what about a tealight? Take your typical tealight, you light a flame and enjoy the ambience and maybe the fragrance too. But what about the heat? The plastic or metal cups the tealights come in get extremley hot. We strongly advise using a tealight holder, not just because FHSelect sell them, they make sense. Yankee Candle, for example, do some very nice tealight holders, starting from as little as £2.49. Votives, as described in our votives information page liquify as the burn, so if you're not burning them in a holder they'll melt all over your furniture.
Burning Instructions
GENERAL CANDLE RULES:
• Prior to lighting, remove and discard packaging.
• Keep burning candles within sight at all times; never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep burning candles away from flammable materials and out of reach of children and pets.
• Keep wick trimmed to 1/8” at all times.
• If smoking occurs, extinguish the flame, retrim the wick to 1/8”, remove trimmings and relight.
• Only burn candles in or near other heat sources, and never directly on furniture.
• Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches, or any combustible material. Keep the wick centred.
• Place your candle in an area free from drafts to discourage dripping and smoking.
• Extinguish candles with care, as wax may splatter. A candle quencher or snuffer is recommended.
JAR CANDLES:
• Glass containers are fragile; handle with care. Avoid glass-to-glass contact when handling the lid, and don’t use jars that are cracked, chipped or scratched.
• Discontinue use when 1/2” of wax remains, as glass may shatter. Do not refill jars with wax.
• Do not allow the flame to touch the side of the jar, as it may become hot. Handle carefully.
• Minimise the wax left on sides by burning the candle until the wax pool reaches the edge of the jar (usually about one hour per inch of diameter). It’s normal for some wax to remain, and the amount varies per colour, fragrance and burning environment.
• Extinguish carefully before replacing the lid.
PILLAR CANDLES:
• To prevent dripping, extinguish the flame when the wax pool reaches the edge and allow candle to cool and harden before relighting.
• Discontinue use when 1/2” of wax remains.
TAPER CANDLES:
• Be sure tapers are straight, and set firmly in their holders. Trim the wick to 1/8” before lighting.
• To prevent possible dripping: avoid drafts, excessive vibrations or nearby heat sources.
• Hurricane lanterns may cause dripping due to the build of heat. We suggest using a decorative bobeche, designed to catch dripping wax.
SCENTED TEA LIGHTS:
• Do not burn in an enclosed space like a potpourri pot. For this purpose use Tart Warmers (unscented tea lights), and be sure the burner is well-ventilated.
• If wick smokes or builds up carbon, extinguish flame and remove the carbon before relighting.
TARTS WAX POTPOURRI:
• Place a Tarts Wax Potpourri in a suitable potpourri burner, and light an unscented tea light candle beneath (Tart Warmers, which burn with a low controlled flame, are recommended).
• To change fragrances, extinguish the flame and use a potholder to pick up the burner and pour the liquid wax into a lined wastebasket. Or you can harden the wax in the freezer, and pop it out into the palm of your hand!
CLEANING JAR CANDLES:
Should the mouth of a jar candle become blackened, simply extinguish the flame, allow it to cool, and carefully wipe the rim with a dry paper towel. You can minimise this by keeping the wick trimmed to 1/8” (see burning instructions above).
CLEANING SPILLED WAX:
We strongly suggest you seek professional advice from experts such as carpet cleaners or furniture refinishers. Prevent accidents by using candles with the utmost care, as instructed.
STORING CANDLES:
Candles are sensitive to temperature and light, so be careful when storing them for any extended period of time. Avoid colour-fading, melting or cracking by storing candles in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or florescent light.
Storage temperature should not be allowed to exceed 80°F or fall below 32°F. Exposure to moisture may inhibit relighting.
Follow these guidelines when travelling as well; extreme temperatures in your car can easily melt or freeze our fine scented candles.
