How to Burn Your Candle
Step 1: Apply flame.
Yes, we know you know that part! This guide is intended to help you get the most out of your RIP candle and get it’s full, fragrant burn. There is a little bit of a science here, so that’s why we put this guide together - we want our customers to get the full experience! So take note of these tips and tricks and get the most out of your RIP Candle!
1) Always trim the wick!
This step is so critical for an even, strong burn. The wick should be trimmed to about 1/4 inch length each time you light the candle. We recommend picking up a wick trimmer to make this process easy. By shortening the wick, you ensure the flame is low to the candle which makes an even burn across the surface of the candle.
2) Let the first light burn through!
The first time you light the candle is critical for setting up its future success. A general rule of thumb is that you should let the candle burn for one hour per inch of diameter. Since our candles have approximately 3-inch diameters, it is strongly recommended that you let the candle burn for at least 3 hours on your first use. This allows the entire surface of the candle to melt and form a wax pool - when this pool hardens, it will harden evenly and make for a better burn for all future lightings. If you notice your candle starts to tunnel, a poor first burn is almost always the cause. Tunneling is when the wick burns down in the center of the candle, leaving a ring of unused wax around the edge of the container.
3) Consider a candle topper!
Metal candle toppers are excellent at retaining and reflecting the heat from the candle. In doing so, they help the candle produce an even burn (and avoid the tunneling we mentioned in #2 above). They also help keep out dust from your candle, and have been shown to reduce soot (although soy-based candles already produce considerably less soot than other waxes).
4) Recognize your room size!
The size of a candle can have a big impact on its potential throw, which in turn indicates how well the scent can fill an open space. Our 5 ounce candles can provide strong throw in smaller rooms and a decent throw in medium rooms, and our 8 ounce candles can provide strong throw in small or medium rooms and a decent throw in somewhat larger rooms. Keep in mind that almost any candle, regardless of its size, will struggle in very large rooms with large ceilings or rooms with air currents and drafts.
5) Let it pool!
A fully melted wax pool is a critical factor in increasing the throw of the candle. The melted wax pool is a concentration of melted wax and releases the fragrance very well with the help of the flame’s heat. You will often find that candles become more powerful and their throw stronger if the wax pool is allowed to fill the entire diameter of the container. And, to boot, this helps avoid tunneling mentioned above, so it’s a win/win!
