Candle Questions and Answers
Here at Black Sheep Potions, we encourage you to use this information below to maximize candle burn times so you can have the best possible candle experience.
How can I get the most burn time out of BSP candles?
There are 2 non-negotiable factors to get the best burn every single time. First, you must be hyper-diligent in keeping the wicks at 1/4 inch (more on this below). Second, when burning the candle you have to burn it long enough for the candle to melt all the way to the outer edge of the candle so you utilize all the wax. Otherwise, you may experience tunneling where the candle only burns down the center, leaving unmelted wax on the side of the container.
Why is it important to trim the wicks?
Trimming the wicks will keep the candle burning without any black soot build-up and will give your candle a longer burn time. The wicks should be trimmed to a 1/4 inch every time before you light your candle. When a wick gets too long it cannot draw wax all the way up to the top of the wick. Therefore, the wick itself will start to burn and you will see some soot build-up.
IMPORTANT: Do not allow your candle to burn more than a couple of hours at a time without trimming the wicks. If you notice the wick is flickering repeatedly, smoking, or if the flame becomes too high, you should extinguish the candle, then trim the wick carefully and relight it. This will give you extra hours of burn time in the long run.
Why is there soot on my jar?
Long story short, soy wax burns clean because it has no petroleum byproducts. If you are seeing a build-up of soot on your jar you are not keeping your wick trimmed short enough.
Why does my wick have a giant ball on the top of it?
This is commonly referred to as "mushrooming". Don't worry, your wick is not defective and is still perfectly safe to burn.
So what causes "Mushrooming" of the wick? The scent and dye used in making candles can sometimes collect in the wick which essentially creates a "mushrooming" ball of carbon. Soy candles are clean burning, but when you add scent and/or dye to the wax it affects the burning properties. This is easily fixed by simply trimming the wick.
What do I do if there is a wet spot on top of my candle?
This is commonly called "Soy Sweat". This usually happens when there is a rapid temperature shift. Something as simple as going from a hot craft fair to your air conditioned car or home is just enough to make the candle "sweat". The same thing can happen if it’s wintertime and the candle goes from freezing cold to your nice and cozy house.
Soy Sweat is completely harmless and is pretty easy to clean up. All you need to do is dab the wet spots with a paper towel or tissue and it will soak right up! Soy Sweat will not affect the quality of the burn or scent of your candle, and it usually will not happen again after the first burn.
Why does my candle look like is has white blooms growing on it?
It’s called FROSTING and candlemakers go to great lengths to minimize it. It is, unfortunately, a natural byproduct of vegetable wax. Frosting takes place when the wax used to make a candle tries to return to its natural state. Candlemakers have methods to minimize the appearance of frosting, but it’s practically impossible to have a 100% natural soy candle without frosting.
Temperature shifts can create frosting after the fact as well, so going from a hot delivery truck to an air-conditioned home or a cold delivery truck to a nice and cozy home can definitely affect the candle. So, just remember frosting is an indication that that your candle is 100% natural soy wax and isn't a soy blend or paraffin wax. Frosting has no effect whatsoever on the burn quality or fragrance of your candle, and may be more extreme in darker colored candles.
Can I use a Candle Warmer With Your Candles?
Absolutely!
How should I store my candles if I’m not using them right away?
We recommend keeping candles in a cool and dry place when not in use. Fading may occur naturally over time and if candles are exposed to direct sunlight.