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Using candles & wax melts

A short, practical guide for getting the best from our beeswax candles and wax melts, with the safety basics that apply to both.

Beeswax candles

Beeswax burns cleanly. With a little care you'll get a long, even burn and a small pool of golden light.

  • First burn matters. Light your candle for long enough that the wax pool reaches the edge of the jar before you blow it out. This sets a memory in the wax and prevents tunnelling later on. Burn time varies by candle size — see the product page for specifics.
  • Trim the wick to about 5 mm before each lighting. A wick that's too long gives a smoky, flickering flame.
  • Keep candles out of draughts from open windows, fans or doorways, so the flame can burn steadily.
  • Stop burning when about 1 cm of wax is left at the bottom of the jar.
  • Avoid wood candle holders as direct candle bases unless they're designed for it. Use a proper jar candle or a glass insert so wax doesn't touch the wood.

Beeswax wax melts

Wax melts release scent gently and last well. You'll need a wax burner — either a ceramic burner with a tealight beneath, or an electric wax warmer for those who prefer no open flame.

Tealight burner

  • Place a single melt (or a small piece broken from one) in the top dish of the burner.
  • Light a quality unscented tealight in the lower compartment.
  • As the wax warms, fragrance releases. When scent fades after a few hours, simply blow out the tealight and let the wax solidify in the dish. You can re-melt it again later until the scent is gone.

Electric wax warmer

If you'd rather avoid an open flame (households with small children, curious pets, or simply for peace of mind), an electric wax warmer is a lovely alternative. It uses a low-heat plate or a soft lamp to warm the wax. We can recommend specific warmers we like — just drop us a line.

A few notes

  • Don't over-stack melts in the burner. One small melt at a time is usually plenty.
  • Let the wax cool fully before handling. Pour-off while liquid can stain surfaces and burn skin.
  • Removing used wax: let the wax solidify completely, then pop it out with a gentle press from beneath, or warm the dish very briefly and tip it onto kitchen paper.

Safety, the essentials

These apply to candles and wax melt burners alike.

  • Never leave a burning candle or warming burner unattended.
  • Place on a heat-resistant, stable surface away from anything flammable (curtains, books, hanging fabric).
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets.
  • Keep away from draughts so flames stay steady.
  • Don't ingest the wax or melt. If accidentally ingested, seek medical advice.
  • Let everything cool before moving, cleaning or changing the melt. Wax holds heat longer than it looks.

Anything we haven't covered? Drop us a line — we'll add it next time.