Wood Wick Care

First burn -

The first time you light a candle please make sure to let it burn long enough to completely melt the top layer of wax and create a full melt-pool. A full melt-pool is when the wax has melted completely to the edge of the jar or container. Wax has a melt memory and prefers to only melt to the same melt-pool as the previous burn. Not allowing full melt-pools while burning a candle is the main cause for tunneling and will most likely cause your wick to struggle to stay lit during consecutive burns.

Lighting the wick -

Our unique wooden wicks are untreated and light best on their edge, not at the top of the wick. For best results during lighting slightly tip your candle to the side with the wick vertical and hold the flame at the base of the wick where it meets the wax. Hold the flame at the base of the wick for a couple seconds to melt a little wax and help start the natural capillary action of a candle. Once the wick starts burning the flame will naturally roll across and light the entire wick.

Trimming the wick -

Trimming your wick is the most important step in lighting a wood wick candle and helps insure a proper burn. Please note this is important for all candles, not just wood wicks. All By the Sound Candles wicks are trimmed and ready for their first burn before being sent off to their new home, but it is important to trim them before any future burns. Wicks should be trimmed to 1/8-1/4 inch, this is easily done with a wick trimmer or your fingertip. If using wick trimmers, place the trimmers just above the wax and cut off the top portion. If using your fingertip to trim the wick, ensure candle is cool first then place your fingertip near the bottom of the wick and apply light to moderate pressure. The wood wick will naturally trim and break off where it needs to. Then dispose of the ash trimmed off.

The trimming process is very quick and easy.

If the wick is left untrimmed and the burnt ashy part left intact it is highly likely that it will not relight. If the pre-burnt ashy wick does happen to relight, the flame may either struggle to stay going or the flame will be very large and cause your candle to burn faster than desired.

Practice safe candle burning -

Never burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time.
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Trim wick to 1/8-1/4 inch between each burn.
Discontinue use when 1/2 inch of wax remains.
Keep candle free from foreign matter (matches, wick trimmings, etc.)
Always burn on a fire/heat-resistant surface and not on a high shelf or near a ceiling or flammable objects.
If wick happens to drift towards the edge of the glass (sometimes happens when burning a candle for more than 4 hours) please stop use of candle and recenter wick before relighting.
Avoid touching candles while burning and during the cool down after snuffing out the flame, the container may get hot.

Please note that all wicks will vary slightly in crackle and shipping to hotter climates may slightly dis-form candle if left outside for prolonged time during delivery.

Thank you for taking the time to read and learn about candle care. Please feel free to shoot us a message if you have questions. We know you will love the crackle of wood wick candles as much as us once you try them.

- The By the Sound Candles team