How to Care for Soy Wax Candles
Candles are little bits of everyday magic—filling a room with light, warmth, and all your favorite scents. But even the most enchanted candles need a little care to keep burning bright.
A well-kept candle can add a layer of immersion and ambiance to your tabletop session, creating the perfect atmosphere for storytelling and adventure. A flickering, clean-burning candle with a fantasy-themed scent can transport players into the heart of the game’s world, setting the tone for everything from eerie dungeon crawls to epic forest quests. With just a few easy habits, you can make sure your candles last longer, smell stronger, and glow even more beautifully, every time you light them.
What happens if you don’t care for your candles properly?
Taking proper care of your candles isn’t just about prolonging their life—it’s also about getting the best experience every time you light the wick. A well-maintained candle burns cleaner, more evenly, and more safely. But what happens if you just leave your candles to their own devices? Here are a few negative consequences of poor candle maintenance.
Tunneling
A candle lover’s nightmare! Tunneling happens when a candle’s wick burns down the center of the wax, leaving unmelted wax along the sides of the jar. This typically happens when the candle isn’t allowed to burn long enough on the first use, so the wax doesn’t melt all the way to the edges.
The consequence of tunneling is that you waste wax, shorten the candle’s lifespan, and end up with an uneven burn that can also affect the scent throw, making it weaker and less effective. To avoid tunneling, ensure the wax melts across the entire surface during the first burn, creating an even melt pool that will prevent the sides from being left behind.
Excess soot and smoke
A wick that’s too long can cause the flame to become too large and unstable. This leads to the production of black soot, which can stain the inside of the candle container and even discolor nearby walls, ceilings, and furniture over time. Soot not only looks dirty, but it also affects the air quality in your home and can overpower the delicate fragrance of the candle with a burnt smell.
Poor scent throw
A candle’s scent comes from the melted wax, not the flame itself. If your candle isn't burning properly, the wax pool doesn't get hot enough to fully release the fragrance oils. The result is a weaker, less noticeable scent. Inconsistent burning also means that some fragrance oils may burn off too quickly, while others never fully release, making the candle feel underwhelming.
Shorter lifespan
When a candle burns unevenly or the wick isn’t maintained, the burn becomes inefficient. You’ll either waste wax (from tunneling) or burn through it too quickly (from an oversized flame). Without good care practices like trimming the wick and managing burn sessions, a candle that should last 40–50 hours might only give you 20–30 hours of use.
Potential safety hazards
An improperly maintained candle is more than just wasteful—it can be dangerous. An oversized flame can cause the glass container to overheat and potentially crack or shatter. Floating debris in the wax, like bits of untrimmed wick, can ignite and create secondary flames. In extreme cases, unstable candles can lead to fires if placed too close to flammable materials. Practicing good candle care is a small but important part of maintaining a safe home environment.
Frustrating relighting issues
If bits of burned wick, matches, or other debris fall into the wax pool, it can clog the wick or smother the flame. Similarly, a wick that's allowed to "mushroom" (form a carbon buildup) can cause the candle to sputter, flicker, or refuse to stay lit. This makes relighting a hassle and can cause you to abandon the candle before it’s fully used. Party foul!
8 steps to caring for your soy wax candles
Candle care is essential for ensuring a clean, even burn, which helps your candle last longer and perform at its best. By following simple care practices, you can enjoy a safer burn, a better scent throw, and a longer-lasting candle experience.
1. Trim the wick
Proper wick trimming is the secret fire for maintaining soy wax candles because it helps ensure a clean, even burn and prevents issues like sooting, mushrooming, and flickering flames. Keeping the wick trimmed to about ¼ inch before each use helps control the flame size, extends the candle’s lifespan, and improves scent throw. This makes your candle safer and more enjoyable every time you light it. Regular trimming helps improve the candle’s burn time, performance, and overall safety by promoting a cleaner, more efficient burn. Use a pair of scissors or wick trimmers for the safest results!
3. The first burn is everything
The first burn of a soy wax candle is crucial because it sets the "memory" for how the candle will melt going forward. Letting the wax melt all the way to the edges of the jar on that first burn helps prevent tunneling, where wax builds up along the sides and doesn't burn evenly. A full melt pool ensures a longer-lasting candle, a stronger scent throw, and more efficient use of all the wax.
4. Burn time & usage guidelines
For each session, allow your candle to burn long enough to create a full melt pool, where the melted wax reaches the edges of the jar. The first burn should be approximately an hour for each inch in candle diameter.
Try to avoid burning for more than 4 hours at a time, as excessive heat can cause the wick to mushroom or the container to overheat. Always let the candle cool completely before relighting, and be sure to trim the wick to about ¼ inch before each use for a clean, even flame. These simple habits will ensure a longer-lasting, better-performing candle every time.
5. Don’t blow out your candle
We all do it and we all love it, but blowing out your candles just doesn’t cut it. The best way to put out a candle is to dip the wick below the wax line, making sure you lift the wick back up above the wax line after it's extinguished. You can use a wick dipper for this or just a pencil, screwdriver or any other non-flammable thing you have around the house. You can also snuff it out using a candle snuffer. This avoids spreading wax and smoke all over your home.
If you still blow out your candles from time to time, we won’t tell.
6. Storage tips to preserve scent & quality
To keep your soy wax candle in top condition, follow these simple storage tips:
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Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity. Exposure to these elements can cause the wax to soften, sweat, or discolor over time.
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Cover your candle when not in use using the original lid if possible. This helps protect the wax from dust and debris, which can affect the quality of the burn.
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Avoid areas with extreme temperature swings, like cars, attics, or spots near windows. Drastic changes in temperature can cause the wax to crack or sweat.
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Always store your candle upright to prevent damage to the wick and ensure the wax stays evenly settled for a smooth, even burn next time.
7. Signs it’s time to retire your candle
You’ll know it’s time to retire your soy wax candle when there's about ½ inch of wax left at the bottom. Burning past this point can cause the jar to overheat or even crack. If the wick struggles to stay lit or consistently drowns in melted wax, it’s a sign the candle has reached the end of its usable life. Another clue is if the scent has faded and no longer fills the room, even after a full melt pool.
Discoloration of the wax, especially if it looks cloudy, patchy, or significantly darker than when you first bought it, can also indicate the candle has aged or been affected by improper storage. At that point, it’s safest to retire it and consider reusing the jar for a new purpose—like holding matches, dice, or dried herbs.
[Osric: Did someone say herbs? I just returned with a few fragrant discoveries of the herbaceous variety myself…]
8. Cleaning and reusing the candle jar
Once your soy wax candle has burned down to the last half inch, you can clean out the jar by placing it in the freezer for a few hours so you can easily pop out any remaining wax. Afterward, wash the jar with warm, soapy water to remove residue and wick stickers. Clean jars are perfect for reusing as storage for small items like cotton swabs, paperclips, matches, or even to pot a tiny plant or hold tea lights! You can even repurpose the tin as a secret compartment for your fantasy-inspired notes, like secret maps, ancient scrolls, or hidden messages.
Frequently asked questions about candle care
Got more questions about candle care? We’ve got you covered!
What do I do if my candle won’t stop tunneling?
Sometimes you burn a candle and the melt pool never reaches the edge of the container; this means that your candle has the wrong wick size. In this case, you may need to scrape some wax out or pour off excess wax so your wick doesn’t drown.
How often should I trim the wick?
Before every burn! Trim the wick to about ¼ inch to promote a steady flame, reduce soot, and extend the life of your candle.
Is it normal for my candle to sweat or look bumpy after burning?
Yes, especially with natural waxes like soy. Sweating (small oil beads on the surface) and minor texture changes are cosmetic and don't affect the candle’s performance.
How long should I burn my candle each time?
Aim to burn your candle for 2-4 hours at a time. This allows the wax to melt evenly across the surface, helping prevent tunneling and maximizing burn time. Try not to exceed four hours, though—long burn times can make the wick unstable and increase soot production.
Why is my candle producing black smoke?
Usually, this means the wick is too long or there’s a draft. Trim the wick and move the candle away from vents, fans, or open windows.
Keep the candle magic burning bright
A little love goes a long way when it comes to candles. By trimming your wicks, storing them properly, and giving them the right burn time, you’re making sure every flame dances its best. After all, every candle has a story to tell—let’s help them tell it in full, from the very first spark to the last wisp of smoke.
Looking for high-quality soy wax candles to take your gaming sessions to the next level? Browse our selection of fantasy-themed candles and
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