General Tips:

In order to ensure preservation of color and fragrance, store candles in a cool, dark location. If candles are exposed to direct or bright light for long periods of time, they will eventually fade. Taper candles should be stored flat to prevent warping. To avoid cracking, never allow candles to freeze.

Trim wicks to ¼" (3/8" for pillars) before lighting and keep wicks trimmed properly when burning for safety and prevention of soot building up on containers. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping and can create smoke.

Always protect the surface the candle rests on by using a non-flammable holder on a protected, heat-resistant surface. This will prevent heat damage as well as color or fragrance bleeding into the surface. Laying a fragranced or colored candle directly on furnishings can cause surface damage. Brass candleholders can be especially sensitive to dark candle colors bleeding into their surface. Other than jar candles, all candles may be susceptible to dripping or guttering. A drip less candle is a misnomer, and precautions should always be taken.

Containers may become hot, handle with care.

Candles that are burned close to one another will affect each other's burning quality as a result of their combined heat. Keep this in mind when creating a decorative arrangement.

Place candles in an area free from drafts. If a draft cannot be avoided, rotate candle each hour when burning. Burning a candle in a draft will cause the flame to smoke. Over time, this can affect home décor. Should your candle burn unevenly due to a draft, carefully push the wick towards the higher side. If this causes dripping, extinguish the flame; let it cool for an hour, then relight the candle. By repeating this practice a few times, the candle will eventually repair itself.

The first time you light a candle, allow it to burn until the liquid wax covers the entire top of the candle. This "breaking in process" insures that it will perform better and burn more evenly throughout the life of the candle. For pillars, the initial burning should take 5-6 hours. With subsequent use, the candle should remain lit for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours each time. This will insure a clean and efficient burning cycle for the life of the candle. Pillar candles should be burned long enough to create a pool of wax that comprises most of its diameter to ensure the most even burn possible.

Burn candles only as long as recommended. It is best to not burn candles for more than four hours at a time.

If an off-center flame is causing the candle to burn unevenly, simply move the extinguished wick to the center using a non-flamable instrument, while the wax is still soft.

The wick is designed to produce a small black carbon cap at the top as it burns. This is normal as it helps radiate heat to the edge of the candle. You should not trim the wick nor touch it while it is cold! After extinguishing the flame, it is best to remove carbon deposits or other foreign materials from the liquid wax when possible.

To extinguish a candle, using a non-flammable instrument, dip the wick into the liquid wax. This little known technique eliminates smoking. If this is not possible, extinguish the candle by blowing it out gently (avoid splattering liquid wax), or using a snuffer, which keeps the wick in the center. Never use water, and never replace the lid of a jar while the candle is burning.

Keep wax pool free of wick trimmings or other foreign matter that might present a fire hazard.

Do not light mis-shapen or damaged candles, as they will not burn properly and might present a safety hazard.

To regain the color and luster of the non textured candle, simply buff with a soft cotton cloth or an old nylon to remove dust and small scratches. This process revitalizes the candle's sheen. The heat from the candle burning tends to dull the finish, but it can easily be regained with this simple maintenance tip.

Column candles require sufficient circulation to burn, so never submerse a column into a tight fitting container.

Always burn votive candles in an appropriate glass container designed for such use.

Always keep the wick and flame centered inside of the candle or votive glass. Burn wider diameters for longer periods of time, usually the "one hour per inch in diameter" rule applies.

Put previously used votive cups in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Left over wax will fall out very easily.

Keep burning candles away from children, pets and combustible materials.

Never leave a burning candle unattended.