Make the most out of your candles and maximise your experience with 5 top tips from A House Like This!

If you're anything like me, you are used to burning your candles obsessively but have at some point come across some pretty perplexing issues. I would often find that some of the well known candle brands that I assumed were of good quality wouldn't burn cleanly or evenly and in some cases leave smoke and soot inside of the glass or leave a residue up my walls. I think we can all agree that's a pretty bad experience. Jar candles are particularly prone to this and this began our foray into producing our own luxury scented soy candles with a view to introduce a reliable and consistent candle experience. That said, as with all consumer to product relationships this thing works two ways...

Have you ever come across these complaints yourself?

My guess is you most certainly have and it's been driving you nuts. Mercifully our handy guide is here to help you unravel the mysteries of candle care and take your relationship with our candles to the next level.

So...right now, you might be asking yourself the following : 

Why does my candle release smoke and is this dangerous?  

Does the type of wax in my scented candles really matter?

Are fragrance or essential oils bad for my health? 

Let's start at the beginning before we answer your questions. Firstly, as the wise Wicca Store owner asks Sarah in the 90's classic movie The Craft...

"Do you know how to use candles?" 

Chances are you probably responded exactly like Sarah did, in that you pretty much figured that lighting the wick was all there was to it. Think again!

Aromatherapy and candle magic are well known to those that follow certain practices, and even if you don't you can at least agree that a great candle experience can offer calming and healing properties to your everyday life - that is if you care for your candles properly!

So, what are the top tips for making your new AHLT candle feel at home and ensuring you maximise its benefits? 

1. Make your first time a moment to remember - The first time shouldn’t be wasted, and we all know first impressions count. Candles are literally no different. Dependant on candle size, in this example we refer to our 230g Signature Range, always prolong the first burn for 3-4 hours to ensure an even melt pool throughout your candles life. Ever experience candle tunnelling? That’s because you have probably lit a few candles for a short period and then extinguished them. It could also indicate cheaper or less than perfect wax - this happens a lot with parrafin. The most reliable waxes are those which have natural bases such as soy, coconut or beeswax. All our of candles are made with 100% natural eco soy wax provided by certified soy wax specialists. 

2. Practice safe CEX (CEX = Candle Experiences ) - No one likes a little bit of carelessness to spoil all the fun so never leave a burning candle unattended for prolonged periods of time. Equally if you have small children or any pets its best you keep them well out of reach of your candles when lit! Finally, ensure the wick is upright and above the wax before the wax sets.

3. Pick the perfect place Carefully consider where you place your candles, both from an aesthetic perspective and for safety reasons. It’s not wise to have it close to an open window or surfaces which are not heat resistant. Never burn your AHLT candle for more than 4 hours at a time and do not allow the flame to touch the glass.

4. Keep it clean people - A House Like This offer a delightful range of black matte wick trimmer’s so there really is no excuse. You should trim your wick each time before lighting to 5mm long as this will prevent the wick from smoking and any damage to the glass. To answer the question above, if you do have candles that smoke its because you haven’t trimmed away the soot from your previous burn and this can be really bad for the atmosphere.

5. Know when to call it a day - when your AHLT candle is done and you’ve extinguished it make sure you get lots of air throughout your home. Candle wax and oils can be dangerous if you buy cheap paraffin candles. Luckily for you our candles our made with 100% natural soy wax and carefully selected fragrances and essential oils to give you peace of mind. Coconut and beeswax candles are also good option if you’re looking for a clean, care free burn. After your candle has reached about 5mm of wax left in the pot it’s time to move on. Reuse your pot and if you’d like to send your used jars back to us please request return information from the team at ahlt@ahouselikethis.com 

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to burn with feeling,

AHLT 

xxx