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Candle Safety and Use

Our company's number one job is to provide our customers with a properly made candle that will burn safely for our customers. To that end we use high quality waxes, fragrances, wicks, dyes and other candle components to ensure that the end product, your candle, is one that not only smells fantastic and burns clean but one that also burns safely, In the end, however, we can only make you a great candle, but it will be up to you to make sure that it burns properly and safely.

All of our candles have a candle safety label affixed to either the bottom of the candle product or it's packaging. We strongly urge you to read these warning labels as they provide you with safety and use information specific to that product. While many safety concerns are the same, pillars, votives, container candles and other candle products each have their own unique safety issues.

Below you will find some general candle safety and use guidelines which should always be followed, in addition to other candle topics which may be of interest to you. You can also visit The National Candle Association for candle safety and use information.
 

General Candle Burning Guidelines (from the National Candle Association)

  1. Read and follow all manufacturer instructions carefully.
  2. Lighted candles should always be within sight. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
  3. Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.
  4. Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
  5. Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning.
  6. Always use an appropriate candleholder placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
  7. Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents and air currents.
  8. Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers repeatedly, or the flame becomes too high. Cool, trim wick, check for drafts, and re-light.
  9. Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
  10. Do not burn a candle for longer than the manufacturer recommends.
  11. Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
  12. Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains (1/2 inch if in a container).
  13. Never touch or move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquid.
  14. Extinguish pillar candles if the wax pool approaches the outer edge.
  15. Place lighted candles at least 3 inches apart from one another.

 

Candle Soot

The National Candle Association states the following regarding candle soot or smoke "A well-made candle should not soot or smoke when burning properly. However, noticeable smoking will occur whenever a candle’s flame is disturbed, which allows unburned carbon particles (soot) to escape. In fact, any candle can be made to smoke by causing the flame to flicker.To minimize candle flickering, trim the wick to 1/4 inch before lighting, and place burning candles away from vents, drafts and other strong air currents.Consumers should know that the minuscule amount of soot produced by all candles is similar to that given off by toasters and cooking oils in the kitchen, and does not present a health concern."

 
 
© 2005 Liz's Scented Candles Boutique, Inc.