How to Get the Most Out of Pillar Candles?
There’s one type of candle that appears to be the most elegant and versatile candle. That is beautiful pillar candle. They can be used everywhere from weddings, birthdays, events or they are perfect if you are wanting enhance the style of your home. Pillar candles are some of the most versatile candles put there. They can be tall, they can be scented or unscented and because they are bigger, they do not need a stand for burning. They come in a wide range of size, design, shape, and colors and they also do not let you down when it comes to the decorating. Pillar candles are also one of the most purchased types of candle across the world. However, there is a downfall to these fantastic candles. If you do not know how to burn them correctly, there will be some shortcomings. Some candle novice will say that their pillar candle burns a hole right down in the center or it won’t relight. Is there really something wrong with the pillar candles or it’s the people who are not burning them the way they should be burned? To be honest, it could be either option, but we will go over a few things to prevent user error for your Pillar Candles.
1. 1. Just Say NO to quick burn times
If you want to light a candle for a quick 20-30 minutes you should not light up your biggest pillar candle. Pillars are specifically designed to be burned for longer duration. When you burn a pillar candle, esp., a multi-wick candle, for a shorter period you will wind up messing up the entire burning process. The first burn is the most crucial time for any candle, pillar or container candle alike. This is known as a memory burn and it is the one which sets the scent throw and borders for every other burn time. To be on the safe side you’ll want to burn the pillar candles for at least for 3-4 hours. This would go for every time you want a lit candle. It is important wait until the wax pool touches the borders before you blow out the lit candle.
2. Pay attention to your wick
Most people think the bigger the flame, the more scent a lit candle with give off right? This is not correct at all. When the flame of your pillar candle gets too large that means the wick needs a trim. You want to extinguish the flame as soon as you notice the flame getting to big. The best way to do this is by pushing the wick into the wax pool. We prefer this method instead of just blowing out the lit candle. The reason is it prevents the wick from producing smoke. Once you have put out the lit candle, let the wick dry for few minutes and then it will be safe to trim the wick. Now the question come up, How long should a wick be on a candle? You want to keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times. It is suggested to trim the wick about every 3-4 hours of burn time, depending on how big your pillar candle is. You should trim the wick when there’s mushrooming or carbon gap, you will see little black globules forming on the tip.
3. Don’t Burn Pillar Candles in Any Container
There are all sorts of pretty decorative enclosures for pillar candles, but these are a big no-no. If you have been burning your pillar candles in any glass or other enclosure then you should stop immediately. The reason for this is as the heat generated it will be held in by the glass may cause the outside wax to melt and it could become a big mess. Even though some pillar candles can be burned without candle holders, you can replace the containers with regular and open candle holders with a flat base to add a little more elegance when you are not burning the candle. As always, keep a lit candle away from the windows and fans, as well as keeping them away from the drafty conditions, since all of these conditions may lead to uneven burning or tunneling of the candle.
4. Tunneling
Ideally you will be able to prevent tunneling from happening. However we do get asked a lot Once a jar candle starts 'tunneling' is there a cure? To avoiding tunneling, remember the first burn is the most important. This goes for both Pillar and Jar candles. To begin, candles should burn one hour for every 1 inch in diameter of the actual candle size. If the wax is not allowed to liquefy or to melt from edge to edge of the jar or tumbler, it will create a “tunnel”. As we mentioned before, this is especially important the first time for a lit candle. Once a candle has tunneled, it will continue to burn that way for the life of the candle, thus eliminating that full burn time your candle promised. However, if tunneling does occur, there are three different ways to fix the tunneling in pillar candles:
- If it is the beginning of tunneling, lay the candle on one side and use a lighter to melt the wax away from the wick, throw away the melted wax. We recommend pouring the wax on a paper plate then once it cools throw it out or reuse it as wax melts! After you have removed the excess wax, relight the candle now and let the wax pool form towards the edges.
- Cut or scrape out all the wax, which is present above the wick with a butter knife and then relight the candle.
- When the tunnel has formed, you can remove the melted wax with a paper towel or cotton ball. Make sure that the wick is above the melt pool, it will lead to even burning.
Once you extinguish the flame of your lit candle, you should hug in the edges of pillar candles. You will want to cup both of your hands together and fold the wax inwards. This will not only help in avoiding the tunneling, but will also allow the excess was around the edges to be burned along. This way you get the most burn time out of your pillar candle.
We hope these tips and tricks will help you enjoy your Pillar candles for even longer and give you even more enjoyment! So go stock up on your favorite lavender candle or vanilla candle and get ready to enjoy hours and hours of aromatic bliss.