Wood wick candles offer a uniquely beautiful experience with their charming crackle and horizontal flame that produces more heat, melting your candle more efficiently. While they require slightly more maintenance than cotton wick candles, the results are absolutely worth it! Follow this guide to get the most from your Island Thyme Soap Company candle.
The Critical First Burn
Your candle's first burn is the most important step in ensuring optimal performance. Allow your new candle to burn for approximately 3 hours to develop a complete melt pool that reaches all the way (or close) to the edges of the vessel. The melt pool should be no deeper than 1/2 inch.
This initial burn sets the stage for all future burns. If you don't allow a full melt pool to form, your candle will develop "wax memory" and create a tunnel effect, shortening its lifespan and reducing fragrance throw.
Understanding Wax Memory
Candles have a kind of "wax memory" - once a burning pattern is established, it's difficult to change. If your first burn only melts wax across half the surface, subsequent burns will follow the same pattern, creating a tunnel that burns straight down rather than across the full width of the candle.
Essential Maintenance: Trim Your Wick
Before each use, trim your wick to 1/8 inch (about the size of a USB cable's metal connector). Remove any charred wood debris from previous burns and clear any trimming debris from the wax pool.
A properly trimmed wick is crucial because:
- If the wick is too tall, wax can't travel up to fuel the flame, causing self-extinguishment
- Clean wicks produce stable flames and even burns
- Proper maintenance prevents tunneling and sooting
Use a wick trimmer for the cleanest cut, though nail clippers or wire cutters work in a pinch. Avoid ragged cuts as they create unstable flames.
Island Thyme Soap Company Wick Trimmers are available in the shop!
How to Light Your Wood Wick Candle
- Tilt the candle at a 45-degree angle
- Use a BBQ lighter or fireplace matches
- Hold the flame to the wick until it dances across the full width
- Allow a few minutes for the flame to settle into a stable, triangle shape
Safety Guidelines
- Never burn for more than 4 hours (this "power burning" overheats the vessel and creates dangerous black smoke)
- Place on a flat, heat-safe surface away from drafts, pets, and children
- Flame height should never exceed 1.5 inches
- Stop burning when 3/8 inch of wax remains at the bottom
Troubleshooting Common Issues
High or unstable initial flame: This is normal - wait a few minutes for the flame to settle once fuel reaches the wick top.
Dancing flame or black smoke: Check for drafts. If the area is draft-free, extinguish, trim wick to 1/8 inch, cool, and relight.
Soot on vessel: Extinguish, cool, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Tunneling: If caught early, burn for an extended period until the melt pool reaches the vessel edges. For severe tunneling where the wick won't stay lit, safely extinguish and use a paper towel to absorb excess wax, allow to harden, then retry.
Low flame: Extinguish and tap off any ash or charred wood from the wick top before relighting. Allow any low flame time to recover.
Quick Reference
✓ First burn: 3 hours to create full melt pool
✓ Trim wick: Before every use to 1/8 inch
✓ Maximum burn time: 4 hours
✓ Stop burning: When 3/8 inch wax remains
Follow these guidelines, and your Island Thyme candle will provide hours of beautiful ambiance and fragrance.
Always refer to Candle Safety Guidelines located on the candle vessel for added safety. Enjoy the cozy ambiance of your wood wick candle!
