Happy New(ish) Year! Caring for your New Oeste Candles
NEW YEAR, NEW CANDLE? In case you were gifted (or gifted yourself!) one of our candles this past holiday season, we thought it might be a good time to share some best practices that will keep your new candles burning safely and bright:
1) WATCH THOSE WICKS
At the risk of sounding dramatic, a wick is a candle’s lifeline. Before each burn, ensure wick is about ¼” to avoid overheating, smoking, and wick build up; trim wick as needed. Once the flame is extinguished make sure the wick is upright and centered. Keep wax clear of any debris that might have fallen in.
2) START WITH A GENEROUS BURN
The first burn should be long enough for the entire top layer of wax to melt and liquify- you want a full melt pool that spans the vessel edge to edge, otherwise you risk tunneling that will keep getting deeper with each burn… not a good look. Depending on the candle size, we recommend allotting two to four hours for the first burn. Speaking of four hours…
3) Refrain from burning candles for longer than FOUR (4) hours at a time
A good rule of thumb as it helps keep your candle in optimal condition and is a good chunk of time that hopefully helps you remember you have a candle on before you get distracted with life as you go about your day because please…
4) NEVER LEAVE A CANDLE BURNING UNATTENDED
If a scented candle is lit in an empty space and there is no one around to smell it, does it emit a scent?** A question for the ages! But let’s not risk it- let’s always keep our lit candles where we can see them and never unattended, please.
**If it is an Oeste candle, yes because they are the best 💁🏽♀️ - however please take our word for it and do not attempt at home.
5) KEEP LIT CANDLES AWAY FROM DRAFTS AND FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
We don’t care how much your mom loves that Elton John song, candles in the wind are not cool or okay. One more time for the seats in the back: Keep lit candles away from drafts and flammable materials always. (PS- everyone knows this is the best Elton song/performance).
6) KEEP CANDLES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS
Speaking of moms, keep candles away from all littles- babies, children, pets. Those tiny hands/paws are adorable, but let’s not tempt them around lit candles.
7) SURFACE SMARTS
Always protect the surface on which a lit candle sits. Make sure it is sturdy and stable. A wobbly candle is not a happy candle.
8) THE END, MY FRIEND
Never burn a candle when there is less than half an inch of wax left at the base. Don’t be sad though, we have plenty more candles for you to enjoy! And bonus, you can remove any remaining wax from your Oeste candle vessel and repurpose the container. Send us pics of what you do with your wonderful reused Oeste jars or tins!
There you have it, a few tips for the best candle experience. We hope you enjoy your Oeste candles as much as we enjoyed making them for you!