How to Burn a Vegetable, Soy and Beeswax Candle for the Most Effective Long Lasting Scent

There is a new kind of candle in town - the vegetable, soy and beeswax candle - and many people do not know how to burn it correctly.  If the candle is not burned properly you will find the scent does not last as long and the candle may stop burning for you much sooner than you would like.

Most people are aware that when a paraffin candle is burned and it melts too fast, this usually means it is a low quality candle.  The best paraffin candles are those that are very hard and they would then burn slowly.  Vegetable and soy candles are very different.  They immediately liquefy and this is not a bad thing.  This is the way they are meant to burn.  Vegetable and soy candles actually burn slower and cooler than paraffin candles and may last longer.  Beeswax added to the mix assists with improving the length of time the candle burns and also helps to hold the scent until the end of the jar. 

Burn your votives in a thin tight glass votive holder.  The reason for this is that when the top half of the candle liquefies as it is burning the wax will not be able to spread out.  If the votive holder is too wide and there is a lot of space between the candle and the votive holder, the candle wax will slip down through that space and the candle will stop burning sooner than it needs to.

It is important as well that you use votive holders that are not made of very thick glass or have metal on them.  The thick glass or metal will become too hot and this will affect the way the vegetable and/or soy candle burns.  It might possibly put the candle out permanently.

Do not burn a candle more than 3 or 4 hours at a time otherwise the performance of the candle may decrease.  I know this is the hardest rule to follow.  As well do not leave them unattended.  Sometimes an unknown draft might cause one of the two wicks to stop burning.  When this happens and the uneven burning goes too long, the candle frequently will not re-light.  With vegetable, soy and beeswax candles, you can still salvage the candle by putting the jar in an enclosed bag and gently tapping the glass with a knife until the glass comes off.  Remove all the glass, break up the candle and put it into a simmer pot.  It comes off very easily which you would not be able to do with a paraffin candle jar.

The candle flame height should be between ½ inch and ¾ inch – no more.  If your flame is higher than ¾ inch you will need to either trim the wick or blow the candle out and start over at a later time.

If your candle flame is too low and you are not getting a complete wax pool, you can poor out some of the wax pool to allow the flame size to increase and burn hotter and thus, more completely.  A little wax left on the inside of the jar as the candle burns down is really ideal because that means the candle is not burning too hot.  Vegetable, soy and beeswax candles liquefy which provides that 90% of the wax is actually burned.  This differs as to the paraffin candles which sometimes burn right down the middle of the jar with large amounts of wax still left in the jar.

Note that the wicks do NOT burn down with the candle – they MUST be trimmed.  The wicks are the single most important aspect to any candle and they MUST be maintained and trimmed when necessary because all parts of the candle get absorbed and released through the wick!!  The best wicks are the candles that have cotton wicks.

Consider the air currents in your room.  You can have a candle burning 4 feet away from you and not smell it although others coming into the room will smell it immediately.  You could have it in another spot where the currents in the room spread the smell right over the area where you are sitting.  Spend some time finding the right spot in each room for your candles.  The scent will then linger even until the next day and travel to other rooms in the house while it is burning if you find the best spot.  Drafts in a room that are created from ceiling fans, high-traffic areas or counter/floor fans can and will change the performance.  Sometimes for good benefits and sometimes not.  For best results do not burn the candles in areas where there are strong drafts. 

Everyone’s nose is different.  You will find that you will prefer different scents to another person.  What most people do not realize is that one person may not smell the same scent the same way either.  I have found that candles containing vanilla smell weak too me.  Yet others tell me the vanilla scent is out of this world.  Sometimes as well certain scents such as Lavender tend to be very strong naturally so they actually give off more scent. 

Those sensitive to different smells will find that some smells give them a headache and others do not.  If you love candles but find that you get headaches from them, try a more natural candle and experiment with the different scents.  Allergic reactions could also affect the eyes or throat and you will find that experimenting will again help you to find smells that do not bother you.  Vegetable, soy and beeswax candles are made from natural resources and therefore are less toxic than some other candles.

Vegetable, soy and beeswax candles have “low soot” or are about 90% soot-free.  This makes them “green” products that are safer for you, your family and your pets. 

The scent in vegetable soy and beeswax candles is usually stronger because this blend tends to hold the scent well. 

Try using a Simmer Pot.  Simmer pots allow for the candle to be burned under a bulb.  This type of burner is safer since no flame is used.  Be sure to pick an electric simmer pot since if you need to burn a candle underneath the burner then you are defeating the purpose of the safety factor.  Simmer pots are normally have a broad cup for the wax which helps spread the scent around more. 

Clean out the simmer pot by pouring out the wax into a garbage bag and using a Kleenex to clean out the bowl.  The vegetable, soy, beeswax candles clean up with soap and water.  If the wax is accidentally spilled, you will be able to wash it up easily.

Have fun burning your candles!!!!  For more advice and information on various candle products attend Hollyscents a view the line of candle products and natural bath products.