CSC Candle Care 101
Updated as of 10/14/2025
CSC Candle Care 101 - School is in session, Ohana!
Our candles are clean-burning queens, made with 100% soy wax, untreated wooden wicks, eco-dyes, eco-glitter, and all-natural fragrance oils. They’re hand-poured with A LOT of love (and science), which means they burn a little differently than your average paraffin candle from the mall or big-box stores. To keep yours burning beautifully from the first light to the very last flicker, follow these care tips.
The First Burn Is Everything
Your first burn sets the tone for your candle’s entire life: no pressure, right?
Let your candle burn until the entire top layer of wax melts edge to edge. This prevents tunneling, which is when the wax only melts down the center and leaves a ring of wasted wax around the sides. Depending on your candle’s size, this can take anywhere from two to four hours. Once you’ve reached a full melt pool, blow out the flame and let it fully cool before lighting it again.
Think of it as training your candle’s memory. Once it learns to burn evenly, it’ll keep doing it every time.
Wick Care: The Secret to a Happy Flame
Wooden wicks are a little high-maintenance — but totally worth it.
Trim the wick to about 1/8" to 1/4" before every burn. If the flame seems too tall or flickers wildly, it’s too long and needs a trim.
If your candle won’t stay lit, gently remove any charred bits of wood from the top of the wick once it’s cool.
Always light the wick across the top, not just on one edge, and hold your lighter there for about 10–15 seconds to help it catch. Wooden wicks need a little extra heat to get going. It's also normal for the wick to go out in the beginning and needs to be relit, this proves that the wooden wick is not pre-treated wood!
Pro tip: use a wick trimmer, nail clipper, or just pinch off the charred bits once cooled.
Clean Burn Tips
Always burn your candle on a heat-safe surface, away from drafts, vents, and anything flammable.
Keep each burn session under four hours to prevent overheating or discoloration.
Never move or touch a candle while it’s burning or the wax is still liquid.
Stop burning when about half an inch of wax remains — that’s your candle’s way of saying it’s done.
Troubleshooting (aka Your Candle Isn’t Defective)
“Why do I have wax stuck on the sides of my jar?”
Because you blew it out too early. That thin ridge of wax around the edge is called a memory ring, and once it’s there, your candle will keep burning inside that tunnel every time. Soy wax remembers its burn pattern. The fix? The first burn needs to last long enough for the wax to melt edge to edge — usually two to four hours. Light it once, commit, and let it do its thing.
“My candle tunneled.”
Same issue as above — the wax didn’t melt fully to the edges. Don’t panic. Wrap a piece of foil loosely around the top of the candle, leave a small opening for airflow, and relight for 30–60 minutes. The heat will even out the surface and reset the burn.
“My wick won’t stay lit.”
Wooden wicks need trimming and patience. Blow it out, remove any charred wood, and relight — but make sure to hold your lighter on the wick long enough to help it catch. If the melted wax is drowning the flame, dip the corner of a paper towel into the liquid wax (away from the flame) to soak some up before relighting.
“The flame is too high.”
Blow it out and trim the wick down a little.
“The wax looks uneven or frosty.”
That’s just how pure soy wax behaves — it’s natural and cosmetic only. Think of it as proof your candle is clean and free of additives.
Storing and Reusing
Store candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve scent and color.
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
When your candle is finished, pop it in the freezer for a few hours — the leftover wax will shrink slightly and slide right out. Clean the jar and give it a new life.
In Summary
These aren’t mass-produced candles with mystery ingredients — they’re clean, natural, and crafted with care. Treat them right, and they’ll burn beautifully every single time.
xoxo,
The Candle Queen and Candle Princess (Kelly & Ash)
