Candle Care from Harlem’s Black Candle Company

There’s nothing better than lighting your favorite candle and letting the afternoon go by. It’s relaxing, especially after a long day at work.

At NiLu we get it, and that’s why we want to make sure you get the most from your candle.

Have you ever noticed leftover wax along the edges of your candle once it’s burned down? It looks like someone cut out the middle and left the sides?

Yeah, that’s called tunneling.

Tunneling is when only the wax closest to the candle’s wick melts. When the candle has burned down, the center will be gone but there’s still some wax left along the sides.

But don’t worry. This is a common issue. We at Shop NiLu aka Harlem’s Black Candle Company got you.

Okay, so first, don’t stress. Like we said, this is a common issue, and it can be fixed.

Now, when you get your next candle, trim the wick by about a 1/4inch. You should do this before every burn to avoid uneven burning, flaring, or dripping, things like that. And make sure to keep the candle away from open windows, vents, and anything that could cause a draft. When the flame is blown around, the wax won’t burn evenly and your candle will start tunneling.

Wax Trimmer

Oh, and each time you burn your candle, let it burn for two to three hours ideally. No more than four.

When burning a candle, if you’re looking to really take in the scent, close all the doors and windows in the room for twenty to thirty minutes. Also, never burn your candle all the way down. You should leave around 1/2inch of unmelted wax.

And the last thing is to always put your candle out with a snuffer. You might be thinking, “Why can’t I just put it out with my fingers?” Yeah, that could work. But when you use a snuffer, you avoid unnecessary smoking, and prevent wax from splattering.

Plus, there’s no reason to burn your fingers, sis.

Candle Snuffer

Okay, so now you’re probably like, “Thanks for all that but what if my candle has already tunneled? What do I do with the wax at the sides?”

Like we said, we got you.

Once you’ve trimmed the wick and removed any ash, use a hairdryer to melt the wax on the top surface. Take a toothpick and pick at the wax along the edge to help it along. Don’t stop until the entire surface has melted.

Then, light the candle again, and let it burn for thirty minutes. Put your candle to the side, and leave it for two days (for paraffin wax) and two weeks (for soy or coconut wax) until the wax solidifies again. After that, your candle is ready to go.

Well, that’s all for now. We hope we’ve helped you out. All we carry is BIPOC candles so its fitting to make sure you have our tips for getting the most of your candle purchase.

Make sure to stop by our shop if you have any questions. Until then, stay blessed.