Burning a Greenwick candle safely

Always

• Keep it away from children and pets.
• Burn it on a level, heat-resistant surface. The vessel gets hot.
• Keep it clear of curtains, paper, bedding and anything else that catches.
• Keep it out of draughts, which make it burn unevenly and smoke.

Never

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Do not move the candle while it is lit or while the wax is molten.
• Do not use water to put it out.
• Do not burn it for longer than four hours at a time. Let it cool fully before relighting.
• Do not keep burning it once about 10mm of wax remains — below that the glass can overheat.

The first burn matters

Soy wax remembers its first burn. Leave it lit until the melted wax reaches the edge of the glass (usually two to three hours). If you put it out before then, it will tunnel down the middle for the rest of its life and you will lose most of the wax.

Trim the wick

Before every burn, trim the wick to about 5mm. An untrimmed wick gives a large flame, soot on the glass, and a candle that burns out faster than it should. If the flame is tall or flickering, put it out, let it cool, and trim.

Putting it out

A snuffer is best, or dip the wick into the wax with a tool and lift it upright again. Blowing it out scatters hot wax and smoke.

When it is finished

Once about 10mm of wax remains, the candle is done. The glass can be washed in warm soapy water and kept.

Fragrance and sensitivity

Greenwick candles are soy wax with fragrance oils. If you are sensitive to fragrance, burn them in a ventilated room. If you have a reaction, stop using the candle.