How to Care for Soy Wax Candles: A Beginner’s Guide

A beautifully burning candle sets the mood, fills your space with fragrance, and creates a sense of calm. But how you care for your candle can make all the difference in how well it burns and how long it lasts. With the right soy wax candle care, you’ll enjoy a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful burn from the first light to the final flicker.

This guide walks you through the essentials including trimming your wick, mastering the first burn, and cleaning out jars so you can get the most out of every candle you bring home.

1. Trim Your Wick Before Every Burn

The simplest step in soy wax candle care is also one of the most important: trim the wick to about ¼ inch before lighting your candle.

Why it matters: A properly trimmed wick creates a steady flame that melts wax evenly and minimizes soot build-up on the glass. Long, untrimmed wicks can lead to larger flames, excess smoke, and even overheating of the jar, shortening your candle’s life and compromising safety.

Pro Tip: Use a wick trimmer for a clean, precise cut. Always trim when the wax is completely cool.

A properly trimmed wick creates a steady flame that melts wax evenly and minimizes soot build-up on the glass. Long, untrimmed wicks can lead to larger flames, excess smoke, and even overheating of the jar, shortening your candle’s life and compromising safety.

2. The First Burn Sets the Stage

Your first burn determines how your candle will melt for the rest of its life. For soy wax candles, allow the melt pool (the layer of melted wax on the surface) to reach the edges of the jar before extinguishing the flame. This usually takes 2–4 hours, depending on the candle’s size.

Why it matters: Soy wax “remembers” its initial burn pattern. If the first burn is too short, you risk tunneling, where wax builds up along the sides, leaving unused wax behind.

Pro Tip: Plan your first burn when you know you’ll have a few uninterrupted hours, so the wax can melt evenly edge to edge.

3. Burn Safely and Smartly

A well cared for candle is a safe candle. Keep yours burning beautifully by following these safety and performance tips:

• Burn on a heat-safe surface, away from drafts, vents, and fans.

• Limit each burn to 2–4 hours to avoid overheating.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended or within reach of pets or children.
  

4. Clean and Reuse Your Candle Jar

When your candle has about ¼ inch of wax left, it’s time to retire it. Burning past this point can overheat and damage the jar.

We recommend using a gentle double-boil method. Place your candle jar in a few inches of water and gently let the water get to a simmer to melt the wax, labels and adhesives off. Then pour out the wax and clean with warm soapy water.

We’ve put together a full step-by-step guide here: How to Clean Your Candle Container

Reuse or Refill:

Our DIY Candle Refills are the perfect way to give your jar a second life. Or, repurpose it as a plant pot, pen holder, or a chic container for matches, cotton swabs, or loose change. Reusing jars helps keep waste out of landfills and adds a little extra beauty to your space.

Reusing jars helps keep waste out of landfills and adds a little extra beauty to your space.

Keep Your Candles Beautiful

Soy wax candle care is simple but impactful. By trimming the wick, giving your candle the right first burn, and keeping the jar clean, you’ll extend its life, enjoy a cleaner burn, and keep your space feeling as beautiful as the day you lit it.

Ready to put these tips into practice? Explore our collection of hand-poured soy wax candles and bring home your next favorite fragrance.