Earth day is “celebrated” this year on Tuesday, April 22nd. It is a date that reminds all of us of the importance of doing things in our daily life that help the environment. Recycling comes to mind, as does using things in our home that do not use excessive energy. Candlelight is something that can be used to “illuminate” our living space without using electricity.
One of the fastest growing trends in the candle business are candles made from soy wax, which is produced from the soybean plant. Soy wax is an alternative to paraffin wax. Soy candles are “Earth Friendly” as soybeans are simple, plentiful and biodegradable, and clean and healthy for the environment. Soy candles also burn at a lower temperature than paraffin candles, and therefore lasting longer. They are just as fragrant, and burn clean without soot on walls. Candleman offers many soy candle options, including Beanpod, Archipelago Botanicals and Unique Candles.
To ensure the proper burn for soy candles, or any candle, follow these tips for flawless burning:
• Always keep wicks trimmed to a half-inch while burning. If the wick exceeds a half-inch extinguish the flame, trim the wick, remove the trimmings and relight.
• When lighting a jar candle for the first time, be sure to burn long enough, approximately three to four hours, for the wax to completely pool or liquefy to the outer edge of the jar. After that, burn it for at least three hours at a time.
• For quality pillar candles, like ROOT or Colonial Candle, burn the pillars on the initial lighting for at least one hour per inch of diameter, for example, three hours for a three inch pillar and four hours for a four inch pillar. This process allows for an accumulation of heat to melt across the breadth of the candle and provides even burning for the life of the candle. Each time it is relit, burn for three to four hours at a time.
• A “wick dipper” is an inexpensive way to extinguish the flame in the melted wax with no smoking or soot!
• For votive candles, add 1/8” of water to the container before placing the votive to lessen breakage and make the container easy to clean. After the votive has burned down, place the votive holder in the freezer for 20 minutes with the leftover wax and it should “pop” right out!
Enjoy earth day, and make every day an “earth day” at your home or office.
Candleman is located in the Gateway Village shopping center at Newhall Ranch Road and Rye Canyon at 28269 Newhall Ranch Road. For more information, please call 661-257-9420 or visit www.candlemanvalencia.com .