At SOYAME®, every candle is handmade with care. This guide explains how to store, prepare, burn and extinguish your soy candle safely, helping you enjoy its fragrance and design for longer. Because candles have an open flame, they must always be used responsibly.
Please read the safety instructions below and follow the specific care information supplied with your candle before lighting it.
The guidance on this page is general guidance. Always follow the product-specific safety label and instructions supplied with your candle, as burn times and care requirements may vary depending on the design, size, container and wick.
The Five Golden Rules of Candle Safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep it away from children, pets and anything that could catch fire.
- Always place it on a stable, flat and heat-resistant surface.
- Trim the wick to approximately 5 mm before each burn.
- Extinguish the candle before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Your Guide to Candle Safety Symbols
How to Store Your Candle
Before use, store your candle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Extreme heat can cause wax and decorative elements to soften, warp or lose their shape.
If your candle has delicate wax decorations, keep it upright wherever possible. Avoid stacking candles or placing heavy items on top of them.
For fragranced candles, storing them away from strong heat also helps preserve the scent until you are ready to burn them.
Before Lighting Your Candle
• Place the candle on a stable, flat and heat-resistant surface.
• Keep it away from curtains, fabrics, paper, furniture and anything else that could catch fire.
• Keep it away from children, pets, draughts, open windows, fans and air vents.
• Remove all external packaging, ribbons and non-wax decorative packaging before lighting.
• Trim the wick to approximately 5 mm before each burn.
• Make sure the wax around the wick is free from wick trimmings, matches and other debris.
• Check that the candle, container and any holder are not cracked, chipped or damaged.
Trim the Wick Before Every Burn
Before each burn, trim the wick to approximately 5 mm. A trimmed wick can help reduce excessive flame height, smoke and soot.
Remove any wick trimmings or other debris from the wax before lighting the candle. Always allow the candle to cool completely before trimming the wick or handling the wax.
While Your Candle Is Burning
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep the candle within sight and extinguish it before leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Do not move or handle the candle while it is burning or while the wax is still hot.
• Keep it away from draughts and never place it close to another heat source.
• If the flame becomes unusually large, begins to smoke excessively or behaves unexpectedly, extinguish the candle immediately.
• Allow the candle to cool completely before checking and trimming the wick.
• Always follow the recommended maximum burn time provided with your candle.
Do not burn a candle for longer than the maximum time stated on its product page, safety label or care instructions. Burn times may vary between products because of differences in size, design, container and wick.
How to Extinguish Your Candle Safely
• Use a candle snuffer where possible to extinguish the flame safely.
• Never use water or any other liquid to extinguish a candle.
• Make sure the flame is completely out.
• Allow the candle and melted wax to cool completely before touching, moving or storing it.
• Stop using the candle when it reaches the minimum remaining-wax level stated on its product label or care instructions.
• Do not burn a container candle all the way to the bottom, as the container may become excessively hot.
Caring for Decorative Candles
Our decorative candles contain handmade wax elements which form part of their unique design. These elements may melt, move or behave differently as the candle burns.
Decorative wax elements may not burn in the same way as the main candle body. Never treat them as separate candles or attempt to light them directly. Decorative elements are for decorative purposes only and should not be consumed.
If a melted decorative element moves into the wax pool and interferes with or smothers the flame, extinguish the candle immediately.
Allow the candle and wax to cool completely before carefully removing the displaced element using a suitable tool. Never use your bare hands while the wax is warm.
Never attempt to remove, touch or reposition decorative elements while the candle is burning or while the wax is still hot.
If the candle does not appear to be burning safely, extinguish it and do not relight it until the issue has been resolved. If you are unsure, please contact us before using it again.
Container Candle Safety
The container may become very hot during use. Do not touch or move it while the candle is burning or before it has completely cooled.
Always follow the minimum remaining-wax guidance provided with the individual candle. Never use a candle if its container is cracked, chipped or otherwise damaged.
Place container candles on a stable, flat and heat-resistant surface. Do not place them directly on furniture or surfaces that could be damaged by heat.
Pillar Candle Safety
Always place a freestanding candle on a suitable heat-resistant candle plate or holder that is large enough to contain melted wax.
Wax may drip or spread as the candle burns, particularly with decorative or unusually shaped candles. Never place a freestanding candle directly onto furniture or another surface that could be damaged by heat or melted wax.
Common Candle Burning Problems
Why is my candle tunnelling?
Tunnelling happens when the wax melts unevenly and leaves a ring of unmelted wax around the sides. It can be caused by an insufficient first burn, an incorrectly trimmed wick or a draught.
For container candles, allow the wax to melt evenly across the surface towards the edges during the first burn, while always staying within the recommended maximum burn time. Keep the candle away from draughts and trim the wick before future burns.
What should I do if the flame is too large?
Extinguish the candle and allow it to cool completely. Once cool, trim the wick to approximately 5 mm and remove any debris from the wax before lighting it again.
If the flame remains unusually large or the candle continues to burn unexpectedly, discontinue use and contact us.
What should I do if my candle produces smoke or soot?
Extinguish the candle and allow it to cool completely. Check that the wick is trimmed to approximately 5 mm and that the candle is not placed in a draught.
Remove any wick debris from the wax before relighting. If excessive smoking continues, discontinue use and contact us.
What should I do if wax spills or the container is damaged?
Extinguish the candle immediately and allow it to cool completely. Do not touch hot wax or a hot container.
Do not use a candle if its container is cracked, chipped or damaged. If your candle arrives damaged or becomes damaged during use, please stop using it and contact us.
Important Safety Reminders
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep candles away from children and pets.
• Keep candles away from anything that can catch fire.
• Always use a stable, flat and heat-resistant surface or suitable candle holder.
• Keep candles away from draughts and other heat sources.
• Trim the wick before each burn.
• Keep the wax pool free from debris.
• Never move a burning candle.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle.
• Allow the candle to cool completely before touching or moving it.
• Always follow the specific safety label and instructions supplied with your candle.
Every candle is handmade and may burn slightly differently. Always monitor your candle while it is lit and extinguish it immediately if you notice unusual or unsafe burning behaviour.
Further Information
If you notice unusual burning behaviour or have a safety question, please stop using the candle and contact us before lighting it again.
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This page provides general candle-care guidance. It does not replace the product-specific safety label and instructions supplied with each candle.