Candle Tips and Terminology

Candle Terminology

1, Cold Throw.  The cold throw is the scent/aroma the candle gives off without being lit.  (This is the very subtle smell that that typically customers use to judge the particular aroma and the power of the scent.

2, Hot Throw.  The hot throw is the scent/aroma the candle gives off when it has been lit.  (After the candle has been lit the hot throw will fill the interior of the room it is located in and allow the full fragrance of the candle to be released.

3, Curling.  Curling wicks are also known as self-trimming wicks.  This is when after your candle has been lit the wick will try and curl downward after an extended burn session.  (This is normal)

4, Mushrooming.  Mushrooming is what happens when the wick has carbon buildup on the tip and flares out looking like a small lopsided mushroom. (This is normal)

5, Tunneling. Tunnelling occurs when the candle has been lit for a while and the melting wax pool does not reach all the way across the top of the container and cause a tunnel to be formed in the middle of the candle.

Candle Tips

1,  When you light your candle for the first time try and let it remain lit until a melted wax pool spreads across the entire surface.  This will help the candle burn in a consistent clean manner and maximize the hot throw.

2, When you pick a location for your candle try and find a safe one where there is not a draft.  A draft on a lit wick may cause the wick to burn unevenly.  Sometimes this can cause tunneling.  If this happens then simply blow the candle out, and when safe to move relocate the candle away from the draft.  Once the candle is relit it will typically correct itself and melt evenly. (Use caution when handling a recently extinguished candle. The glass and wax will remain hot for an extended duration.)

3,  After prolonged use if the lit candle’s wick curls downward to a point that the melted wax extinguishes the fire then blow out all other lit wicks in the candle, if applicable, so that it cools and becomes safe to handle. Once cooled use a toothpick or similar object to straighten the curled wick.  When ready you can relight the candle as normal.

4, If after the candle has been lit and it appears the wick is mushrooming then simply extinguish the candle and when safe trim the wick removing the mushroom.  Try and leave a ¼ inch of wick protruding out of the wax and relight when ready.

5, To extend the efficiency and range of the candle’s hot throw try and not to have a single burn time that exceeds 3 hours. 

Thank you again for visiting Father Isle Candle Co. We hope you get as much joy from using the candles as we did making them. 
Please feel free to leave us any suggestions, comments or feedback.  

We look for ward to hearing from you.

David and Teresa