Pene from Lys Creations supplies the lovely natural soy candles that we offer to go with our pampering bath soaks. We stock her 110ml candles that have a 20 hour burn time.
There are methods to calculate how long a candle will burn. But there are also reasons why a candle may burn slower or quicker than advised.
Candle variables make a difference. Candle-specific variables may include:
Candle size
Type of waxed used
Amount and type of additives used
Type of wick material used
Length of wick
Use of odd-shaped jars
Another variable in your candle’s burn time concerns how hot the container becomes while burning. Using a heat-safe container is essential.
Other factors in the environment also affect your candle’s burn time, including:
Movement of air
Amount of oxygen
Room temperature
Candles in cooler temperatures may take longer to burn to a melting point or produce a smaller flame which may extend the overall burn time of your candle. A reduced overall burn time could be possible in warmer temperatures above approximately 25℃.
Obviously you can't always control things like the environment.
There are some elements of candle care that you CAN control to get the best and longest burn time from your candle:
The first time you burn your candle it is important to burn the candle until the wax pool reaches the side of the container (this may take up to a couple of hours, depending on container size). This first burn will form a 'memory' for all future burns and prevent tunnelling. Tunnelling is where the wax pool forms a tunnel down the centre and does not reach the sides of the container. If you don't let it melt to the edge the first time you use the candle, it never will on successive uses. You'll end up with an amount of wax that will simply never melt, and a much shorter candle life.
Always trim the wick to about 6mm above the wax before re-lighting. Long wicks can cause excess flame, smoke, leave soot on the container, and an excess of carbon build-up on the wick.
ALL Lys Creations NZ candles are made with pure cocosoy or soy wax with NO additives. All wicks are zinc and lead free. Fragrances used are natural or pure and are guaranteed to be 100% Phthalate free, so you can breathe easy. All fragrances are carefully tested for use in soy or cocosoy candles. All vessels or Glass Containers used by Lys Creations NZ are tested and adhere to Standards ASTM F2179, ASTM C148, ASTM C149 as appropriate for their type.
*Some fragrance oils may discolour wax due to their unique colour and vanillin content, and their natural reaction to other ingredients. The fragrance is not at fault, and you can expect your candles to burn normally.