Discover more in our FAQ
Candles are basically one of life’s simple and affordable luxuries – something we all need and deserve in our lives. We want every scented moment to be special for you so hopefully our answers to your questions will enhance your burning experience.
How do I choose a candle? What to look for when buying candles?
How do I choose a candle? What to look for when buying candles?
- Wax type - Candles can be made from a variety waxes, all of
which have different properties which will affect overall
performance
- Wick type - Cotton wicks tend not to soot as much as other wick
materials
- Fragrance - Fragrance is extremely personal. The best advice to
give is to choose a scent that compliments your space, the mood
you would like to create, and something you know you will like!
Choose something that resonates with you and gives you pleasure
- Space - Where do you plan to burn the candle? The size of space
is important. If it's a large area or has high ceilings you may
need a larger candle for maximum fragrance throw. For a small
space like a bathroom a small votive, tin or jar should be
sufficient. The fragrance strength is also important with space,
for example you may want a subtle approach in a small study so
chose a softer fragrance
- Candle Design - Like fragrance, this is very much a personal
choice. Candles are not only a way to fragrance your home but
they can also decorate your space. Go for something that sits
with your home decor and style
Why should I burn a candle?
Why should I burn a candle?
We know you expect us to be a tad biased when it comes to the
benefits of burning candles, but honestly, there are lots of
(independent!) studies out there that show candles are great for the
mind, home & soul! Candles definitely have the ‘X-Factor’ and we’re
not just talking about the illumination factor. There are so many
reasons why you should burn a candle - from chilling out to adorning
the home, they are an affordable and life enriching addition to any
space and lifestyle. Not persuaded? Take a look at this you will soon be a candle convert.
How many hours burn time do I get from a candle?
How many hours burn time do I get from a candle?
There are numerous factors that will affect a candle’s burn time
including wax type, number of wicks, burning environment, shape and
size of vessel. As an approximate guide smaller scented candles like
a single wick votive will burn at a rate of 7 to 9 hours per
ounce/28 grams of wax. Larger multi-wick scented candles will
average 5 to 7 hours for each ounce. Here’s a few examples of the
burn times you can expect from Apsley Candles. Our smallest Apsley
and Company duo wick 400g
Luxury Candles Australia
will burn for up to 60 hours. Our
largest 4 wick 2.4kg Luxury Candle
will burn for up to 240 hours. Our single wick 220g
Crisp White Linen Abode Aroma
crystal candles will give you around 30 hours of burning pleasure.
Which candle wax is best?
Which candle wax is best?
Unfortunately, we can’t really answer that as each wax type has its
own properties which will affect factors like fragrance throw, burn time and burn quality. Take a look at our blog ‘The Wax Facts’ for an overview of each types’ pros and cons. The wax you go for is ultimately down to personal preference and ethical priorities. We
produce our fragranced candles with the utmost care possible, ensuring we give you only the finest quality products crafted in the most sustainable of ways. We use a premium vegan blend of botanical soy and food grade wax for our scented candles. This formulation allows us to have a generous amount of fragrance throughout the entire candle and a longer lasting burn time, ensuring you are getting the absolute best during your candle burning experience.
Why is my candle tunnelling? What am I doing wrong?
Why is my candle tunnelling? What am I doing wrong?
The first burn is the most important. Wax has a burning memory. When
lit a candle’s wax pool will only extend to the same diameter it
reached on the previous burn. To avoid tunnelling, on that first
burn ensure you light all the wicks and allow the wax pool to reach
the edges of the container to enable an even burn when next lighting
it. If you don’t do this the candle will tunnel and you will be left
with unused wax around the circumference of the vessel, shortening
the life of your candle.
Why is my flame flickering?
Why is my flame flickering?
The wick is too long - ideally you should trim your wick to 3/4
inch (0.6cm) before every burn. Our
Candle Accessory Set
includes a wick trimmer making this an easy job. During a burn
you may need to extinguish the flame and re-trim the wick
(ensuring the wick and candle has cooled before doing so)
The candle is in a drafty area - drafts blow the candle flame
making it flicker and give off soot
The candle has been burning for too long (See
‘How do I know how long to burn a candle for?
’)
The container needs a clean - soot from previous burns can build
up on the vessel, fall into the wax and heat up.
The wick needs to be re-centred - once you've put your candle
out and the wax is still liquid re-centre the wick ready for the
next burn. To do this we recommend you use a Wick Dipper,
available in our
Candle Accessory Set
What is candle soot/smoke?
What is candle soot/smoke?
Small amounts of soot/smoke are a natural part of the burning
process. The wax is the fuel, the wick is the fuel-delivery
system
During the burn the melted wax is drawn up through the wick,
fuelling the chemical reaction to keep the flame alive
The chemical reaction involves the combustion of the wax's
carbon with the air's oxygen making carbon dioxide and water
vapour (steam)
Unburned particles of carbon released when the hydrocarbon chain
of candle wax breaks down. When the candle is lit, most of the
carbon gets burned to carbon dioxide, but some escapes.
What causes a candle to soot?
What causes a candle to soot?
- It can be caused by too much fragrance or other additives in the
wax affecting the candle's combustion
- A flickering flame - flickering affects the amount of wax being
used. When there's too much wax for the wick/flame to consume
combustion of the carbon with the oxygen is incomplete leading
to soot
- Lack of air flow - sooting tends to increase when the candle
starts to near the bottom of the jar. The closer to the base,
the less oxygen is available to the flame causing it to change
in size, reducing the liquid wax's flow up the wick and causing
it to soot
- Wick size - the chemical reaction is affected by the wick size,
whether that be too big or too small, and too much carbon is
produced
Wick clogging - too many additives in the wick can cause it to
clog, preventing wax flow. This causes it to mushroom and smoke
Wick type - opt for cotton wicks rather than zinc-core wicks.
Cotton does not tend to soot
How do I get the most out of my candle
How do I get the most out of my candle
We have a great to help you with this.
‘For the love of candles – how to get the most out of your
candle’
offers lots of advice on candle care including wick maintenance,
where to put a candle, how to extinguish a flame…
Can I make a candle smell any stronger?
Can I make a candle smell any stronger?
You absolutely can, and guess what, we have an short blog on how to
do just that
‘Top tips to make your candle smell stronger’
Scent throw is helped with lots factors like length of burn time,
size of candle & the room you’re burning it in, candle placement,
candle care & fragrance fatigue (yes, it’s a thing – your nose will
become desensitised to fragrances over time)
My candle glass is marked – can I clean it?
My candle glass is marked – can I clean it?
Soot can build up on the vessel, which spoils both the appearance
and performance of your candle. Simply rub the black stains with a
wet cotton pad and warm soapy water. Ensure the surface is totally
dry before lighting your candle
What do I do if I spill the wax?
What do I do if I spill the wax?
To remove wax from fabrics or carpeting, let any spilled wax
solidify so that when it hardens it can easily be removed in pieces.
Place a bag of ice cubes in a plastic bag on top of the wax to
harden it, then use a spoon or butter knife to scrape off the excess
wax. To remove any wax residue left behind, spread a damp cloth
(some recommend a brown paper bag) over the wax stain then use an
iron on low heat on the cloth/bag. The iron against the damp cloth
will create steam which will suck the wax right into the cloth.
As you can see, there are so many questions and just not enough space to answer them in. If your questions haven’t been answered above, drop us an email we’ll be only too happy to help! We wish you many hours of happy burning!

