Skip to content

How to get the best out of your pure beeswax pillar candle

In order for a candle to work, it must move molten wax up the wick to feed the flame. You should therefore light the candle by holding a match to the base of the wick, long enough to melt was around the base of the wick.

Beeswax burns at a higher temperature than other wax, it is therefore necessary to hold the flame of a match at the base of the wick for slightly longer than non-beeswax candles.

The below video is a test burn of our large ribbed pillar candle over 4 days of continuous use (extinguished every 4 hours to trim wick and then relit), the candle performed well, as expected. At one point the mantle collapsed and the wax pool spilled from the candle. This is not unusual and is easily rectified, instructions below:

How to repair the mantle

It is not uncommon for the mantle (wall of wax around the candle) to melt into the wax pool, sometimes this can allow the wax pool to drain down the sides of the candle which creates some beautiful effects. This can easily be fixed by extinguishing the candle and using the warm wax overspill to rebuild the wall around the wax pool reservoir - see video at 6mins 20 above.

How to repair a drowning wick

Occasionally a flame can melt so much wax that the wick does not have enough room for oxygen for example when a tall mantle folds into the wax pool. This can easily be fixed by using a piece of kitchen paper to soak up excess wax allowing wick to stand 6mm above wax pool. Allow candle to cool again before relighting.

How to repair tunneling

Tunneling can occur if the flame has not has sufficient time to burn in order to create the widest wax pool on first lighting. This can easily be fixed by following the 6 steps below:

  1. Trim the wick and remove any debris inside the tunnel.
  2. Cover the top of the candle with aluminum foil.
  3. Cut or fold a small opening (around 1-inch) in the center of the aluminum foil.
  4. Remove the aluminum foil, light the wick, then place the foil cover back on.
  5. Allow the candle to burn for a few hours until the top surface of wax has completely melted and smoothed over. 
  6. Set your candle aside and let the wax harden over the next few days to reach full hardness.