4 Candle Buying Tips for Christmas

When you purchase candles it is important to think about many different things, especially if the candles are going to be gifts for Christmas. These simple tips should help you make a good decision on the type and quality of a candle before you select it as a gift for that person that means something special to you.

1. Quality candles have a lot of ingredients combined to make them worth spending the money. A very good quality candle will have a combination of things like wax, fragrance, and a good wick. Always look at the ingredients of a candle before you make the purchase. You don’t want to buy a candle and find that it was made with poor ingredients like soy and it almost melted while sitting under the prelit Christmas trees. This would be embarrassing when the recipient opens the gift.

2. Wax is the fuel that provides the longevity of a candle to burn. Candles are usually made from things like paraffin, soy, palm wax, beeswax, or even a transparent gel. Some candles are made with a combination of all of these ingredients. These different waxes don’t burn at the same rate. For example, a soy candle will lose its shape quickly and easily when it is burning. The only types of soy candles that are safe to put under the prelit Christmas trees are the ones in the glass jars. This way if the lights on the tree burn hot they will not melt the candles. Paraffin pillar candles are the best candles that will retain their shape and stay solid because they will burn direct down to the center of the candle.

3. The most important thing on a candle is the wick. The wick is the device responsible for transferring the melted wax up to the flame, which is what keeps the candle burning. The best wicks on a candle are the braided wicks. They are the safest wicks and they take longer to burn. The metal or lead wicks put off fumes in the air because you are burning lead. This can be harmful to your health also. Lead wicks are the ones that smell really bad when you put out the candle. When you are burning candles because your artificial Christmas trees don’t have a smell you don’t want to ruin the aroma.

4. The scents in a candle are another factor when you buy candles. The two primary ways to put scents in a candle are through synthetic fragrances and by the use of natural essential oils. The essential oils are the most expensive but they are the best.

If you are buying candles as Christmas gifts it is important to consider a few things. You want to put some thought into the gift you buy for the person. When you take into consideration the ingredients of a candle you also ensure the longevity of the candle too. You want to pick the right candle and be sure it won’t melt under any prelit Christmas trees. This would be devastating to you and the person who receives the gift.

Article source: http://my-candles.blogspot.com/
2008/09/4-candle-buying-tips-for-christmas.html

Candles—Making Them Last Longer

Buying nice candles can be a great indulgence, but if you are buying quality or luxury candles to enjoy real pampering of course you will want to make your purchase last as long as possible so that you can enjoy the fragrance and light of your buy for as long as possible. Luckily, there are a number of tips used by candle lovers and even by candle companies themselves to make candles last long.

The first basic tip is to chill candles well before using them. Cooled wax tends to burn more slowly and more evenly, which makes candles last longer. Some candle users chill their candles in the freezer before burning, while others simply cool the candles in a fridge before lighting. You may want to experiment with what works for you.

Another good, thrifty tip is to rim the wick before using the candle. Trimming the wick allows the candle to burn evenly, which can extend burning time. It can also help prevent smoking and soot, which can leave marks on candles, candle holders, and even your walls. If your candle is smoking, then the wick needs trimming.

Another popular trick is to burn your candle longer. When you burn candles for four hours at a time or more, the candle burns more evenly so that you get more burning hours out of each candle. Lighting a candle for a few hours at a time is also important if you use scented candles. A few hours of burn time at a time allows the maximum fragrance of the candle to waft through your home so that you can enjoy your candle more fully.

Some people like burning large pillar decorative candles until a well is formed at the top. Into this well they drop a small, inexpensive tea light. The fragrance and the color of the pillar candle can be enjoyed much longer this way. All you have to do is keep replacing the tiny tea lights.

You can even get some use out of every last little bit of candle. You can use used up scented candles to scent drawers and linen closets. You can also remove good quality way from unscented used up candles to use in making your own candles. To this wax, you can even add scent and twigs or petals to create your own unique candles. Ideally, your candles will burn evenly so that there is little left over, but if there is a little more wax left over from a candle that didn't burn quite right, you can certainly put it to good use.

Of course, buying higher-quality candles also makes sense. High quality candles, although more expensive, have much longer burning times than cheaply-made candles. The good quality candles are also made of higher-quality materials, so that you do not have to worry about releasing toxins into your home as much. Paying a little bit more and having your candles burn longer makes more sense economically as well. When you buy quality products, you will enjoy your candles more and save money in the long run, as well, especially if you use the above tips to make the most out of every drop of wax.

Article source: http://my-candles.blogspot.com/2007/09/candlesmaking-them-last-longer.html

Safety and Candles

Candles are one of life's pleasures. For many generations, they have been used to solemnize celebrations and to light up the special and everyday moments of our lives. While candles can do everything from set a mood to beautify a room, though, they do have their dangers. All candles involve an open flame, and mishandled, that can be trouble. Always use your candles safely so that you can enjoy them healthfully. When used correctly, candles can be a very safe indulgence.

Make sure that you buy high quality candles only. Well-made candles are always safer. They are more predictable and tend to have better safety records. For example, high quality candles encased in glass jars tend to have thicker glass than their more inexpensive counterparts. This can help ensure that the glass does not shatter or crack as it is heated by the flame. Some inexpensive, foreign-made candles have been found to have lead wicks and other toxic substances. Always keep in mind where your candles are made and look for guarantees of high quality. Better made candles are often made with higher-grade wax that contains fewer impurities, so buy the best you can.

Of course, you probably already know that you should never leave a candle unattended. This is especially true if you have pets or children who may be attracted by the bright flame. A few seconds are all it takes for a child or pet to knock over a candle and start a fire. Keep an eye out as well for any nearby objects that can come into contact with a candle. If you have a candle lit on your window, for example, make sure that the curtains blowing in the breeze do not come too near the candle, where they can ignite. If you have placed your candle on a shelf, make sure that the candle is far from books, papers, and other flammables. A good litmus test is to touch objects near a candle. If they are warm, they are too close to the flame. Also, allow plenty of clearance in case an object falls over on top of a candle or pushes the candle off a ledge. Ideally, only light candles when you will be in the room a while and place candles far from any other objects. Keep a fire extinguisher in your home handy in case an emergency does occur.

To use your candles safely, make sure that you exercise care when extinguishing and lighting them. Never place your face close to the candle when extinguishing and lighting it and be aware of loose strands of hair and loose clothing that may come into contact with a flame. Always shield the flame with your hand to protect your eyes from suddenly flying bits of soot and wick. When lighting a candle, make sure that any matches you use are properly extinguished and disposed of and put away any lighters you used to light candles.

Be aware of the accessories you buy for your candles. Use the same caution when buying candle shades, candle holders and candle charms as you would use when buying candles. Make sure that your accessories are not a fire hazard and are not made of toxic materials that can be poisonous to your air when heated. If you have doubts, ask. Retailers should be able to provide full information about the products they sell.

Article source: http://my-candles.blogspot.com/2007/08/safety-and-candles.html