Carbon Neutral Order
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- Place on a heat resistant surface before lighting!
For the first light make sure to have enough time where the wax is able to make a complete melt pool inside the jar. You will run the risk of creating a poor second light or crappy scent throw if the first light isn't followed with this instruction.
- Please make sure for every light that you have enough time from between 2-4 hours. If it exceeds 4 hours it may cause the wood wick to become too saturated from a deeper melt pool! That may cause a headache the next time you go to light the candle.
- Keep the candle away from anything flammable! Curtains, plants or clothes etc! I would hate to see a relaxing experience turn into a disaster!
FIRST BURN MATTERS
The first burn of your wood wick is the most important in determining how well the wick will perform for the rest of the candle's life. The 2 hour recommended burn time has been tested to ensure a full melt pool! Do this every time so that you avoid tunneling. If the wick becomes too far down with no oxygen it will not stay lit. Make sure to extinguish the candle at about 4 hours to avoid a deep melt pool that can drown the wick! That would be a tough relight the next time you go to use your candle.
TRIM THAT WICK
Just like a cotton wick, a wood wick must be trimmed in order to perform at their best. Keep the wick trimmed between 1/8” and 3/16” so the wax can be drawn across the wick evenly and effortlessly. When the wick is too long is can have a hard time lighting. If you find that the wick is too long just use some nail clippers to bring the wick down a bit more or check out our wick trimmers in the online store!
KNOCK THAT USED WICK OFF
As you go through the process of burning your candle for the first time you will notice the burnt wick leftover after the candle has been extinguished. A build up of carbon on your wick can contribute to a flame burning low or not burning to the best of its ability. To keep the candle clean in appearance, make sure to throw the broken off carbon into the trash before relighting your candle the next time.
THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM
Just like a campfire a wood wick can take a few tries to light! Don't get discouraged! Make sure to tilt the jar at an angle and allow 15-20 seconds of quick counting with the flame to the wick. This will allow the flame to draw across the wick and create a nice even light.
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What is a wooden wick?
Let’s talk about our wicks 🤭 Crackling Booster Wicks! Two pieces of wood combined for a more powerful burn.
Wooden wicks are made of softwood. The wood undergoes a process to get out the moisture before it turns into a wick. The imperfect process leaves behind pockets of water which becomes heated to a point that causes it to boil and release steam.
When the steam becomes trapped, the pressure is exerted on the surrounding wood causing it to weaken and start to break down. The steam that is released creates small bursts of flames giving rise to the signature sounds: aka the crackle! It's a personal wood-burning fireplace in a jar! 🔥
Why should I use these? Cotton wicks are easier.
Wooden wick candles are such a better option! The crackling wick sounds create such a peaceful space combined with the light of the candle - It's perfect. They are also clean-burning and environmentally friendly which if you're burning candles anywhere in your space or your home you want something better! A wooden wick candle takes a lot of patience and practice.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Why won't my wood wick stay lit?
- After you have had the first run-through of your 2 hours at least, the next time you go to light your candle you MUST clean the carbon build-up off of the wick. Make sure the candle has completely cooled before going to relight it or touching the wick. The burnt used pieces of the wick can create soot which we don't want! It can also prevent an easy relight of the candle because of the build-up. Use your finger to knock off the used wick and throw it in the trash. Since soy wax is white - it will show carbon deposits if you don't dispose of it in the trash before lighting. Keep it clean!
What is a melt pool?
- As the candle is going you'll notice the once-solid soy wax is now turning to a liquid! This liquid circle around the wick is known as a melt pool.
What is the proper burn time?
- CGC recommends 2-4 hours ONLY. The first 2 hours are super important! Especially on the first lighting. You want to create a healthy melt pool from one edge of the jar to the other edge. EDGE TO EDGE! By cutting off the burn time at 4 hours you can have a nice smooth top for the next relight with no issues with tunneling but also you are saving your wood wick! If the wax climbs too high as the wick burns down it can run the risk of drowning! Once the wax has cooled it can be a really tough relight.
What is tunneling?
- Say you lit your wood wick candle for the first time but only gave it a half-hour to burn. Once you extinguish the fire out you'll notice a sort of donut shape forming around the wick. The next time you go to light the candle you do another half hour. Eventually, you'll notice the wick has made its way down the jar but now you have a sort of tunnel effect where you have to look into the jar to see the wick. THIS STINKS! As the wick goes lower down, the oxygen begins to get a little less and less. This could create a difficult relight if at all. Make sure to dedicate the 2 hours of the recommended time! Avoid tunnels!
My brand new candle won't light or only for a short moment!
- Sometimes a new candle may have a wick that is too high for the first light. That's the handmade process! If you notice that the wick won't catch it may need a trim! Remember the 1/8" magic height is perfect! Just give the jar a tilt and place the flame to the wick for 15-20 seconds of quick counting and see what happens! It may take a few tries to get a new wood wick candle going! You can use nail clippers or check out our wick trimmers in the store! They come in handy for any type of candle care.
The flame on my wood wick candle seems really low?
- That is totally normal! We have tested many wooden wicks that we wanted to use and found our perfect match! Sometimes cleaning the carbon can help with a larger flame. Other times it may be that you kept the heat on the wick for the lighting at a long time frame. It really just depends on the attitude of the candle that day. Flame height can vary from 2mm all the way to 6mm.