"I see videos where they say some candles are bad to light often, is this true "
Ive seen them too but with candles whats key are the ingredients & many videos are focused primarily on mineral oil candles. Recently, makers/suppliers appear to have changed the name from parrafin to mineral oil wax. Paraffin is derived from crude oil at the end of the day, as opposed to plant based wax like soy. These candles may omit toxins when lit and possibly coupled with lesser quality oils with parabens etc, cheap wicks, all equate to further toxins. They can be cheaper to buy and readily available in many stores but thats because many are mass produced. Mass volume; machinery made vs small batch artisan making, basic ingredients vs finest quality waxes/oils/wicks that are clean burning & paraben free, cruelty free/vegan friendly. Handmade candles are thoroughly researched, not to mention rigorously tested by candle makers. It can take years to research and get your balance for a candle right. When I began my journey to candle making I noticed many waxes were "blends", waxes that were a combination of soy and 'mineral oil' (which can also stop, for example, a candle sweating) but I wanted clean burning pure soy, no blends. In my opinion, you can only say a candle is pure 100% soy if it is.
"Why dont you make candles that resemble food/drink, like fruit or cakes?"
We do get asked this and we've all seen the candles that look like an ice cream sundae or a gingerbread latte but there is a very good reason we dont, because in the UK we have Food Imitation Regulations that prohibits the sale of candles/melts that could be confused for edible items (food or drink) especially with reference to children and vulnerable people. This is because of the dangers to children/vulnerable people who may confuse them with actual food etc. Other countries do allow as we are all governed by different laws. Simply labelling Do Not Consume is not sufficient. At Dukeswickflame safety is paramount above anything.
"What is sweating, tiny beads on top of soy candles?"
Good question!
Sweating can be a big element of soya when temperatures change. It appears as tiny beads on top of a soy candle. This shows its 100% soy!
Soy wax has a low melt point and as such, is sensitive to outside temperatures & the waxes natural oils try to reform as a result.
This is just showing you, your candle is 100% natural & it does not affect your candle in any way. Its a natural process especially in a heatwave or really cold temperatures. This is why it is best to store candles in a cool, dry place.
There are many makers that use soy blends for their wax, eg mineral oil (parrafin) & soy or incorporate additives that can help stop this but at Dukeswickflame we believe that when we say we use 100% soy wax, we use just that!
It is also important to add, that sometimes sweating can also be caused by inaccurate mixing of oil and wax. If it is not stirred correctly, for a specic time, the wax & oil do not bind correctly during the curing stage.
Is there a maximum burn time on scented candles?
Yes there is. These burn times are extremely important. Some may think they can simply light a candle for say 20 minutes (too short as will create a tunnel) or think they can be left on all day. This is not correct!
Every candle has a maximum burn time for each time the candle is lit. Ours are thoroughly tested before a candle is released and our burn times are stated on the CLP label on the base of each candle, on back of main packaging and on our Care Guide. These times will differ dependent on the size of the candle eg 20cl, 30cl or 36cl but when looking at candles on here, you can also see under the product description an added "care" drop down that will also state the burn times.
"How do you remove any wax left in your containers after they are finished"
With soy, you simply wash the container in hot, soapy water. Its as easy as that and then you can reuse the container for other things in your home.
Thanks your questions!
Lisa x