Candles add a warm, inviting glow to any space, but it's important to use them safely and maintain them properly to ensure they burn cleanly and last longer. We want you to enjoy our creations as much as we enjoy making them, and so here we discuss some essential candle care and safety tips.

1. Trim the Wick

Before lighting a candle, always trim the wick to about 1/4 inch. This prevents the candle from burning too hot, producing less soot and a cleaner burn. A properly trimmed wick will help your candle last longer and burn more evenly.

2. Let the Wax Pool

Each time you burn your candle, allow the wax to melt across the entire surface to the edges of the candle container. This prevents tunnelling and ensures an even burn, making the most of your candle.

3. Burn Time

It's recommended not to burn a candle for more than four hours at a time. Burning for longer can cause the wick to move or slant, leading to uneven burning.

4. Avoid Drafts

Keep your candle away from drafts, vents, or air currents. This will help prevent rapid and uneven burning.

5. Extinguishing the Candle

Use a snuffer to extinguish your candle. This is safer than blowing it out, as it prevents hot wax from splattering and reduces smoke.

6. Keep It Clean

Regularly clean the container of your candle. Remove any wick trimmings, matches, or other debris to ensure a safe and pleasant burning experience.

7. Candle Placement

Place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from anything flammable. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

8. Storage

When not in use, store your candle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. This helps maintain its scent and colour.

9. Recycling and Reusing

Consider repurposing the candle container once the wax has burned down. Many containers can be cleaned and reused for various purposes.

10. Keep Candles Out of Reach of Children and Pets

A flickering flame can be fascinating to young children and pets, and they may not understand the dangers it poses. To prevent accidents, always place burning candles well out of reach of children and animals. Even when a candle is not lit, it's important to store it in a place where curious hands and paws can't reach it. This helps to avoid any unexpected incidents, such as tipping over the candle or ingesting any part of it.

We use synthetic oils to fragrance our products, generally speaking it's essential oils you need to look out for when considering the health and safety of your pets.

You should familiarise yourself with the kinds of chemicals that are toxic to different kinds of pets and check this against the labels of any products you use around them. Our own pets have never suffered any ill effects after the use of our products around them, nor have we been made aware of any such scenario from any of our customers. However, animals can develop an allergic reaction to anything, even in small amounts, just as humans can. If your pet has a known sensitivity to perfumed products, we would advise against using them whether made from essential oils or synthetic oils. It's always best to consult with your vet if in doubt.

We have a 14 calendar-day return policy - we will need any return to be requested within that period and the item received by us no later than 28 calendar days from the original delivery date. To be eligible for a return, the item must be in the same condition that it was received.

We have a strict returns and refund policy, full details of which can be found here or at the footer of our website.

Simply, to start a returns process please make contact with us at hello@dorsetwaxandwicks.co.uk.