Welcome to the cozy, crackling world of Starlight & Sage Co.'s wood wick candles! Made with a luxurious coconut apricot beeswax blend, our candles are designed to create a soundtrack of soft, flickering ambiance. To help you get the most out of your candles, we’ve curated this guide to keep them burning beautifully, from the first strike of a match to the very last afterglow.
First Burn: Set the Stage
The first burn is the most important — think of it as setting the tone for your candle’s story.
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Let It Burn: Allow your candle to burn long enough for the wax to melt a good ways across the surface, at least 2-3 hours. This prevents the wick from drowning later.
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Pro Tip: The luxury coconut apricot wax we use is quite forgiving, so even if it looks like your candle might tunnel, the wax will melt beautifully with proper care. Some wax hangup on the sides of the jar is totally normal through the first half of your candle's life.
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Trim That Wick: Keep It Lit, Not Smoky
Your wood wick needs a little maintenance to perform its best.
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Trim to Perfection: Before lighting, trim your wick to no more than 1/8" (3-4mm). If it’s too long, the flame may struggle, create unsightly soot, or burn too high. If that's the case, simply extinguish the flame, wait for the wax to cool, and trim a bit shorter.
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How to Trim: Use wick trimmers or simply pinch off the blackened, charred top edge of the wick with your fingers (once cooled, of course).
Burn Smart, Not Reckless
Your candle’s flame should dance, not rage.
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Burn Time Limit: Keep burn sessions to a max of 3–4 hours to avoid overheating the jar or wax.
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Avoid Drafts: Wild winds are death to the candle, so place your candle in a draft-free area to ensure an even burn.
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Stay, Stay, Stay: Never leave your burning candle unattended. Aside from being a safety hazard, Starlight flames get lonesome without you.
Safety First: Flames Deserve Respect
Learn from Taylor and Gracie; nothing ruins a songwriting marathon like a fire hazard.
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Keep It Clear: Always burn your candle on a heat-resistant surface and away from flammable materials.
- Jar Care: Stop burning your candle when about 1/2 inch of wax remains to prevent overheating the jar.
Reuse and Renew: The Eco-Friendly Finale
Our coconut apricot wax candles come in gorgeous reusable jars because sustainability is always in style.
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Clean It Out: Once your candle is finished, scoop out any remaining wax and clean the jar with warm, soapy water.
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Pro Tip: If the wax has cooled, pour a little hot (boiling) water into the jar and wait until the wax softens. Discard the contents into the trash and wipe clean.
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Repurpose With Flair: Use your jar as a planter, paintbrush holder, or even a home for your friendship bracelets.
Candle Troubleshooting
If none of the above answered your questions, we've done our best to come up with general candle quandaries here...
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My candle is emitting "smoke"...
- Black soot (off the top of the flame) is usually caused by an untrimmed wick or a drafty placement. First, ensure that your candle isn't below a vent, under a fan, etc. If your candle is in a draft-free area and still sooting, blow out your candle and allow it to cool before trimming the charred bits off the top of the wick. Use your fingers or a wick trimmer.
- White vapor is completely normal and actually means the candle is doing its job! This vapor is a combination of wax and fragrance filling the air and setting the vibe. Don't worry - we use the highest quality wax and fragrance oils - so this is perfectly safe for you, kiddos, and pets.
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My candle flame is low...
- The first couple of burns: Oftentimes, low flames are very normal for the first few burns. It shouldn't effect the burn or the strength of the candle scent.
- The last couple burns: As the wick reaches its end and the wax has burned down, it's normal for the flame to diminish. When 1/2" of wax remains, it's time to order another candle!
- Mid-burn: This usually indicates a wick that's been trimmed too short or a stubborn candle. To remedy a too-short wick, using your fingers, gently smooth away a small amount of the wax from either side of the wick. Just reveal enough of the wick so that it can catch - don't overdo it!
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My candle doesn't smell...
- Our candles (8oz) are meant to fill a moderate sized room but will struggle to fill a large room. So, keep your candle baby in bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, kitchens, small living rooms, and hidden libraries. We're working on developing a 13oz candle for your bigger rooms, so stay tuned!
- Our candles (8oz) are meant to fill a moderate sized room but will struggle to fill a large room. So, keep your candle baby in bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, kitchens, small living rooms, and hidden libraries. We're working on developing a 13oz candle for your bigger rooms, so stay tuned!