Otterburn Candles Candle Burning Tips: Because Soy candles burn slightly differently and to get the best burn from your candle please read the following tips: Basic Instructions ·        Never leave a burning candle unattended. ·        Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets, and out of draughts. ·        Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch each time before burning to prevent smoking. ·        Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container. ·        Always stand on a stable, flat and heat-resistant surface. ·        Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents and air currents. ·        Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers repeatedly, or the flame becomes too high. ·        Keep the wax pool free of foreign objects at all times. ·        Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. ·        Never move any candle when the wax is liquid. ·        Never pour unwanted wax down the drain.  IT WILL CLOG YOUR SINK! ·        Do not burn candle for more than 3 hours at a time.  Burning Soy Candles! When burning a soy candle for the first time, you should burn the candle until the melted wax covers its diameter (also called a 'full melt pool').  This allows your soy candle to establish a full melt pool memory. increasing the scent throw.  If a candle isn't given a proper memory burn then it may burn incorrectly. and a good scent throw may not be achieved.   Candles created from soy wax can have a frosting throughout the wax and on the surface.  Frosting is harmless, and just a natural characteristic of this type of candle.  Container Candle Burn Time We would suggest that any candle in a glass container should be burnt for no more than 2 to 3 hours at a time, and then allowed to cool completely before re-lighting.  Burning a candle for longer than the recommended time could cause the glass to become over-heated and crack, resulting in hot wax leaking. Your Wick. An off-centered wick could cause your soy candle to burn unevenly. The wick must always be kept centered.  Extinguish candle, and reposition wick to the center while the wax is still soft, and also make sure your wick is centered each time you extinguish your candle.   Always keep the wick trimmed to 1/4" but not too short before lighting. A wick that is cut too short can drown when the wax melts around the wick and that can cause a wick to burn itself out.   Black Soot No candle can be soot free, but soy wax candles do have much less soot and more importantly no toxins in the soot.  Black soot is caused by a candle that is smoking (in our soy candles this is typically caused by the wick being left un-trimmed!). Lack of oxygen caused by burning a candle in an enclosed space can also cause soot to form. Also see above for any other reasons.