Before lighting your handmade soy candle, ask your instructor when it will be ready, how to prepare the wick and how long its first burn should last. These answers should match the candle you made, including its wax, fragrance, wick and container.
A candle that feels firm is not necessarily ready for its first lighting. Equally, leaving it burning until every trace of surface wax melts is not always the right approach.
At EPIC Workshops’ Basic Soy Candle Making Workshop, participants receive guidance on wick selection and fragrance oils. Before taking your candle home, use that opportunity to ask the following questions.
1. “What Date Can I First Light My Candle?”
Ask for a specific date rather than accepting “once it has set”.
Cooling and curing are different. Cooling allows liquid wax to become solid; curing is the waiting period before use, which can affect how a scented candle performs. The appropriate wait depends on the wax formulation and fragrance combination.
Some formulations have shorter waiting periods, while others benefit from around two weeks. Neither should become a blanket rule for every handmade soy candle.
Ask your instructor:
- What waiting period applies to the wax we used?
- Does my chosen fragrance affect that recommendation?
- Where should I keep the candle until then?
Write the first suitable lighting date on your care card. In Singapore, choose a storage spot away from direct sunlight and heat rather than a sunny windowsill or parked car.
2. “Can You Show Me the Correct Wick Length?”
Have the instructor demonstrate trimming on your finished candle, or on a sample if yours is still setting.
For many cotton wicks, the usual starting length is approximately 6 mm above the wax. However, the instructions should match your actual wick. A wooden wick may need different preparation.
An overly long wick can produce a larger flame and soot. Cutting too close to the wax can make lighting difficult or allow melted wax to overwhelm the flame.
Ask whether the wick has already been trimmed before you leave. This prevents you from shortening an already prepared wick unnecessarily.
Remove loose trimmings before lighting, and let the instructor inspect a wick that looks noticeably off centre.
3. “Does Anything Need Removing Before Lighting?”
If your candle includes decorative additions, ask whether the finished piece is intended for burning or display.
Dried flowers, leaves and other combustible decorations can catch fire when they enter the melted wax or reach the flame. Being arranged away from the wick at first does not guarantee that they will stay there as the wax melts.
Ask the instructor to identify anything that must come out and demonstrate removal while the candle is cold. Crystals and other non-combustible additions also need clear handling instructions; their presence does not automatically establish that the whole design is suitable for burning.
If combustible decorations are embedded and cannot be removed safely, keep the candle unlit until the instructor has assessed it. Do not dig into warm wax or improvise a repair.
4. “How Long Should This Candle’s First Burn Last?”
Request both a recommended first-burn duration and a maximum session length.
Container width, wick choice and wax formulation affect how quickly the melted surface develops. A timing rule taken from a differently sized candle may not suit yours.
Plan the first lighting for a period when you can remain nearby. Set a reminder for the instructed stopping time, but continue watching the candle throughout.
General candle-care guidance commonly limits burning to four hours per session. Your candle may need a shorter limit.
Never extend the burn beyond its recommended maximum simply to melt wax at the edges. If the expected result has not appeared within the permitted time, extinguish the candle and ask your instructor what to check.
5. “What Should the Melted Wax Look Like?”
Ask to see a photograph of a normal first burn using the same container and wick.
The melted wax around the flame is called the melt pool. It should develop progressively, but a perfectly clear surface from edge to edge is not a universal first-session requirement.
A small amount of wax left around the sides can melt during later burns. A deep, narrow channel that continues developing over several sessions deserves a closer look.
This distinction matters because one short burn does not automatically mean that you have permanently ruined the candle.
Ask what amount of remaining edge wax is normal for your design and when to send a photograph. Avoid trying foil covers, extra wicks or external heating as a quick fix without appropriate guidance.
6. “Where Should I Place It, and What Means I Should Stop?”
Describe the place where you intend to burn the candle. In Singapore homes, a ceiling fan or air-conditioner outlet may direct air across a seemingly sheltered table.
Use a stable, heat-resistant surface in a ventilated room, away from direct draughts. Keep the candle at least 30 cm from curtains, paper and other combustible items, and beyond the reach of children and pets.
Ask your instructor to explain warning signs, including:
- Persistent smoke or heavy soot.
- An unusually large or repeatedly flickering flame.
- A wick leaning towards the container wall.
- Cracking or damage to the container.
If these occur, extinguish the candle and let it cool before seeking advice. Do not carry a burning candle elsewhere to escape a drought.
7. “How Do I Finish the Burn and Check It Afterwards?”
Ask for a demonstration of safe extinguishing. A candle snuffer is useful; never pour water onto burning wax.
Check that the flame is fully out, then leave the container undisturbed until the wax and vessel have cooled.
Once cold, note the burn duration and take a photograph if something looked unusual. This gives your instructor more useful information than “it didn’t burn properly”.
Also ask which changes are cosmetic. Soy wax can develop a rough surface after cooling, and pale frosting can appear without indicating a burning fault. Visible oily droplets, a displaced wick or damaged glass warrant advice before another lighting.
Request written instructions covering later burns and the point at which to stop using the candle.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I light my candle on the evening of the workshop?
Only if your instructor confirms that the particular formulation is ready. A solid surface alone does not establish that the recommended waiting period has passed.
2. Have I ruined the candle if I extinguish it early?
Usually, no. Let it cool and ask about the next burn. Never leave it unattended just to complete a recommended session.
3. Why is the fragrance weak during the first burn?
Curing time, fragrance choice, room size and the developing melt pool can affect scent strength. Do not add fragrance oil to the finished candle.
4. Can I burn it with the air conditioner running?
Yes, provided airflow does not blow directly across the flame. Choose a ventilated location where the flame remains reasonably steady.