Beeswax Candle Care & Burning Guide
You might think enjoying a candle is as simple as striking a match and lighting the wick, but a little care goes a long way in getting the very best from your beeswax candle.
We’ve put together this simple guide to help you achieve a clean, even burn and extend the life of your candle from The Alchemised Hive. Our candles are carefully curated and handcrafted, and when you choose to buy artisan, we know you care about how your products are made—and how to enjoy them properly.
Wick Trimming
Before each burn, trim the wick to approximately 6mm (¼ inch). This helps ensure a steady flame, minimises smoke, and prevents excess soot or flickering.
The First Burn Matters
Pillar candles should always be allowed to establish a full melt pool on their first burn. This helps prevent tunnelling, which occurs when the candle only melts in the centre and never reaches the outer edges—wasting beeswax and reducing the life of your candle.
To prevent this, burn pillar candles for a minimum of 2–3 hours on the first lighting (and sometimes longer for wider candles). Once the wax has melted all the way to the edge, it is safe to extinguish the flame.
Extinguishing Your Candle
Instead of blowing out the flame, we recommend gently dipping the wick into the melted wax and then straightening it again. This method avoids smoke and lingering odours, and helps ensure a smooth, clean burn next time. A wax-coated wick also relights more easily.
Wick Mushrooming
If you burn your candle for extended periods, you may notice the wick forming a small “mushroom” at the tip. This is a natural result of carbon build-up. When this happens, extinguish the candle, trim the wick back to 6mm, and relight. This helps maintain an even flame and prevents debris from falling into the wax.
Natural Characteristics of Beeswax Candles
Please note that because our candles are crafted from a naturally occurring material, variations in colour may occur from batch to batch. Pure beeswax may also develop a natural bloom—a thin white coating that can appear on the surface over time. This is a sign of genuine beeswax and does not affect the performance of your candle. If desired, the bloom can be gently wiped away with a soft cloth.
Candle Safety
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Our taper candles must always be placed in a secure taper holder to ensure they remain upright while in use. Pillar and decorative candles should be burned on a candle plate or heat-safe dish, as melted wax may naturally drip down the sides.
Keep candles well out of reach of children and pets. Avoid burning candles in drafty areas, as drafts can cause uneven burning, dripping, and excess smoke, and will reduce overall burn quality and longevity.
