size matters (trim your wick!)

i bet you didn't know you're supposed to trim your wick before every single burn.

i know this because every time i tell someone, they look at me like i have three heads. look, i might be crazy—i am "candle crazy," after all—but i’m right about this.

here is what happens when you don't trim:

• mushrooming: you get that weird little carbon ball at the tip of the wick. it’s not cute.
• the soot storm: you see black, icky smoke puffing into the air.
• the bonfire: your flame gets way too big and aggressive.
• the waste: your candle burns hotter and faster, meaning you are literally burning money.

you invested in a high-quality, soy wax candle. don't treat it like a cheap gas station tea light.

how to fix it (it’s stupid easy): you need the wick to be about 1/4" long.

• the pro way: use a fancy wick trimmer.
• the normal way: use scissors.
• the savage way: use your fingers. just pinch the charred tip off (make sure it's cool first, obviously). yes, your fingers will get black and sooty. wash them.

"wait, what is soot?" soot is that black powder sticking to your jar (and your walls... and your nose). it’s basically "candle exhaust"—unburned carbon atoms released because the flame was too big and couldn't consume the wax properly.

the good news: we do our part. we only use cotton wicks (lead wicks are gross and dangerous) and we avoid the junk additives that cause excessive smoking. we test our candles to death to make sure they burn clean.

but we can't come to your house and trim the wick for you. that part is on you.

bottom line: you want a cleaner burn, a safer flame, and a candle that lasts longer? go trim your wick. right now.