手入れ · candle care

a little care goes a long way

Every only ensō candle is hand poured in small batches with 100% soy wax. Look after it and it will burn cleanly, evenly and for longer, right down to the last few millimetres.

start here

the first burn

Soy wax has a memory. However far it melts on the first burn is how far it will melt every time after, so the first light matters most.

  1. 1
    Trim the wick to about 6mm (¼ inch) and place the candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface.
  2. 2
    Let it burn for 2 to 3 hours, until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar all the way round.
  3. 3
    Snuff it out and let it cool fully before relighting. Next time, it will melt evenly right to the edge.

every time you light it

six small habits for a cleaner burn

  • Trim the wick

    Trim to about 6mm before every burn. A short wick gives a calm, clean flame and stops it mushrooming.

  • 2 to 4 hours

    Burn until the melt pool reaches the edges, but never longer than 4 hours at a time, as the jar can get too hot.

  • Away from draughts

    Keep it away from open windows, fans and doorways. Draughts cause uneven burning, smoke and soot.

  • Snuff, don't blow

    Use a snuffer, or dip the wick into the wax and straighten it. Blowing it out can splash hot wax.

  • Keep it clean

    Remove any wick trimmings, matches or dust from the wax before you relight it.

  • Stop at 7mm

    When about 7mm of wax is left in the bottom, it's time to retire it so the jar doesn't overheat.

something not quite right?

candle troubleshooting

Most candle problems are easy to fix. Tap a question to see what to do.

My candle is tunnelling down the middle

This happens when the first burn was too short. Light it and let it burn for 2 to 3 hours until the wax melts to the edge. For a deeper tunnel, loosely wrap a collar of foil around the top of the jar, leaving a gap in the middle, to bounce heat back onto the outer wax. Never leave it unattended while you do this.

The wick has a little black blob on top

That's called mushrooming. Snuff the candle, let it cool, then trim the wick back to about 6mm before relighting.

The flame is too big, flickery or smoky

The wick is usually too long, or there's a draught. Put it out, trim the wick and move the candle somewhere still.

There's black soot on the jar

Soot comes from a long wick or a draught. Once the jar is cool, wipe it with a soft dry cloth or kitchen roll, then trim the wick before lighting again.

The top or sides look white and cloudy

That's frosting, a natural effect of 100% soy wax and a sign there's no paraffin in your candle. It doesn't change how it burns or smells.

I can't smell it as much as before

Your nose gets used to a scent in your own home after a while. Step out of the room for a few minutes and come back. Scent fills the room best once a full melt pool has formed, so give it time.

wax melts

caring for your wax melts

  • Snap off one cube and place it in the dish of your wax warmer.
  • Light the tealight underneath, or switch on an electric warmer.
  • Each cube can be re-melted until the scent fades, then swap it for a fresh one.
  • To change scent, let the wax set fully. If the dish lifts out, pop it in the freezer for 10 minutes and the wax will come away in one piece.
  • Never add water to your warmer, and never move it while the wax is melted.

give it a second life

reusing your jar

  • Pop the finished candle in the freezer for a few hours. The last of the wax will shrink and lift out easily.
  • Or pour in hot (not boiling) water, let the wax float to the top, cool, then lift it off.
  • Peel off the wick tab, wash the jar in warm soapy water and dry it.
  • Use it for make-up brushes, pens, cotton pads, herbs or a little plant pot.

burn safely

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended
  • Keep away from children, pets and anything that can catch fire
  • Burn on a flat, heat-resistant surface
  • Don't move a candle while it's lit or the wax is liquid
  • Never burn for more than 4 hours at a time

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