Beautiful, romantic, aromatic candles are one of the few things that make it easier for us to accept that summer is officially, definitely gone, and winter is barreling straight for our doorstep. According to the National Candle Association, Americans buy and light more candles in the fall and winter months than any other time of the year, with 80 percent of those purchases being scented candles. Light a clean-smelling evergreen candle in the morning, and you might find it easier to get moving. Or light a spicy-scented candle after dinner to help you wind down. For such a simple accessory, there sure is a lot to know about candles.
— Shaila Wunderlich, swunderlich@tribune.com
1. Be candle-cautious. We place this first because it is most important. Never, ever, under any circumstances leave a lit candle unattended. Seems like a no-brainer, yet according to government statistics, every year during the holidays candles cause four times as many house fires as they do any other time of the year.
2. Make it last. Extend the life of your candles by trimming wicks to about 1/4 inch and burning them for an extended period with each lighting. Chicago’s Waxman Candles recommends burning all of their pillar candles an hour per diameter inch.
3. Candle cleanup. Two wax cleanup methods that have proved effective for us:
* For wax on a candle holder, place the holder in the freezer overnight. In the morning, “pop out” the wax with your fingers.
* For wax on a carpet, hard floor or other surface, place a bag of ice on top of the wax for as long as possible. Use a knife (or the edge of a credit card if you’re worried about scratches) to chisel off as much of the wax as possible. Scrub up the remaining wax with a dampened cloth. It may be necessary to repeat this process several times.
4. What green means. The recent onslaught of “environmentally friendly” candles had us wondering what it is that distinguishes these candles from the regular ones we’ve been buying. Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Association, says it mainly comes down to ingredients. “A properly formulated candle will burn cleanly, evenly and safely no matter what it’s made of,” she says. “But soy, beeswax and palm come from more renewable sources.” Beyond that, Miller says, it’s all a matter of personal preference.
5. Price points. You may have noticed a wide range of prices in the candle market, from the $1 drugstore variety to the $30-and-higher candles at department stores and designer boutiques. Here again, it largely comes down to ingredients and personal preference. “Any reputable company is going to produce a candle that burns cleanly, safely and evenly,” Miller says. “But price differences can often be the result of materials used, packaging, candle size and aesthetics.” For example, French candle company Diptyque, whose candles retail for approximately $55, are made with natural ingredients, such as the essential oils of lavender and mint.
