FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions 

• Do you make your candles yourself?

Yes! Each candle is handcrafted, poured, designed and tested by me! I may get scent/color/design ideas from my guinea pigs family & friends on occasion.  Every candle is made by me in my home.

• What types of candles do you make?

Currently I am crafting- Tealights, Tarts & Melts, & Container candles - 4oz & 8oz in tins and a 12 oz glass. Votives & Pillars coming soon! 

• How can I buy from you?

 I sell my candles on the website Etsy.com. I'd love to have your business. Please click the link to the right that says shop now to view my inventory.

•  What are tarts & wax melts?

A tart or wax melt is a small wickless candle created to be melted in a specifically designed warmer. They are strongly scented, small and easy to use. Tarts get their name from being the shape of small pastry tarts. Wax melts can come in many different shapes from small squares held inside a clam shell plastic container to tons of different molded shapes. Tarts can be a bit safer as you are not dealing with an open flame, but always still use caution as heated items can cause accidents.
*Tarts should always be melted in the proper warmer and never left unattended. Tarts are meant to be used with electric wax tart burner, tart warmer, wax potpourri melters, wax burners, tart melters, or wax potpourri burners.  These are heated by an electric source or a tealight. Never heat your candle wax tarts on the stove or any other source that is not made for that purpose.

• What is a pillar candle?

 A pillar refers to a larger type of molded candle. Usually it is a cylindrical shape though it can come in many different shapes. It is usually several inches high though 3-4 inches seem to be the norm. They make wonderful decorations when you add several different heights on a plate as a centerpiece.
*Always burn pillars on a heat resistant surface & on a specifically designed candle holder, plate, dish, etc... It is important to watch the wick length and trim it to 1/4 an inch as needed.

• What is a votive?

A votive is a small common type of candle. They are usually just a few inches tall- 2.5 and about 1.5 inches in diameter. Votive candles are cylindrical in shape. It is important to know that a votive should always be burned in a candle holder like the small glass holders you usually see.A votive is a nice small candle when you wish to add a nice flickering of light to set the mood.
*Always burn the votive in a votive holder. Keep wick trimmed 1/4 inch.

• What are tealights?

Tealights are very small candles about 1.5 inches in height and 1 inch in diameter or so. They come in a little cup that can be made from metal or plastic.Tealights can completely liquify in their cup, so extra caution should always be used so that nothing falls into the wax & so the wax doesn't spill. The wicks should glued down so they can not float in the melted wax. Tealights have a lot of different uses from being used in oil warmers, a quick and easy light, and to use in a ton of different fun and cute holders. I love lighting tealights.
*Never place directly on furniture. Use caution metal tin can be very hot. Only burn in a nonflammable container designed for tealight candles. If using with a warmer make sure it is well ventilated and follow all directions given for the warmer/burner.

• What are floating candles?

Floating candles are the ultimate decor of candles. They are small candles designed to float in water for a beautiful mix of fire & water, it is really a lovely sight. They can be used as centerpieces for parties or just to add alittle beauty to your home. They can be generally a bit safer as they are set in water. If you are adding them to a garden or outdoor water source I would highly suggest -unscented and dye free.

• What are container candles?

This would be any type of candle that has been poured into a heat resistant container. Often the container would be a glass jar or a tin. The types and sizes are endless and only limited to the imagination. Not every container is appropriate or safe, some glass containers are not heat proof and could shatter or crack. Your container should also first be tested so that it has the correct wick for safety and a proper burn.
* Keep the wick centered so it never is too close to the sides of the candle (never mess with the wick while it is lit). Never place the lid on the container while lit. The container can get very hot, use caution when handling it until wax has cooled.

• What is my favorite type of candle?

I love them all! I adore tarts though & tealights are great for a quick light.

• Are they really 100% soy?

Yes the wax I use is 100% soy. Some have dyes and scents added when I make the candle but the wax I buy is 100% soy. I ONLY use soy in my candles.

I use 100% Soy Wax in every candle. The soy is:
•Are 100% vegetable, made with Pure Soybean oil!
•Are all NATURAL and biodegradable.
•Are manufactured meeting FDA standards.
•Are Kosher Certified.
•Are NOT tested on animals.
•Contain NO palm wax.
•Contain NO petroleum, paraffin or beeswax products.
•Contain NO pesticides and NO herbicides.
•Contain NO toxic materials.
•Contain NO Genetically Modified Material.
•Are considered GRAS under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

• Why Soy?

Soy candles are safe and natural. Made from soy grown in America (helping to promote our economy), they are made from a renewable source and are not made from petroleum like paraffin wax candles. Paraffin wax is the final by-product of petroleum refining. Soy being made from all natural soy makes it safer for you and better for the environment to burn. While no candle is 100% soot free, soy candles produce about 90% less soot then paraffin and so there is very little to worry about.
Soy is renewable and biodegradable.
Soy is easier to clean if spilled. Usually can be cleaned up easily with soap and water!
Soy also has a lower melting point allowing for a longer lasting, strong and consistent fragrance.

*I do not wish to argue soy vs paraffin. It is up to each person to decide what they wish to use. I prefer soy for the reasons listed above.

• What type of dyes do you use?

I make both dyed and dye free candles. My dyed candles are made using dye chips.

• What type of fragrances do you use?

I use mostly fragrance oils. If a candle is made with essential oil it will be listed as such. I make scent free candles as well.
What is the difference in the oils? This site gives a good explanation.

• What is triple scented?

A clever marketing term lol! Wax can only hold so much scent before it becomes over saturated and unable to mix properly leading to pools & excess oil leaking. Yuck. They are probably using the same amount of scent as everyone else and just trying to convey that it is a strong scent. Or perhaps their first try they barely used any scent at all lol!

• What is frosting?

Frosting is when white flakes form on the top of a candle. This is a natural occurrence with pure soy candles from the vegetable oils. There is nothing wrong with the candle, it is not drying out & it is not a flaw. Infact it is a sign of a true soy candle as many people will add paraffin to prevent frosting. I try to keep frosting to a minimum during the pour. You can also help limit it by keeping the candle out of direct light/sun. It should not be a huge worry with the look or experience of the candle in any way.

• What is the candles scent throw?

The throw is how far the candle throws their scent or in other words the distance in which you can still get the full aroma of the candle. There is the cold throw- which is the scent before the candle is lit and then the hot throw of the burning candle. This is ofcourse very important in scented candles. Scents do work very different in different types of waxes. I make sure to choose the very best scents for the soy's throw. I also test each of my candles scents to make sure they have an excellent throw.

The throw actually comes from the melting pool (the pool of melted wax), soy's low melting point means a large pool and a better throw. Soy also works well to hold a better/stronger scent because you can pour it at a lower temperature and many scents have a lower flash point.

• What is cure time & burn memory?

The natural soy needs time to properly set to build a strong throw. Giving the candle a few days to a week or so to cure before lighting does this. The larger the candle the longer the cure should be of course. When you first do light the candle you should give it a proper amount of time to burn to build up its burn memory. It is suggested that your initial burn is one hour per inch in diameter. Mostly you just want to make sure the candle has a full melt pool on its first burn.

• Candle Burn Times?

Burn times have been tested/calculated by me for each type of candle.many variables come into play when figuring out the candles burn time such as wax, fragrance, wick, size, container, etc... 

Tealights: 4 hours
Votives:
4 oz tins:

• How long can I burn the candle at one time?

"Don't burn a candle longer than 1 hour for each inch of its diameter. That is, don't burn a 2" votive more than 2 hours...or a 4" pillar for more than 4 hours."  (-source)

Safety

Fire can be dangerous. Always be careful, smart & cautious. 

Failure to follow instructions could result in fire, injury or damage.

Always follow the proper candle instructions.

• Always burn in the correct candle holder or warmer as directed by the type of candle & that has been specifically designed for candle use. It should be a heat proof container & kept on a heat resistant surface. Never place directly on furniture. It should be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax & kept on a heat resistant surface. Never place directly on furniture.
• DO NOT leave a lit candle unattended. Never leave a candle burning when you leave home, are asleep or even in another room.
• Use extra caution around children and pets- keep candles out of reach of both at all times.
• Never move the candle while it is lit or the wax is still hot/melted.
• Keep away from drafts
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room. 
• Keep away from flammable objects / anything that could potentially catch fire
• Do not extinguish container candles with the lid.
• Always keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch & make sure it is centered. Never handle the wick while it is lit or until it has had time to cool.
• Never burn candles down completely. Leave atleast 1/4" - 1" depending on the size of the candle.
• Never leave wick trimmings, matches, or any other material in the wax pool as these can create a fire hazard.
• If you ever feel a candle is not safe or it doesn't seem to be burning correctly- do not use it. 

When extinguishing a candle:

• The safest way to extinguish a candle is with a snuffer.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter.
• If you choose to blow out a candle use caution of hair and clothing being close to the flame. It is not recommended that you blow it out.
• Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Make sure the candle wax is completely cool as well as the container before handling or moving.

• Are candles safe to light around pets?

I am not a vet & I do not even play one on tv. I feel (my opinion) that unscented soy candles are safe to light in well ventilated rooms (you should always light candles in well ventilated rooms anyways)* ventilated but not in a draft. I do not light scented candles- no matter the type of fragrance used- in the same room as my birds or rats as they have sensitive little lungs. I would suggest asking your vet for more info.

Never leave candles burning unattended or where your pets can get. A happy wagging dogs tail could easily knock over a candle or bump into a lit candle on a low table. And cats are far too curious & mischievous for their own good. Once one of my naughty kitties knocked over a chair on top of me while I had candles lit, luckily it hit me and none of the candles were knocked over. Safety first!

 WARNING FOR THOSE WITH PET ALLERGIES:
If you or the recipient of my product has animal dander allergies please know that my products are handcrafted within my home that is shared with many furbabies. I try my very best to keep them out of my work area and away from all supplies and packaging. Stray hairs may on occasion slip past my watchful eye. Please shop with caution. Thank you.

 Candle care and candle burning is a responsibility, please burn wisely! MoonFireWicks is NOT responsible for damage or injury due to lack of care and attention when burning our candles. MoonFireWicks shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages or losses of any kind due to your use of any product purchased.