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CANDLE INFO

The Full Story

Candles have been around for a really long time. In the old days, their primary purpose was to provide light after the sun went down and maybe to help light a fire in the wood burning stove or fireplace to warm the home. They were made from fat-based tallow and produced a smell resembling burned fat.  In the 1850's a process was developed for distilling paraffin wax from coal and oil shale.  Today, paraffin is derived from crude oil and other hydrocarbons and still produces a surprising amount of soot and indoor air pollution that can cause adverse reactions.  

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Thankfully, the next leap in candle science has occurred and we now have much cleaner burning, carbon-neutral and easily replenishable soy wax made from soybeans. 

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At Olympic Candle, we treat the process of creating amazing candles not just as an art, but as a science. We take a lot of pride in making our candles in small batches, pouring every candle by hand and looking after every detail with the love and attention it deserves.  Not only must the candles look great and smell wonderful when you buy them, they must also perform consistently over time.

We also believe it's important to support our American farmers and use natural soy wax made from soybeans grown in the United States.  We choose soy wax because it is healthier, replenishable and burns at a lower temperature. 

Our wicks are made with natural braided cotton and paper and do not contain lead filaments.  They are generally self trimming, burn completely, and minimize mushrooming and soot.  Our glass containers are provided by an American company.  They can also be re-purposed once the candle is burned.

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It's important to us to keep as many jobs as possible in the United States and to be as environmentally responsible as possible.  Because of that we make our candles in Seattle and use American suppliers. We also work to make all packaging recyclable and minimize any waste going to the landfill.

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In our development and testing process, we focus on numerous factors including how the fragrance interacts with the wick and the wax, how much fragrance is emitted during the life of the candle, and is the burning process as clean as possible.  We thoroughly evaluate every candle to make sure it meets our exacting standards and will provide the delightful experience our customers expect.

Candle Care

Caring for your candle and proper use once it's in your home is important.  To help you get the most enjoyment out of your candle, we've provided a few tips below: ​

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  • To prevent tunneling and "candle memory," let the wax melt all the way to the edge of the glass 

  • Allow candles to cool and harden before relighting them

  • Avoid burning the candle for more than 3-4 hours at a time

  • Never move or leave candles unattended while burning 

  • Keep the wick trimmed to ¼ inch to prevent smoking and wick mushrooming and prolong the life of the candle

  • Avoid cutting the wick too short as this will create problems with burning

  • Cut the wick only when the wax has hardened 

  • Before relighting your candle, trim the mushroom off the top of the wick

  • Burn in a draft-free area clear of curtains, books, textiles, etc.

  • Do not burn candles on shelves with anything above the burning candle

  • Do not attempt to burn anything in the candle other than the wax provided with the candle

  • Place candles in a safe place away from children or pets 

  • Space candles apart while lit to prevent uneven burning 

  • Keep the burn pool clean 

  • Keep candles out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources 

  • Always place candles on a heat-resistant base and set on a level stable surface

  • Do not store candles in the freezer or leave them in a hot car 

  • To prep your candle for the next burn, extinguish it by dunking the wick into its own pool of wax using a wick dipper or pencil/similar

  • If your wax is collecting on one side of the jar, creating an uneven burn, adjust your wick back to the centre of the jar or lean it closer to the side that needs more heat

  • Cotton wicks will mushroom, this is a natural characteristic of the wick

  • If any black forms around the inside of the glass, simply wipe it away with a damp cloth - this may be a sign that your wick is too long and needs trimming

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