Ritual
How to burn a Harbor & Hearth candle
A candle is a small fire in a glass. Treat it like one. These are the rules we print on the card in the box — the difference between a seventy-hour burn and a ruined jar.
01
The first light
Burn until the melt pool reaches the edge of the jar — usually two to three hours. A short first burn tunnels. A full first burn sets the memory of the wax.
02
Trim the wick
Before each lighting, trim to ¼ inch. A long wick mushrooms, smokes, and throws soot onto the glass. A short wick is a quiet flame and a clean jar.
03
Three hours, not eight
Do not burn longer than four hours at a stretch. Let the wax reset. Soy is patient; it does not need to be pushed.
04
Keep the well clean
If a carbon cap forms, pinch it off when the wax is still soft. Keep the melt pool free of matches and dust. The jar is the chamber.
05
Stop at a half inch
When a half inch of wax remains, retire the candle. Burning the vessel dry can overheat the glass. The last of the wax can be scooped; the jar washed and kept.
Safety, plainly
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep from drafts, curtains, children, and animals.
- Set on a heat-safe, level surface.
- The glass will be hot. Let it cool before moving.
- Do not burn in a jar that is cracked or chipped.
- Keep the flame away from anything that can catch.