Candle care

These apply to every candle we make: stacked candles, tea lights, and celebration candles alike.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it before you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and away from anything that can catch fire: curtains, books, paper, dried flowers, and other decorations.
• Burn on a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface. The holder gets warm; do not place it directly on a tablecloth, polished wood, or plastic.
• Keep it out of draughts, away from open windows, fans, and air conditioners. A flickering flame burns unevenly and can lean into the stacked forms.
• Leave at least 10 cm between burning candles so they do not soften one another.
• Trim the wick to about 5 mm before each lighting. A long wick makes a large, smoky flame.
• Do not burn for more than 4 hours at a time. Let the candle cool fully before relighting.
• Never move or touch a candle while it is lit or while the wax is still soft. Pinch out or snuff the flame rather than blowing it out, which can scatter hot wax.
• Stop burning when about 2 cm of taper remains above the top form. Never let the flame reach the stacked pieces or the holder.
• Keep the wax pool clear of match ends, wick trimmings, and any debris.

How a stacked candle works

Every stacked candle has three parts: a holder at the base (cast in wax or concrete), a stack of sculptural forms, and a slender taper that sits in the top form. The taper is the part that burns. The forms and holder are the sculpture that holds it.

Setting it up

1. Unpack each piece and let it come to room temperature if it has travelled in the cold or heat.
2. Place the holder on a heat-resistant surface, then stack the forms in order from the bottom up. Each form seats into the one beneath it; press gently until the stack stands straight.
3. Fit the taper into the top form. If it leans, warm the base of the taper briefly between your fingers and re-seat it upright.

Lighting and burning

• Trim the wick to 5 mm, light it, and give the first burn about an hour so the taper burns evenly.
• As the taper burns down, keep an eye on the gap to the top form. Extinguish while about 2 cm of taper remains above it.
• A little drip onto the top form is normal and part of the character of a hand-poured candle. If dripping is heavy, the candle is probably in a draught.
• When the taper is finished, simply fit a new one and the sculpture carries on. [Replacement tapers: available on request / sold separately]

Tea lights

Burn each tea light in its clay cup on a heat-resistant surface. The cup gets hot; let it cool completely before handling. Burn no longer than 4 hours at a time, and stop when about 5 mm of wax remains.

Celebration candles

Hand-dipped celebration candles are slim and burn quickly. Push them firmly into a cake or a proper holder so they stand upright, light them just before you need them, and extinguish them before they burn down to the surface. They are for a moment, not an evening.

• Store candles somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. Heat softens wax and sun fades colour.
• Keep the forms in their tube and wood wool when not on display; the surfaces can scuff against one another.
• Dust a candle with a soft, dry cloth. Fingerprints on a matt surface lift with a gentle buff.
• A wax holder will hold its shape for years at room temperature. Keep it away from radiators and car interiors, where it can warp.

Questions about a particular piece? Use our contact form or message us on Instagram and we will happily help.