Candle Care
At Kelp House, every candle is hand-poured with care using 100% plant-based soy wax, a cotton wick, and phthalate- and paraben-free fragrances. To help you enjoy your candle safely and to get the longest, most beautiful burn, we’ve put together some tips and best practices.
1. First Burn Matters
Always allow your candle to burn long enough on the first use so the wax melts all the way to the edges of the container. This “full melt pool” prevents tunneling and ensures an even burn every time. Depending on the size of your candle, this may take 2–4 hours.
2. Trim Your Wick
Keep your wick trimmed to ¼ inch before every burn. This helps the candle burn cleanly, prevents smoke, and reduces soot. Use scissors or a wick trimmer for the best results.
3. Safe Placement
Always place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from drafts, flammable materials, and out of reach of children or pets. Candles are beautiful, but they’re still fire, so a little mindfulness goes a long way.
4. Burn Time
For the best experience, we recommend burning your candle for 2–4 hours at a time. This allows the fragrance to fully develop and the wax to melt evenly. Avoid burning a candle all the way down to the bottom — leave about ½ inch of wax to prevent overheating the container.
5. Extinguishing Your Candle
Use a wick dipper or gently blow out the flame. Avoid using water, which can crack the container and affect the wax. After extinguishing, make sure the wick remains centered for the next burn.
6. Scent & Atmosphere
Our candles are designed to bring the coastal beauty of Cape Breton into your home — the fresh air, the forest trails, and the gentle mist of the shore. A candle works best in a smaller, enclosed space where the fragrance can linger and settle.
7. Reuse & Sustainability
Once your candle has burned down, the jar can be washed and reused as a vase, storage container, or even a planter. Shopping local and want to save 10%? Bring back your cleaned jar (wick removed) and you'll enjoy a 10% discount on the same size in house made candle. By keeping your candle vessels in circulation, we can continue our mission of sustainability and reducing waste — a little nod to the ocean and the coast we care so much about.