Candle care
Get the most from
every last hour.
A few small habits keep your Harmony & Co candle burning clean, even, and true — all the way to the edge of the vessel.
The first burn matters most
Coconut wax has a memory. The very first time you light your candle, let it burn long enough for the melted wax to reach the full edge of the vessel — usually 2 to 3 hours. This sets an even pool and prevents tunneling, where the flame sinks a narrow hole down the middle and leaves wax clinging to the sides.
- Trim before you light. Every burn starts with a wick trimmed to about 3 mm (⅛ inch). More on that below.
- Burn to the edge. On the first light, keep it lit until the melt pool reaches the full rim — plan for 2–3 hours.
- Keep sessions to ~4 hours. Longer than that and the wick can drift, mushroom, or smoke. Let the candle rest, then relight.
- Let it cool fully before moving. The vessel and wax stay hot for a while after the flame is out.
Wooden wicks are a little different
Our wooden wicks crackle softly and light best when the candle is at room temperature. Hold the flame to the wick for a few extra seconds on the first light — the wood needs a moment to catch. If it struggles, blow it out, let it cool, snap off the charred top, and relight.
Trimming the wick
This is the single most important habit for a clean burn. A trimmed wick burns cooler, brighter, and leaves no soot on the glass.
- Trim the wick to 3 mm (⅛ inch) before every burn.
- For wooden wicks, gently pinch or snap off the burnt char with clean fingers or a trimmer once the candle is cool.
- Remove any wick trimmings or debris from the wax pool before relighting.
- If you see a large flame, flickering, or smoke — the wick is too long. Put it out, trim it, relight.
Burn safety
Candles are an open flame. A little common sense keeps everyone — and your furniture — safe.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it within sight.
- Burn on a level, heat-resistant surface, away from drafts, vents, and fans.
- Keep away from anything flammable, and out of reach of children and pets.
- Stop burning when about 1 cm (½ inch) of wax remains — the vessel can overheat below that.
- Never use water to extinguish. Use a snuffer or dip the wick, or simply let it settle.
- Don't move a candle while it's lit or the wax is still liquid.
When you reach the bottom
Our vessels are made to be kept. Once the candle is finished, clean it out and give it a second life — a holder for brushes, cotton rounds, matches, or a small planter.
- Warm it. Pour a little hot (not boiling) water into the vessel to loosen the last of the wax.
- Lift the wax. Once it cools, the leftover disc lifts right out. Don't pour wax down the drain.
- Wash. Wash with warm soapy water — our glass vessels are dishwasher safe.
Your candle at a glance
Questions about your candle? Email us any time at harmony.e.company@gmail.com — we read every note.