Instructions for use and warnings

A candle is a little flame lit in your home. I make mine by hand, one at a time, using soy wax and a wooden wick: they are simple to use, but have a couple of habits that are worth knowing about. If you respect them, your candle will last longer, smell better, and give you no worries.

BEFORE LIGHTING
Remove the ribbon, the tag, and anything made of paper or fabric from the jar. Place the candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface: the glass gets very hot, especially toward the end. A small saucer, a trivet, a tile. Not directly on varnished wood, tablecloths, or plastic.

THE FIRST LIGHTING: SOY WAX HAS A MEMORY
The first time counts more than any other. Keep the candle lit until the entire surface is liquid, from edge to edge: for the small size, this takes about half an hour, and for the large one, about an hour. If you put it out earlier, the wax "remembers" that small circle and, during subsequent lightings, it will dig a tunnel in the center, leaving wax intact on the sides and wasting fragrance. If this has already happened to you, it's not a loss: the next time, leave it lit until the pool reaches the edge again.

THE WOODEN WICK
It is different from a cotton one in three ways.
· Lighting it. The wood takes a few seconds: hold the flame to the wick, tilting the candle slightly, until it catches across the entire width. It's not defective; it's wood.
· Trimming it. Before each lighting, when the wax is cold, remove the blackened part at the top: just pinch it off with your fingers or a pair of nail clippers, leaving about 3-5 millimeters of wood above the wax. Too long creates a high flame that smokes and blackens the glass; too short, and the wax will drown it.
· The crackle. It crackles softly, like a small fireplace. It’s normal, and it’s why I use it.
If the flame is low or goes out on its own, it’s almost always because the wick is too long or there is too much liquid wax around it: put it out, wait for it to cool, trim it, and try again.

HOW LONG TO KEEP IT LIT
A maximum of 4 hours at a time. Any longer, and the glass overheats and the fragrance "cooks" and becomes less effective. If your home already smells great, put it out: soy wax continues to release fragrance for a while even when unlit. In total, the 85g size lasts about 15-20 hours and the 185g one about 30-40 hours.

WHERE TO PUT IT
· Far from curtains, books, plants, and shelves above the candle.
· At least 10 centimeters away from another lit candle.
· Away from drafts: open windows, fans, radiators. Moving air makes the flame flicker, causing the candle to smoke and burn unevenly.
· Away from heat sources and direct sunlight, even when unlit: soy wax softens easily. In the summer, don’t leave it in the car or on a windowsill.
· Never move it while it is lit or while the wax is still liquid.

NEVER ALONE
Never leave a lit candle unattended in a room, and blow it out before sleeping or leaving the house. Keep it where children and pets cannot reach it: a cat walking across the table is enough.

HOW TO EXTINGUISH IT
Don't blow it out: the wick keeps burning for a few seconds and the smoke covers the fragrance you’ve just diffused. Use a candle snuffer, or place the lid on top: without oxygen, the flame goes out immediately and cleanly. Never put water on hot wax.

THE LAST FEW MILLIMETERS
When there is about 1 centimeter of wax left at the bottom, the candle is finished: put it out and do not relight it. With so little wax, the flame heats the glass directly, which can cause it to crack.

AT THE END OF THE CANDLE: THE JAR
The glass remains yours. Remove the remaining wax (it melts with hot water, or leave it in the freezer for an hour and it will pop out in one piece), slide out the metal wick holder, and wash with hot water and soap. Then you can put whatever you like in it: brushes, spices, a tea light, a small plant. If you prefer to throw it away: glass in the glass bin, the metal holder in the metal bin, wax residue in general waste.

NORMAL SOY WAX CHARACTERISTICS (NOT DEFECTS)
· An uneven surface after it cools, or small white spots on the glass: this is the soy crystallizing. It will become smooth again the next time you light it.
· The color changing slightly over time: this is natural; there are no preservatives.
· The fragrance seeming light when the jar is closed: soy wax is most effective when lit; give the wax pool time to form.

WHAT'S INSIDE
Soy wax, wooden wick, fragrance. Fragrances contain aromatic substances that, in sensitive people, can cause an allergic reaction upon contact with liquid wax. That is why every candle has a label with the fragrance, any potential allergens, and the safety phrases required by the European CLP regulation.

If you have very sensitive skin or suffer from asthma, ventilate the room after use and do not touch the liquid wax. If hot wax gets on your skin: use cold water, do not rub.

WHO MAKES IT
Profumi di Casa di Martina Tamagnini, Via Madonnina 32, Viggiù (VA), info@profumidicasa.it. If something doesn't make sense, write to me: I prefer an extra question over a poorly used candle.