What are the differences between Save a Life Candles® and other company's paraffin wax candles or soy blend candles?

Save a Life Candles® are made from 100% all natural soy wax.  This renewable source of wax burns cleaner than paraffin wax candles, (paraffin is a by-product of gasoline refining).  Soy wax also burns longer as natural waxes burn cooler than paraffin wax.  The candles may also exhibit some "sweating" during extreme temperature changes.  (See the next question).

My wick has a "mushroom" type head on it after burning.  What is this?

This is a build-up of carbon, and is found on almost all fragranced candles.  This effect has been minimized as much as possible with Save a Life Candles®, and by following our burning instructions of trimming the wick to 1/4" before the next burn will eliminate this build-up. 

My candle has been burning for about 4 hours and I can see smoke coming from the wick.  What should I do?

You should extinguish the candle and trim the wick to 1/4".  Smoking from a wick is usually caused by the wick needing to be trimmed.  This is also the case if you just lit a candle and see it smoking.  If your wick is already trimmed to 1/4", check to make sure that your candle is not being burned in a draft.  Heating vents, ceiling fans, windows and even doorways that you walk through fairly often will create a draft of wind and will cause your candle to smoke and create soot.

I noticed on the last few candles that I have burned that there is black soot around the tops of the jars.  What causes this and how can I avoid it?

 First of all, you may have read or heard other candle manufacturers’ claim that their all natural wax candles are "Soot Free".  This is a big misconception.  No candle can be "soot free", but natural wax candles do have less soot.   The only way a candle can be soot free is if the flame is completely blue (i.e.: propane torch), meaning there is 100% combustion.  Black soot is caused by a candle that is smoking (in our candles this is typically from too long of a wick!).  There could be several reasons why you are getting black soot.  First, you should only burn your candles 1 hour for every inch the candle is in diameter.  Second, make sure that you trim the wick to 1/4" each and every time before you light your candle.  Third, make sure that you are not burning your candle in a draft.  Any draft of wind will make the candle flame flicker and smoke.  Fourth, when you are trimming your candle wicks - do not leave the trimmings in the candle wax.  This will cause black soot.  Fifth, ensure that there is enough air space around your candle.  Do not burn under a cupboard or shelf.  This inhibits the amount of oxygen that is getting to the wick of the candle and will cause black soot to form.

My candle is leaving a lot of wax on the sides of the container as I burn it.  Is this normal?

 This is called "wax hang up" or "tunneling", and is usually caused because on the first burn of the candle it was extinguished before a full melt pool was achieved.  To get a full melt pool on any candle, it should be burned for a minimum of one hour for every inch the candle is in diameter.  Most waxes have a "memory", and if a candle is extinguished before a full melt pool is achieved on the first burn, the subsequent melt pools will not go past this first burn ring.  This goes for any candle, not just Save a Life Candles®.

Are scented candles a health hazard?

 Save a Life Candles® are made from biodegradable vegetable wax with 100% cotton and paper wicks.  Our high quality fragrance oils contain no heavy metals (such as lead).

Do Save a Life Candles® wicks contain lead?

 No.  Save a Life Candles® are crafted with 100% cotton and paper wicks.

Are your candles "Triple Scented"?

 "Triple Scented" is just a sales pitch used by some candle manufacturers.  More scent or fragrance oil does not mean more aroma.  The true secret to “scent throw” as it is called in the candle industry is the burn quality.  The scent is “thrown” from the wax pool that is created.  Candle making is an art and a science.  A good candle manufacturer plans, designs, and tests their candles with their fragrances per each candle container and size to ensure good scent "throw" and candle performance.  Each fragrance has different “throw” qualities, and just “triple scenting” does not mean more fragrance.  In fact too much fragrance can cause the candle wick to mushroom, smoke when burned, and could even cause the candle itself to combust causing shooting flames eight inches above the candle.  Save a Life Candles® are all designed and tested to burn properly.

 What is the warning label on the bottom of the candle jar? 

These are simple instructions about how best to handle, burn, and store your Save a Life Candles®.  For instructions about how to get the best results when you light your candle please refer to our Caring for your Soy Wax Candle page.