burn for me, scented candle!

You know those times in your life where you are extremely upset because somebody made something really cool and you wish you had made it? This is one of those times, my friends. The video below (titled "Scented Candles") is YouTube at its finest, and incredibly hilarious. Please note the unbelievable awkward couple in the back who seem to be debating whether or not to makeout along with the sidekick boy who sometimes chimes in with spoken echoes ("fire" being a personal favorite). What we did before the Internet, my friends, I do not know, but I bet it was boring and depressing.

don't dismay. it's the scent of the day!

Christmas Cookie

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"Buttery rich, vanilla scented, holiday sugar cookies."

Ok, friends, have you ever wanted to eat a candle? Because, let me reassure you, you are not alone. This candle has caused many a person to carefully debate the pros and cons of licking wax. This candle not only smells like amazing sugar cookies, but after awhile, if you are sleep-deprived enough, it starts to look like one. Burn with caution.

But seriously, this is a fantastic candle to give as a holiday gift. While it is usually a bit tricky picking out scents other people will like, there is no logical reason for a person to not completely enjoy this scent. Just keep out of the reach of small children, or else you might have burnt mouths and angry parents.

without the flame, there's no fire

Ok, what is up with this? I was just at candle-icious.com (I know, ridiculous name, but a decent site) and apparently, they have jar candle warmers, which allow you to heat the scented wax without lighting the candle, thus allowing the scent to be released into your room without a flame. People, what fun are candles without the risk usually involved with having an open flame? Everyone knows there's a chance that you might burn your whole house (or dorm room) to the ground, but there's some small thrill in that, isn't there? Or am I the only one?

I put a picture of it below, only that you might stay far, far away from it. If you are my friend and you buy it, I promise I will judge you.


Stupid candle warmers, sucking the joy out of life.

eight crazy nights

Now I'm pretty sure that most of you know (unless you live under a rock) that candles are often used in religious ceremonies. Growing up Catholic and being an altar server, I used to carry a candle down the aisle in the procession towards the alter. It was pretty sweet.

But I think the coolest religious candle deal has to be Hannukah. They light not one, not two, but EIGHT candles over the course of the holiday, and the religious significance is pretty sweet.

here's the down-low about it from Wikipedia:

Hannukah, from the Hebrew word for "dedication" or "consecration", marks the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its desecration by the forces of Antiochus IV and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil." According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

So if you've never gotten a chance to experience the lighting of the Hannukah candles, get on it, my friend. It is not an experience to be missed.

trick or treat?

Ok, my friends, we've all been there. It's your birthday, you're sitting at the kitchen counter (we always had to eat in the kitchen) and people are singing a dirge-like tune as your mom/dad/aunt sally is slowly bringing in the cake, her hand covering the candle flames so they won't go out before you blow them out and spit all over your cake. They place the cake in front of you, and as the song ends, you screw up your eyes, think hard, and then give a blow (minds out of the gutter, now), extinguishing those small candles with one mighty gust of breath.

But wait? What is this? The stupid candles just re-lit themselves. Is this magic? Horrible crazy voo-doo? Karma? You put them out again, but they keep re-lighting. These. Stupid. Candles. Won't. Go. Out. Finally, you give in to the tears while your mom/dad/aunt sally quickly pluck the candles from your cake and throws them into a sink full of water.

As you sadly eat your cake (yellow cake with chocolate frosting, to be exact), you begin to wonder. What was up with those candles?

Well, my friends, I have a bit of truth for you. You have just been hoodwinked by one of the cruelest birthday tools known to man: trick candles, candles that manage to re-light themselves over and over and cause you to question your sanity.

How do these awful things work, you might wonder. Well, I did a little googling, and I got the chemistry low-down (a science that I passed with flying colors, thank you very much, but I am still going to let someone else explain it to you).

from howstuffworks.com:

The key thing about a normal candle that is important to a trick candle is the moment after you blow out the candle. Normally there is a burning ember in the wick that causes a ribbon of paraffin smoke to rise from the wick. That ember is hot enough to vaporize paraffin but it is not hot enough to ignite the paraffin vapor.

The key to a re-lighting candle, therefore, is to add something to the wick that the ember is hot enough to ignite. That way the ember can ignite this substance and the substance can then ignite the paraffin vapor. In the links below, the most common substance mentioned is magnesium. Magnesium is a metal, but it happens to burn (combine with oxygen to produce light and heat) rapidly at an ignition temperature as low as 800 degrees F (430 degrees C) (aluminum and iron both burn as well, but magnesium lights at a lower temperature).

Inside the burning wick, the magnesium is shielded from oxygen and cooled by liquid paraffin, but once the flame goes out magnesium dust is ignited by the ember. If you watch the ember you will see tiny flecks of magnesium going off. One of them produces the heat necessary to re-light the paraffin vapor, and the candle flame comes back to life!

There you have it, my friends. And a word of advice. Next time someone puts trick candles on your cake, kick them in the shins. No one deserves that on their birthday.

great moments for candles in cinematic history

Ok, my friends, here's the truth: there is nothing that I love better than a good musical, unless it is a movie version of a musical done ridiculously well. So let's talk about The Phantom of the Opera. Good musical, great movie. The movie-version Phantom is quite attractive (though Raoul is not), and Minnie Driver provides fantastic comic relief.

But what we are really interested in, my friends, is the INSANE amount of candles that exist throughout the movie. In fact, if it wasn't for these candles, the Phantom would be completely out of luck, because they a) totally set the creepy/romantic mood he always seems to be going for and b) illuminate his crazy underground lair (because the silly opera house didn't think of putting in outlets in the watery dungeon). In essence, without candles, the movie would be a complete bust.

So thank you, candles, for being a part of this movie. They definitely could not have done it without you.



So many candles! Glorious.

guest blog! score.

Hey again, my friends. I now have the supreme pleasure of introducing Ms. Allison Kostka, one of my fantastic roommates, who has decided to save you all from my ridiculous thoughts by blogging a few of her own. Enjoy.

Like many of you Wickersnapper addicts out there, I love candles pretty much any time and anywhere. But the hard truth is that there are some places where real burning flames, and the melted wax, heat and soot that come with it, just aren’t practical.

Take, for example, my first three years of college. As anyone who has lived in university housing can attest, candles and other flame- and heat-producing devices are almost always banned from dorms on the grounds that they are a “fire hazard.” What are candle lovers to do when they’re stranded for months at a time without the warm glow of a flickering friend by their side?

My mother, as it turns out, had just the right solution for that dilemma: the battery-operated flameless candle. While there’s nothing quite like a real burning flame, the folks at Candle Impressions have come pretty close and found the perfect substitute for your waxy companion.

I’m not talking about one of those plastic candles with the flame-shaped bulb that people put in their windows at Christmas. Instead, these babies are made from real wax and with the flip of a switch, give off a realistic, flickering glow. My own candle even has a light vanilla scent which permeates when the candle warms up, though it is not nearly as fragrant as a real candle. These candles are also great if you have young kids or pets in the house, if you want to leave a candle unattended or if you have an irrational fear of open flames. Just pop in some batteries, switch it on and you’ll swear you have a real candle in the room as you bask in the glow.

okay, here is your scent of the day.

Lilac Blossom

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"the soothing scent of fresh lilac blossoms at their peak."

This candle, my friends, is another home run for Yankee Candle. This candle smells EXACTLY like lilacs at their peak, and I know this because my mom has a fantastic lilac bush in our backyard. And I know I bored you yesterday with my "cotton makes me think of home" bit, but I am going to do it again (it is my blog, after all). This candle throws me back into past springs when my mom would cut the lilacs and place them all around the house. Oh, the joy. So, my friends, for a lovely, fragrant scent, make sure to pick up this little purple wonder.

we're off to see the wizard

Ok, so does everyone but me know what wizard candles are? Two of my roommates spent a half hour or so raving about them in our kitchen the other day (and yes, it really was the other day). Apparently, as children, they got them as gifts, and here's the kicker: they never burned them. "It would have ruined the candle!" they both exclaimed when further pressed for an explanation. This random conversation brings up an interesting conversation. How many of you use candles merely as a decoration and never light them? My mother is notorious for this. We have three candles on pillaresque things in our family room that have never been lit (and probably never will be). So I ask you, non-candle lighters, what is the thrill in having a candle that is never used like it is supposed to be used? Please enlighten us.

The much-lauded wizard candles

national candle association

Ok, friends, now I know some of you are still new to this whole candle scene, so I decided that it would be best to give you some facts and figures so that you might know the world of candles a bit more intimately. These are all from the home page of the National Candle Association (yes, this is a national association for candles), and hopefully these facts will further your love for candles. Enjoy.

Facts and Figures

U.S. retail sales of candles are estimated at approximately
$2 billion annually, excluding sales of candle accessories.

Candles are used in 7 out of 10 U.S. households.

Candles generally can be categorized into 11 basic types: tapers, votives, pillars, container(or jar) candles, tealights, liturgical candles, outdoor candles, floating candles, novelty candles, utility candles, and birthday candles.

Manufacturer surveys show that more than 95% of all candles are purchased by women.

Votives, container candles and pillars are currently the most popular types of candles with American consumers.

Candle industry research indicates that the most important factors affecting candle sales are scent, color, cost and shape.

The retail price of a candle generally ranges from approximately 50¢ for a votive to $75 for a large pillar candle. Highly unusual or embellished artisan candles can be $200 or more.

Two-thirds of candle purchasers say they use candles once a week or more often.

About the Industry

There are more than 400 commercial, religious and institutional manufacturers of candles in the United States, in addition to scores of small craft producers for local, non-commercial use.

NCA member companies account for more than 90 percent of all candles made in the U.S.

Candles are principally sold in three types of retail outlets:

specialty or gift shops;

department and home décor stores;

mass merchandisers (discount stores, drug store chains, grocery stores, etc.)

Approximately 35% of candle sales occur during the Christmas/Holiday season. Non-seasonal business accounts for approximately 65% of candle sales.

Major U.S. candle manufacturers typically offer between 1,000 and 2,000 varieties of candles in their product lines.

More than 1 billion pounds of wax are used in producing the candles sold each year in the U.S.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 different candle scents are available to U.S. consumers.

Candle-User Preferences

Consumers are increasingly purchasing candles as a focal point for their home décor, and for aromatherapy-like relaxation and stress reduction.

Fragrance is by far the most important characteristic impacting candle purchases today, with three-fourths of candle buyers saying it is “extremely important" or "very important" in their selection of a candle.

The majority of U.S. consumers use their candles within a week of purchase.

Nine out of ten candle users say they use candles to make a room feel comfortable or cozy.

Candle users say they most frequently burn candles in the living room (42%), followed by the kitchen (18%) and the bedroom (13%).

Approximately one in five women say they use candles to decorate the yard, patio or other exterior areas, as well as the interior of their home.

Both men and women consider candles to be an always-acceptable and highly appreciated gift for a wide variety of occasions.

Candle purchasers say they view candles as an appropriate gift for the holidays (76%), as a house warming gift (74%), a hostess/dinner party gift (66%), a thank you (61%) and as adult birthday gifts (58%).

great moments for candles in cinematic history

The 80s were a beautiful time, weren't they? Stirrup pants, off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, and pretty much some of the greatest movies ever. This was the decade that gave us Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Goonies, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (personal favorite). But the greatest one, my friends, the movie where candles and the brilliance that was the 80s meet, that is what we shall celebrate today.

Sixteen Candles is the 80s at its finest. Tons of teenage love angst, tons of drunkenness, tons of ridiculous outfits, tons of great 80s songs, and it all ends with a birthday cake topped with CANDLES (a grand finale of sorts for a fantastic movie).

I've posted the trailer for the movie below (which is absolutely hysterical and incredibly awkward). Make sure to enjoy and savor the candle scene at the end.

a necessary accessory

Time for another exciting edition of candle accessories you MUST own if you call yourself a candle-lover.

The Candle Snuffer

I need to start with a bit of a confession. I had no idea what this tool was actually called. I have always called it a candle extinguisher, which is a pretty sweet name, if you ask me. But I googled a number of different phrases (my favorite being "candle putter-outer" for all you Harry Potter fans), and it wasn't until I googled "candle accessories" that I finally found it.

Ok, now that we are past my stupidity, let's talk about the candle snuffer! First and most importantly, it has it's own Wikipedia article (wickipedia!), which is kind of hilarious, so I copied and pasted it below.

excerpt:

"The modern meaning of candle snuffer is an instrument used to extinguish burning candles. This is accomplished by smothering the flame with a small metal cup that is suspended from a long handle. The use of a candle snuffer helps to avoid problems associated with blowing hot wax.

Candle snuffers are commonly used in homes and churches."

Now, I found that entry especially hysterical because it was only four sentences. And then I realized that I would have the same amount of things to say about the candle snuffer. So I stopped laughing and was ashamed.

But anyway, my friends, you know the drill. If you want to be taken seriously by the candle community, pick up your own candle snuffer TODAY.

may i present the scent of the day?

Clean Cotton

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"The refreshing scent of just cleaned sheets dried in a gentle breeze."

Ok, my friends, I know you may find it a bit odd that I chose a candle that smells like cotton as the scent of the day ("why would you want a candle that smells like cotton?") but when I smelled this candle in the Yankee Candle store, I was immediately brought back to my childhood, when my mother would hang out our sheets to dry on the clothes line. Which, may I point out, is exactly what Yankee Candle intended. But come on, who doesn't love the smell of laundry? There's just something about the touch and feel and smell of clean clothes/towels/sheets/and other random things. Plus it has a really quaint scene on the front of it, which I like to pretend is where I live. Don't judge me.

nothing says America like the American Girls

Ok, ladies. Tough question. Who was (or is) your favorite American Girl? I was always a Felicity fan (she was so gosh darn spunky!) but I would have to say Molly was a close second (for some morbid reason, I liked reading about WWII).

BUT after a careful examination today, I may have a new favorite second (no one will ever be able to replace Felicity in my heart), and that is Kirsten. Why the sudden change of heart, you may wonder (along with the question, what the heck does this have to do with candles?)

Well, my friends, Kirsten is Swedish, which probably doesn't mean anything to you, but what it should mean is that she celebrates St. Lucia's Day, which means she wears a wreath of CANDLES on her head. Yeah, that's right. A wreath of candles. And she manages to not light her hair on fire. You go girl.

Apparently, the flames of the candles are supposed to represent the fire that did not kill St. Lucia (they tried to burn her alive because she refused to marry a man. oy vey.) but nowadays, most use battery-powered candles because girls who were not Kirsten would let their hair catch on fire, which is lame with a capital L. Man up, ladies. Take one for the team.

So what's the point of this post? Candles are freakin' sweet and should be used in as many cool ceremonies as possible.

candles are so cool

People are so freakin' creative. And have way too much time on their hands. BUT if they choose to use that time to make art and videotape it and put it on the Internet for all of us who also have too much time on our hands, props to them.



Also, in Nintendo and candle news, apparently you can use candles as replacements for the Wii sensor bar. I could try to explain it, but you've probably already read my entry on how I barely passed physics, so I am going to let this guy explain it.

great moments for candles in cinematic history

Movie: every Harry Potter movie
Scene: the Great Hall
Purpose: to light the room

These fantastic movies are only made better by the inclusion of the hundreds of candles that light the Great Hall. Granted, it was J.K. Rowling's grand idea, but thank goodness all of these directors weren't dumb and left the candles in the movies. Electricity is for muggles.

debate of the day: lighters vs. matches

Ok, my friends, you have your deliciously-scented candle perched on your desk and you are ready for its aroma to filter throughout your room. But how are you going to light it?

Personally, I prefer matches. There's just something about the sound that the match makes as it strikes the lighting strip on the match box. Also, a) you must have some sort of skill to light a match (and I like pretending I have mad skills b) match boxes are cool (I once stored three dollars worth of quarters inside one and used it to get into a party) and c) it's fun to try and light as many candles as you can before the flame burns your skin (extra points if you let the flame burn all of the way to the end of the match).

My roomates, however, prefer lighters. They have a handy red BIC lighter that travels between their rooms. One roommate prefers lighters because a) "I hate for the first moments of my lighting my candle to be marred by the smell of a match" and b)"I like playing with fire, and the lighter is like an awesome torch right in my hands".

So, my friends, it's really up to you. But choose wisely, because how you choose will affect your whole candle burning experience.

blackout!

Ok, my friends, let's all make a confession right now. We are addicted to electricity. Look around your room right now and count all of the things that are running on electricity. It's ridiculous, right? Well here is my challenge, should you choose to accept it.

Have a blackout night. This is something that my roommates from last year and I always wanted to do. Basically, it consists of turning off/not using anything that runs on electricity (and yes, my friends, this includes the computer).

How does this relate to candles, you may ask?

Well, because you would use them as your main light source! Flashlights would probably be easier, but think of how nice it would be to have a house full of candles, each gently glimmering in the darkness, their scents (if they were scented) silently wafting through the house. Add a good book (special recommendation: any Harry Potter), and it might just be the best night ever.

be our guest!

Well, my friends, after creating the list of the best 5 songs about candles, I started to think about other music and candle combinations (because they just work so well together). And that's when I realized the ultimate combination.

Lumiere, the candelabra from Disney's classic Beauty and the Beast.

As my roomate wisely said, "He's three times the flame and three times the fun." Not only does he look classy with his three flames and gold exterior, but he SINGS. What other candle have you ever heard of that sings? That's what I thought. Plus he is voiced by Jerry Orbach, who was a very classy and talented man. So this post goes out to you, Lumiere. Thanks for being the most kickass candle ever.



One of Lumiere's finest moments.

straighten your toupee, it's the scent of the day.

Sparkling Pine

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"a festive, woodsy aroma of fresh fir needles with notes of boxwood, bergamot, juniper and lavender."

This scent, my friends, is a huge victory for Yankee Candle. It smells EXACTLY like a pine tree. EXACTLY. Sometimes, I would leave it lit in my room while I go to the bathroom or downstairs, and when I get back, my room would smell like a forest. I actually finished the candle a day ago, and it breaks my heart just a little bit. Plus, this candle is the perfect scent to get you in the mood for Christmas. So go out and get your own Sparkling Pine candle today.

top five

Ok, my friends, I feel like it's time for a little break from all my Yankee Candle promoting, so instead, I am going to promote some fantastic songs, all of which have to do with candles/have the word candle in their title. Are you sure you're ready for this? It's going to be pretty freakin' exciting.

Top Five songs about candles/that have the word candle in their title:

1) This Little Light of Mine (We sang this at my kindergarten graduation with penlights. It was one of the defining moments of my life.)

2) Light My Candle (RENT is one of the most genius Broadway productions EVER. Plus, it's totally fun to watch Mimi and Roger use their candles as a metaphor for sex.)

3) Candle in the Wind (Not a personal favorite, but who doesn't love Marilyn Monroe or Lady Di?)

4) A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me" (Honest confession: I loved Fall Out Boy for a long time, until they completely sold their souls to the music industry.)

5) By Candlelight (Great Chrstmas song I sang in high school with a kicking piano intro. That I know how to play. Yeah, I am a beast.)

don't delay. check out the scent of the day!

Crème Brûlée

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"Pure temptation... heavenly vanilla cream custard drizzled with honey, brown sugar and nutmeg."

Ok, my friends, this was a pretty good attempt on the part of Yankee Candle. The candle definitely smells of vanilla and burnt sugar, which are, in essence, the components of crème brûlée, but for some reason, the candle does not smell like actual Crème Brûlée. As always, something is lost in translation. BUT this candle still smells pretty freakin' delicious. My roomate just opened her own Crème Brûlée sampler this morning, and she has nothing but a rave review. She says, "When I smelled Crème Brûlée in the Yankee Candle shop, I was immediately taken back to my grandmother's kitchen. That's when I KNEW I had to buy it. It has been a delight to burn."

So buy it, my friends, and be transported back to your grandmother's kitchens. Unless you don't have a grandmother. Then it sort of sucks to be you, and no candle will ever fill that void.

special dedication [to Mallory with love]

So, my friends, I have a bit of a confession to make. Physics was not my strong suit in high school. Actually, I failed my mid-term and only managed to make it through the class because a) my lab partner did every one of my lab reports and b) the final was a complete joke (after I finished it, my teacher looked at me and stated, "YOU are done already? I must have made it too easy"). This is relevant because one day, my roomate and I were discussing candles (when you live with people, ridiculous conversations start to seem normal) and she asked a very important question.

Where does the wax go?

Granted, this may seem like a dumb question, but inquiring minds want to know. Therefore, I did what any resourceful person would do.

I googled it.

And here's the answer from Lou of Physics Central.

"As the candle burns, its wax does more than simply melt. The liquid wax rises up the wick and vaporizes in the tremendous heat of the flame. It is this vaporized, gaseous wax that mixes with air and burns. The wick itself contributes very little to the flame; you are instead looking at burning wax vapor."

The Internet is a beautiful thing.

let's accessorize!

About two minutes ago, my roommate came into my room with a problem (and just to spoil the surprise, she left with a superb solution). She brought me her candle holder with the remains of an Apple Harvest candles, it's wick burned down to the bottom. "How do i get it out?" she asked, her eyes questioning.

That, my friends, was the moment i whipped it out.

THE WAX SCRAPPER. (thunderous applause)



I feel like their might be some doubters in the crowd, those who might think that a knife is sufficient (it's NOT), but I want them to know that the Yankee Candle scraper works perfectly. You just slide it down and under the side of the hard wax, and it pops right out, easy as pie.

So make sure to add this insanely useful tool to your candle collection.

the challenge

So, my friends, I was in Yankee Candle yesterday, perusing the shelves, looking for a new scent. I settled on the 14.5 oz jar of Cottage Breeze (SotD for 11/14) and meandered to the checkout counter. Well, as always, the sales girl informed me that for $3 more, I could purchase the 22 oz jar, and it would burn for TWICE as long as the 14.5 oz (100-150 hours to 65-90 hours). Usually i don't fall for these cash-stealing gimmicks. but then I thought, I shall put this 22 oz jar of Cottage Breeze to the test! well, I started burning it last night, and it burned from approximately 5:21 PM until 7:20 (2 hours for you who struggle with math). I am happy to say that the wax level barely lowered. But if it turns out that my candle burns for less time than 100 hours, we will be taking the problem straight to management, and it will be a giant leap for candle lovers everywhere. 2 hours down, only 98 to go.

oy vey. it's the scent of the day.

Autumn Wreath

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"There's a cheerful welcome in the spicy warmth of autumn leaves and cinnamon apples."

Well, my friends, here's the cold, hard truth: there is not a lot of autumn leaves or apples in this scent. I will give Yankee Candle the fact that the candle does smell strongly of cinnamon, but there is also a delectable hint of nutmeg and just a faint trace of pumpkin pie. Basically, it sort of smells like an autumn wreath. Imagine that. But it is delicious, none the less, and it was the scent that I gave my roommate (shoutout to Allison Koskta, woot) for her birthday and the scent that my other roommate (shoutout to Mallory Rubin, woot) bought when we last visited Yankee Candle. So basically, it has the approval of half of the residents of 821 Livingston, which probably means nothing to you since you don't know any of us. But hey, at least you know three other people have bought it. Plus, it is a fantastic deep cranberry color, which matches basically everything. So get on it, my friends, and add this candle to your collection as soon as possible.

accessories are a must.

This, my friends, may just be the coolest thing ever invented (that has to do with candles - I think the printing press was slightly more important). As pictured, the Illuma-lid is a nifty open-cover for your candles, and while it looks merely decorative, it has magical powers. The Illuma-lid holds your flame steady and firm, and it forces the wax to burn EVENLY. I know, it's ridiculously amazing. Plus, there are numerous designs to choose from (the leafy-top that's pictured was my own personal choice, but there was a pretty nice bronze star design that I yearned for). And there are Christmas-themed Illuma-lids, so this could make the perfect Christmas gift. So get on it, my friends, and make your candle even classier.

hooray! it's the scent of the day!

Cottage Breeze

description from the Yankee Candle web site:
"Like a day by the shore with the refreshing scent of cool salt air blowing across the dunes."

After careful smelling (I have the candle burning next to me, for all you doubters), I have come to the conclusion that while there is no trace of salty air, the scent of Cottage Breeze is a pleasant mixture of great cologne with a hint of cotton. Definitely a must-have for your candle collection. It also features a great porch scene on the front, and that, in combination with the cologne scent, gives you the illusion that you are at the beach with an attractive man who smells great. Score!

you need to know

Ok, my candle-loving friends, here's the scenario:

You arrive home after a rousing shopping expedition, your latest candle purchase in hand. You pull out said purchase, place it on the kitchen counter, find your lighter or matches and go to light it. BUT WAIT! You've forgotten a very important step.

Cutting the wick.

This may seem trivial to the unseasoned candle-owner, but this could determine your whole experience with said candle! Wicks should be 1/4 of an inch above the wax, and if they are longer, you will find yourself with smoking wicks and excess soot, which nobody wants (especially when you want to keep the empty candle jar for your collection). Plus, bonus! Trimming your wick will definitely provide you with a cleaner, longer burn, my friends.

You can purchase wick trimmers from a number of locations. Amazon.com has a few, and there are also a few specialized web sites, my favorite definitely being wicktrimmer.com (their wick trimmer has a lifetime warranty, which you would obviously need if you are a serious candle-burner and the trimmer ALWAYS trims the wick to 1/4 of an inch).

So please, make sure to cut your wick. Otherwise, people will laugh at you and think less of you and not take your love for candles seriously.

a new dawn

"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." [Chinese Proverb]

That being said, this blog hopes to be a candle in the darkness and emptiness (both resulting from a lack of a forum to discuss candles) that persists in the lives of candle-lovers everywhere. Finally, a place to discuss some of the most important questions pertaining to candles (what are the best and worst scents? is it better to use a lighter or a match? where does the wax go?) and a safe space to share our hopes and dreams (as long as they are related to candles, which they most likely are). I promise to do my best to bring a light to all topics pertaining to candles, and I will not back off of any issue, no matter how controversial it may be. Ok friends, let's get burning!