Beyond “Never Leave a Burning Candle Unattended"

La Petite Abeille knows how much our clients love the look of our candles, but go ahead, they're meant for burning and enjoying, but think safety first! Certainly, you already know to never leave a burning candle unattended, but here are a few more safety tips to consider:

• Be sure your candles are placed in/on suitable holders that are fire/heat safe.
• Toppling tapers are terrifying! Be sure they fit snugly in their holders. Our tapers are adjustable to fit many holders by gently squeezing the bottom or by peeling away layers of wax at the base. When the holder is a little too big, consider using our Candle Snugs, which are pure beeswax scraps that can be wrapped around the base of your candles to secure them in the holder. (I have seen all sorts of things used for this purpose, gooey gummy stuff to aluminum foil - yikes!)
• Pillar candles also require a fire safe, level surface to burn properly and safely. Resist the urge to place these directly on your table top, mantle, etc.  A pretty plate may suffice.
• If your candles do not fit your holder well, consider ordering them bespoke - yes, we make custom sizes!
• Place your candle holders on a level surface. Make sure the candles themselves are straight in the holders to burn efficiently and to help prevent drips.
• Good maintenance is imperative. Trim and maintain all wicks at 1/4” - this is very short, but very important, and often overlooked. This will keep the flame short and conserve your burn time. When the flame gets too big, the candle physics gets out of whack, and the candle will begin to smoke, burn faster than it should, and drip. You should also check your candles to be sure wicks stay centered, and trim them if curled. 
• Keep the wax well (the area where melted wax accumulates) free from debris. Pieces of wick or dust may catch fire.
• Remember a flame can ignite something close, even if it is not touching it, so keep centerpieces, lampshades, and other tabletop items at a safe distance. I usually light my candles, wait a minute for the flame to grow, then place my hands here and there around it to check heat levels, then scoot lamps/flowers/greenery to a safe distance. The flame, however,  will grow if the candles have burned several hours making them hotter, so a periodic check is wise.
• Replace your candles when no less than1” of wax remains. Time to reorder!
• Protect your tables, cloths, and upholstery from possible drips. LPA offers 2 styles of bobeche to help guard against possible drips. 
• Keep away from drafts, vents, and wind. These cause dripping and could stretch flames or blow embers. Use hurricanes and chimneys for gust protection.
• Check to be sure all are completely extinguished before getting too sleepy.
• Keep away from children, pets, or anyone, elderly or disabled, who may have difficulty if an accident occurs.