Caring for Your Upcycled Candle

A favorite teacup or a gravy boat you’ve always loved can take on a new role as a candle. Our Brooklyn partner Glow to Grow pours each one with soy wax and a wooden wick.

Here’s how to light and care for your candle, what to expect as it burns, and how to give your china another use once the candle is finished.

Before you light

Remove any packaging and clear away loose wick trimmings or other debris. Set your candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface, away from drafts and anything that could catch fire. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Check the china before lighting. If you notice a crack, chip, or other damage, leave the candle unlit and get in touch.

Let the wax melt evenly

When you have time to enjoy your candle while, allow the melted wax to reach to the edges of the vessel before blowing out the flame. This helps prevent tunneling, which occurs when wax remains along the sides of the vessel instead of melting evenly.

Follow the burn time on your candle’s label and never burn it for more than four hours at a time. If the wax hasn’t reached the edges by then, extinguish the candle and let it cool.

Tend to the wooden wick

A wooden wick may take a little longer to catch than a cotton wick. Before each relight, let the candle cool completely, then gently pinch off loose, charred ash or remove it with a wooden wick trimmer. Leave at least ⅛ inch of wick above the wax and clear away any loose bits.

If the wick smokes while burning, extinguish the flame. Once the wax and wick have cooled, remove any loose ash before relighting.

What’s normal for soy wax?

After cooling, soy wax can look a little rough or frosted. It may also pull away slightly from the sides or yellow with light exposure. These changes are cosmetic. Store your candle away from direct sunlight to help preserve its appearance.

When the candle is finished

We pour our candles with vegan soy wax. Once you’ve enjoyed the candle, there are still plenty of ways to keep your favorite piece of china close.

Refill it. Get in touch about our refill program. Once your teacup has cooled completely, you can send it to us as is. We’ll take care of the leftover wax.

Give it a new use. Wait until the china is cool and the wax has fully solidified. If you’ve melted wax to remove it, let it cool and harden completely in a heat-safe container before throwing it away.

Never pour wax into a sink or toilet. It can harden in the pipes and cause clogs.

Once it’s clean, your teacup can hold rings by the sink, spare buttons on a dresser, or any little things you like to keep close.

Questions?

Email us at hello@thebrooklynteacup.com