Fresh and Chic: Up North Candle Co / Yvette JonesThank you to Lisa and Bill Butcher, owners of Up North Candle Company, who have been gracious enough to give Wickedly Chic readers some valuable information about burning candles.
Candles 101
What could be simpler than burning a candle? It seems like a simple task..just light the wick and you’re done, just sit back and enjoy your candle for hours at a time. Unfortunately, too many people actually approach candle burning this way. We’re not saying it’s rocket science, but a few simple maintenance tips can make all the difference between receiving the full enjoyment of the quality candle you just bought and an accident waiting to happen.
Safety
Did you know that there are almost 18,000 candle fires reported each year? Many of these accidents could have been avoided had proper maintenance and handling of the candle taken place. Always place any container candle on a heat resistant holder and handle burning container candles with care. The flame and melted wax can cause the containers to be too hot to handle. When the wax level is approximately ½” from the bottom of the container, you should stop burning the candle to avoid the possibility of the container cracking. Keep candles away from areas with a draft. Always remember to keep your burning candles out of the reach of children and pets and remove all flammable material from the vicinity of the flame.
The Burn
To maximize the fragrance and burn length of your candles, always allow your candle to burn long enough so the melt pool burns to the full circumference of the candle. If a candle is lit for too short a time, you limit your candle from burning beyond that point and from that point on it will simply burn downward and you will end up wasting your quality candle. The opposite is also true; never burn your candles too long. If you are a “marathon burner” you will do just as much damage to your candle as the “sprinters”. Ideally, once the melt pool reaches the edges of the container, it is probably the right time to blow out your candle, let it reset, trim the wick and then you will be ready to enjoy the fragrance for the maximum life of the candle.
The Wick
This rule is universal for all candles to achieve a true quality burn. Trim wicks to ¼ inch and re-trim before each burn. After trimming your wick, make sure your wick is still centered in the candle. If it has started to lean a little, you can re-center it using a wick dipper or a tooth pick. If you are burning a quality candle and it begins to soot, extinguish the flame, trim the wick and re-light. Wick length determines flame height, the longer the wick, the larger and more unpredictable the flame. If you go shorter than ¼ inch, it will probably extinguish itself in the melt pool.
Picking the “right” candle
Candles are a perfect gift. They fill your house with fragrance and last much longer than flowers. Some things to keep in mind when buying candles for others:
Buy quality candles. If the candle is priced very low, it is probably not made from quality materials. You will most likely have soot and an uneven burn.
Stay away from scents that are too heavy. If you don’t know for sure what fragrances a person is going to like, it is best to stick with “fresh” scents.
Note from Liz: Cider and Donuts scent from Up North. You won’t regret it.
Quietly creating lovely jewels in New York, we have the talented Yvette Jones to introduce to Wickedly Chic readers. Not only does Yvette create jewelry, but she is an artist and teacher as well with more than 15 years of teaching to her name. You will see that Yvette Jones uses sparkling rondelles, seed and glass beads and semi-precious stones in the jewelry that she creates. Her site tells us that her jewelry and the vibrant stones reflect Yvette’s belief that these stones link people spiritually across their cultures. I think this is such a great concept since I feel as though every piece of jewelry has a story of its own along with every artist.
This bracelet is so beautiful and struck me as just right for the holiday season (and for any time of year). Both eye-catching and beautiful, I am positively in love with the burgundy color and the rhinestones.
Yvette Jones also makes a line of jewelry for men as well as bridal jewels. Take a look at the site of this talented and creative woman and purchase a unique piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one.
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