Soy candles are fast becoming one of the most popular types of richly scented candles. Not only do they burn and last longer than other types like paraffin candles, it’s also a big plus that they are environment friendly and made of natural and renewable resources.

It is truly a worthy investment to purchase natural soy candles for your home. Not only is a candle a source of light, it also does wonders in providing a relaxing atmosphere that you could surely use after a hard day at work. Aside from that, it definitely is a nice decoration that will accentuate your already beautiful and inviting home.

But soy candles need proper care to ensure that they last a long time. Here are some tips on how to keep them looking good as new:

You can maintain your soy pillar candles through hugging. To do this, burn your pillars out to within ¼ inch of the outer edge to avoid tunneling (burning of a small tunnel straight down the center of the candle). Your candle should be burned 1 hour per inch in diameter. For instance, a 2” wide pillar should burn for about 2 hours.

To automatically hug the soy candle, use a candle ring or candle follower to pull the ring down evenly across the softened wax. This is placed on top of the candle during its burning.

Manual hugging on the other hand can be done by placing an extinguished candle of a flat level surface. It’s a good idea to place a paper underneath to catch any spills. Press the sidewalls in toward the wick gently and evenly while rotating the candle. The melt pool will rise as you press the sidewall in. Your goal is to bend the sides of the candle a little higher than the melt pool.

When burning the candle for the first time, allow a full melting pool to form. Extinguish the flame when the edge gets to about 1/2” thick to set the memory. Make sure that the melted pool has set before you relight the candle.

Here are other soy candle burning tips you’ll find useful:

1. Never burn soy candle pillars more than 4 hours each time.

2. Avoid placing them on any surface that may stain such as wood, fabric or plastic. Use a candle plate or a candleholder.

3. Don’t expose your dyed soy candles to direct sunlight for this will cause the color to fade.

4. Always keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch.

5. Keep your candles away from drafts such as open windows and vents.

6. Don’t touch your candle while it is lit or before the melting pool has set.

7. Never leave your candles unattended.

8. Keep them away from children and pets.

Of course, this information is futile if you don’t have your own soy candles. Many department stores carry scented candles. But if you don’t have time to do manual shopping, you will also find a lot of great deals online. There are even wholesale candles that cost less expensive than those you buy in retail.

Another way of acquiring candles is to make your own. Soy candle making is a hobby that many people enjoy. To start, it’s a good idea to buy soy candle making kits to help you with your first candle making experience.

Soy candles wouldn’t be popular if there wasn’t a good a reason. If you still don’t own at least one, you surely are missing a lot of things. Indulge in these scented soy candles and you will find out why so many people are crazy about them.