Caring For Your Decorative Candles

By · · 4 min read

Hand-poured decorative pillar candles topped with dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cedar greenery on a soft neutral background

Decorative candles are designed to be both beautiful and functional. A few simple habits will help yours burn safely, last longer, and keep their handmade details looking their best — whether you light them often or display them as part of your home decor.

Row of handmade decorative pillar candles with dried orange slices, cinnamon, pine cones, and cedar — styled on a warm neutral surface

Trim the wick before every burn

Always trim the wick to about ¼ inch (6 mm) before lighting. A short, clean wick gives you a steady flame, less soot, and a more even melt pool — which is especially important for our decorative pillar candles with botanical tops.

Choose a safe spot

Place your candle on a heat-safe surface, away from drafts, curtains, books, and anything flammable. Because many VRcandle designs include dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, cedar, and other natural decorative elements, give the candle plenty of clear space around the flame.

  • Do not place candles directly beneath an air conditioner or vent — moving air pushes the flame sideways and can ignite the decor on top.
  • Keep candles out of direct sunlight and away from radiators or stovetops. Soy wax softens at low temperatures and colors can fade.
  • Always burn on a stable, level surface, well out of reach of children and pets.

Never leave a burning candle unattended

This is the single most important rule. Do not leave a candle burning if you step away to take a shower or go into another room — it's surprisingly easy to forget about. This applies to all candles, even those poured in jars. Even candles from well-known manufacturers can occasionally crack or leak; it happens, and how you choose to use them remains your responsibility.

Close-up of a handmade Christmas decorative candle with dried orange slice, cinnamon, star anise, pine cones, and gold star accents

Burning candles with dried botanicals

Our candles are absolutely made to be lit and enjoyed — that's part of the magic. Just be extra careful with designs that include dried oranges, cinnamon, cedar, or pine cones on top. Before lighting, gently move any decor that sits too close to the wick so the flame has clear space. As the candle burns down, the melt pool will form around the wick and the surrounding decorations stay in place as part of the look.

Many of our customers also choose to keep our most detailed sculptural and seasonal candles purely as home decor and never light them at all — that's a perfectly good option too. Dust them gently with a soft, dry brush every few weeks and they'll keep their texture and color for years.

First burn matters

For pillar candles, let the top layer of wax melt fully across the surface during the first burn before extinguishing. This prevents tunneling and helps the candle burn evenly through its full life.

Storing seasonal candles

Between holidays, wrap candles loosely in tissue and store them somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Avoid attics and garages where summer heat can warp the wax. They'll be ready to come back out next season.

A quick safety checklist

  • Trim the wick to ¼ inch before each burn.
  • Use a heat-safe holder or tray.
  • Keep away from drafts, AC vents, curtains, and pets.
  • Never leave a burning candle unattended — not even for a shower.
  • Stop burning when about ½ inch of wax remains.

Curious how each candle is made before it reaches you? Read about our hand-pouring process in Charlotte, or browse our decorative candle collection. Questions about a specific candle? Send us a note — we read every email.