FAQ's
Product overview
All Natural | 100% Pure Soy Wax Candles | Wood Wick.
Hand poured | Made to order.
Phthalate, carcinogen and mutagen-free and completely nontoxic fragrance made with essential oils.
Wood Wick with subtle soothing crackle.
What's the burn time?
4oz-20+
8oz- 40+
12oz- 60+
16oz- 80+
Do you do customizations?
So happy you asked! We do a few different things when it comes to customization. We can make personalized labels for any occasion and have for events like birthdays, graduations, teacher appreciation gifts, baby showers, anniversaries really you name it! Our four ounce mini candles make great favors for weddings and baby showers and we can customize the label with names, dates and even a short message. You pick your size, vessel color, scent and you can even add eco-friendly glitter if you feel real fancy!
Do you have wholesale pricing?
Yep! Do you think our candles would be a great addition to your store? Us too! Feel free to email thepickywick@gmail.com and we can help you get started.
What’s with the wick?
As you may have read in the "About Us" tab, wicks can be sneaky scary! Unless specified that they are 100% cotton wicks then they likely have led up the core of them and when lit… yeah heavy metals galore in your air! Now, that’s not to say you can’t get a good quality cotton wick, you can! We just enjoy the subtle crackle as the wood wicks burn. We source our wood wicks with the highest standards in mind. Eco-friendly, clean burning and made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood. This organization ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests. Does this mean that we won’t introduce some cotton wick candles down the line? No, but for now wood wicks it is!
How do I take care of my candle?
Wood wicks do require a little more care to keep you candle burning efficiently but don't worry it's simple! Always trim the wick before you burn it and be sure to remove all the burned/charred wood. You also want to keep the wick short, about 1/4 of an inch. If the wick is too long it won't be able to absorb the wax and burn properly and the flame will be very high. You'll notice if it's too long it will continue to go out so if that's a problem try trimming the wick!
Something that also helps get the most out of your candle is making sure the entire surface of the wax is melted on the first burn. This will help avoid tunneling which is where the candle burns down into the center but doesn't allow the sides to melt which is just such a waste if you ask us!
How long at a time should I burn my candle?
It is recommended that you burn your candle in 4 hour increments - however, if you'd like to burn it longer you can!
Candle safety:
You should never leave your candle burning unattended. It's fire, and we know what fire does to things right? Be safe and don't leave it burning in a room or area you are not in. Blow it out and enjoy it later!
What do I do with my candle jar after it's gone?
I know, it's so sad when your candle is all done, don’t worry I know where you can get more! Did you know though, that you can reuse your glass? Heat up the glass enough to melt the wax and wipe it out. You can even use some rubbing alcohol to get out the residual wax. Then give it a rinse with hot water and soap and you now have a new fun canister to hold your treasures in!
Mind you beeswax... or soy wax?
Let’s talk wax… The Picky Wick candles are made with 100% soy wax. There are a few reasons why we go with this option. The most obvious reason for choosing soy is because it burns clean. It’s made from a plant so when it burns there are no toxic chemicals emitted, obviously our biggest motivation! Soy wax also has a lower melting point than paraffin wax meaning that your candle will last longer and mixes well with fragrances.
Soy crops are known for being genetical modified which is less than desirable for sure. Pair that with not the best sustainability practices and it makes soy seem less appealing. When sourcing soy wax, much like any product you are using, it’s important to find someone who doesn’t use GMO soy and who takes the time to evaluate and minimize the impact on our environment. There are some great suppliers who use non GMO soy and choose small farms or organic farms but if they need to outsource based on supply levels, when they start the process of turning soy beans into soy wax they can remove the genetically modified piece of the crop so you are left with a non GMO soy candle. These are the suppliers we use - our wax is vegan, biodegradable and sustainably sourced.
Beeswax is also a great option for many reasons. When you burn beeswax it produces negative ions that trap particles in the air like dust or pollen and actually clean your air! It is also made naturally on the abdomen of bees and is discarded in the hive. When beekeepers tend to the hive they take this discarded wax and voila, natures wax! Now, let’s talk about the cons - as a “waste” product from some pretty small insects it’s made in small quantities This wax can be pricey for small amounts which raises the cost of the candle. It also has a natural honey scent so it can make mixing fragrances difficult if you’re not looking for a sweet sugary smell and is a yellowish color so has to be bleached if you want it that more creamy wax color. Lastly, although it is technically considered vegan since this wax is of no use once discarded by the bees it really is a personal preference on whether this conflicts with vegan ideals.
We can’t forget coconuts can we? All hail the coconut, what can’t it do?! When it comes to wax, the sustainability of coconuts is second to none. These aren’t typically subject to GMO’s which is nice and coconut was has great hot and cold throws. Scent blends very well in this wax and it is probably the longest burning of any of the waxes. Sounds like a win no? Enter the draw back - coconut wax tends to be very soft, not ideal for candle wax in that regard. It is recommended that in order to use 100% coconut wax that you include an additive to firm it up. Because we are not sure what that might do to the health of our customers we choose not to do that. Most coconut waxes tend to be blends with either soy or paraffin wax to achieve that higher melting point and firm it up.
So as you can see, no wax on it’s own is “perfect” on it’s own. You have to make the best choices you can when evaluating a multitude of things. For now, we choose to use soy wax BUT it is our goal that in the very near future we look at how we can blend soy, beeswax and coconut to achieve a wax that we are even more proud of then the one we use now!
What do you fragrance with?
These candles are fragranced with essential oils and high quality fragrance oils. Depends on the scent really - anything that is straight forward like lavender is made with essential oils.
Essential oils can be effectively used in candles as fragrance however because they are photosensitive and heat sensitive there are some that are more suited for fragrancing candles and some that are not. Some can even become toxic when heated or burned! All essential oils are in a highly concentrated form so in order to allow them to disperse and bond to the wax evenly rather than in “pockets”, a diluent, like a carrier oil, is required to thin it so that it will remain suspended in the liquid fragrance oil. This substance adjusts the density of fragrance oils so that it's easier for the wax/fragrance mixture to be pulled up through the wick to be burned at the flame.
Where a fragrance oil is useful is for scents that don’t have an essential oil readily available… think smells like cookies or candy. Fragrance oils are a combination of natural essential oils and synthetic or chemical aroma.
In the health community the word “chemical” is enough to instantly send someone running in the other direction and with good reason! Typically anything made with chemicals is something you want to avoid. However, it’s important to give the word “chemical” some context. Adding baking soda to vinegar is a chemical reaction. The act of baking causes chemical reactions. Candle making is a chemical reaction! Heating the wax so it bonds to essential oils changes the structure of the existing molecules which is a chemical reaction. It’s important to understand where a harmless chemical reaction is necessary and natural vs one that is purely for profit or to fill or thin a product. When it comes to fragrance oils some of the language can be scary if you don’t have that context but when using a reputable and responsible supplier these fragrance oils can be safe, clean and non toxic.
It is important to say, not all fragrance oils are not created equal! Some are just very poorly made and should be avoided at all costs. That being said, if you are sourcing from high quality companies that are transparent with their process and ingredients you can comfortably and safely enjoy things like candles again! One thing you should look for is making sure that the fragrance product adheres to the strict standards of The Research Institute of Fragrance Materials or RIFM. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) takes the research and data by the RIFM to set the standards in the fragrance industry.
There are 5 main hazard groups you really want to make sure you stay away from:
✖ Carcinogens: These are materials known or thought to cause cancer.
✖ Mutagens: Materials that change the DNA of a cell, harming the cell and causing diseases like cancer.
✖ Reproductive toxins: Toxins that adversely affect reproductive organs and increase the risk of birth defects.
✖ Organ toxins: These are toxins that can cause adverse effects or disease within specific bodily organs.
✖ Acute toxins: Toxins that can cause adverse effects from a single exposure. Generally, this would be accidental exposure like spillage or ingestion.
There are a handful of companies that go even farther than just adhering to the standards set forth by the RIFM and use Canadian and European standards around fragrance in addition. Those are the ones I use in my candles. Not just stopping at “known” toxins but also airing on the side of caution and not using “like” material either! All of my fragrance are phthalate free, carcinogen free and completely toxin free. No scary ingredients or chemicals - just good quality products that you can have peace of mind using!
References:
https://ifrafragrance.org/safe-use/introduction
https://beautybyearth.com/over-1000-toxic-ingredients-banned-in-europe-but-not-in-us