Yankee Candle's Top Tips for Using Candles Outside

This weekend, like many American families, we had a backyard barbecue. For ambiance, I decided to use the Mango Peach Salsa candle that I'd placed on our patio table several weeks ago. Only problem? I couldn't light it. The wick just seemed to spark a bit and then it wouldn't light at all. Suddenly I remembered the previous weekend's storm - rainwater had gotten into the candle! You see, water and candles just don't mix. Water can get into the melted wax where it becomes trapped when the wax hardens. Sometimes you can see this as a water bubble just below the surface of the wax. Often a wick won't relight once it's been drenched in water. If it does, the wax can actually splatter as it starts to melt and hits that pool of water. To get the most out of outdoor candlelight, follow these top tips:

1. Keep lit candle away from flammable material such as foliage and grass.
2. A shade or Illuma-lid® jar topper will help keep the candle from blowing out if it's windy.
3. Extinguish the flame when you are no longer outside to observe the candle.
4. Bring your candle in or replace its lid to prevent water from getting on the wick or in the wax.

Top Candle Safety Tips - Part 2

As beautiful and fragrant as they are, candles have become an "e-scential" part of today's lifestyle. A lit candle adds ambiance and can serve as a mood enhancer so it's easy to overlook important safety concerns when our favorite scent fills the room. Here is the second part of my Top Candle Safety Tips:

• Discontinue use when 1/2” of wax remains. When the wax is low in the jar the flame is very close to the glass, making it very hot to the touch and increasing the possibility of cracking or shattering.


• Don’t re-use jar glass for another candle. As tempting as this may be, during the first use of the jar candle the glass may have developed hidden stress fractures that would make it unsafe for reuse as a candle.


• Use in an appropriate holder. If you are using a different candle style such as a tea light, votive or taper, be sure to use the right kind of holder for that style.


• Keep away from flammable objects such as fabric curtains, decorative trim, etc. Flowing curtains and festive evergreen boughs will ignite very quickly and without warning. Keep them separated from lit candles.


• Do not burn on or near another heat source. It is not a safe practice for a candle to be warmed on the outside of the glass, especially while it is also being heated inside. Don’t use your valuable television or lit stove as a candle stand and don’t use a candle warmer with a Yankee Candle!

Top Candle Safety Tips - Part 1

For some of us, lighting a candle in our home is as routine as turning on a light switch when we enter a room. We light the flame and before we know it our favorite fragrance is wafting through the air creating what we at Yankee Candle call “scent-mosphere”. But even as it has become so much a part of our daily life, we should always keep standard safety in mind:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Be sure that all candles are extinguished before falling asleep or leaving your home. If lit candles are in another room, remember to frequently check on them.



• Keep candles away from children and pets. Candles are pretty and they smell good which makes them an instant attraction for innocent kids and animals. Make sure your candles are out of arm and tail reach!



• Keep candles away from open windows. Drafts will fan the fire often resulting in a higher and more dangerous flame. A flickering flame can also lead to undesirable smoking.



• Maintain a wick trimmed to 1/8”. When a wick is properly maintained, the flame stays in control and you’ll extend the life of your candle.



• Burn candles on a safe, heat-resistant surface. At the Yankee Candle Company, we recommend the use of candle trays, plates, or trivets so that there is always something between the warm bottom of a lit candle and your treasured furniture.

Look for 5 more important tips in my next blog post!