Frequently asked questions
Why are the Barro containers slightly different?
All of our Barro containers are hand made and hand decorated. No two containers are the same. They are all Unique and one of a kind just for you!
Is there a certain way to light the candles for the first time?
Yes! As with any candle, there are recommended steps to take when lighting your candle for the first time.
1. If you want your candle to burn evenly and last as long as possible, you have to light it for about 3 to 4 hours the first time you burn it. We say that wax has a muscle memory, and it’s going to burn in the same pattern every time. So if you light it for long enough the first time, that will ensure that your candle pools completely across all of the wax, setting it up to continue to do so with each subsequent burn. Otherwise, tunneling, where the wick burns straight down the center of a candle without creating a full melt pool, can occur. Once your candle starts tunneling, you’re losing all that peripheral wax surface area for future burns.
Are there any tips I should know about properly burning my candles?
Yes! Users can add video from YouTube or Vimeo with ease:
1. Trim The Wick. Every. Single. Time.
Each time you want to burn your candle, start by trimming the wick to between 1/8 and 1/4 inches long. You can use scissors, nail clippers (that's my personal favorite), or a specialized wick trimmer, but no matter what you do, always trim. Why? First, trimmed wicks will give you a cleaner, brighter burn. Untrimmed wicks are a lot more likely to take on a weird mushroom-esque shape that dulls and obscures the flame. And second, excessively long wicks are a top cause of those nasty smoky stains that end up on your glass jar candles. Trimming the wick keeps the flame in control and prevents those marks from forming in the first place
2. Let the wax melt all the way across
Once your candle's lit, don't blow it out until the top layer of wax has melted all the way across. This might take several hours — so don't set out to burn a candle at all unless you've got time to kill. Whenever you fail to achieve full melt, you're contributing to a process that we call tunnelling. The wick starts to sink lower and lower, like a tunnel is forming right through the center of the candle. Eventually, the tunnel will grow so deep that it'll be tough to light the wick at all. More importantly, all that unmelted wax on the sides represents hours of lovely fragrance and burn time you bought but won't ever get to utilize. It takes patience, but if you melt the wax all the way across every time you burn, the surface of the candle will stay flat and the sides of the jar will stay clean, all the way down until the candle is spent.
3. Keep the flame away from moving air
Do your best to keep your burning candle away from fans, air conditioners, open windows, or heavily trafficked areas where people walk back and forth a lot. Moving air can disturb the flame, leading to even more unsightly black marks on the glass.
Is it safe to reuse the containers?
Absolutely! We encourage you to take advantage of the Artesanias and jars. Simply pour hot water on the containers to melt all the resude wax, then wash with soap and water. Enjoy!
Why is my candle turning white or "frosting" "Cakeing"?
If you've ever seen a white-ish color coating on chocolate, then you have a good idea of what frosting looks like in soy wax. It is a natural byproduct of a natural wax and in no way affects the burn ability or fragrance of a candle. It is caused by tiny crystal growth that forms on the top and sides of the wax.
This is absolutely normal and shows that the wax itself is indeed of a "Natural" soy and not a blend of some sort.