A sculptural candle isn’t a jar candle. It wasn’t made in a factory, it doesn’t come with a lid, and it was never meant to be burned down to nothing in a week. This is how to care for a sculptural candle so it lasts.
Think of a Titan candle as an object first and a candle second, and treat it that way.
Before you light it: first burn rules
The first burn sets the wax’s memory. Rush it and you get tunneling, where the flame burns a narrow hole straight down and leaves a ring of unmelted wax around the edge.
Trim the wick to 5mm before every burn. Light it somewhere without a draft. Don’t burn it for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time, and on the first burn, let the melt pool get close to the edges before you put it out.
For Genesis pieces like Helios (30cm), give the first burn at least 90 minutes. Bigger pieces like Atlas or Kronos need 2 to 3 hours. If a tunnel has already started, our guide to fixing candle tunneling walks you through it.
If you’d rather not burn it: display care
A lot of Titan owners never light theirs at all, and that’s fine. They’re sculptures.
If yours is for display, keep it out of direct sun, dust it now and then with a soft cloth, keep it upright, and keep the room somewhere between 15 and 25°C. That’s really all a display piece needs.
Soy wax, beeswax or a blend: how we choose
We use soy wax, beeswax and a soy and beeswax blend, and choose for each piece based on its size and how complex the carving is. The Genesis Collection, Helios included, is cast in soy wax. Soy holds colour evenly across a carved surface and burns cleanly with very little soot. Beeswax has a natural honey smell and a slightly golden colour that deepens with time.
Atlas and Kronos are a soy and beeswax blend, which gives the larger forms more structure while keeping the slow, clean burn of natural wax. No paraffin. There’s more on this in soy vs beeswax candles.
Putting it out without damage
Don’t blow out a sculptural candle. The puff of air can splash wax onto the surface and blur fine detail. Use a snuffer, or push the wick gently into the melted wax with a toothpick and straighten it right away so it sets upright.
Wax bloom: when your candle turns white
Over time, beeswax develops a white, powdery coating called bloom. It isn’t damage, just something natural beeswax does. If you prefer the original look, buff it gently with a soft cloth or the warmth of your hands.
Long-term storage
If you need to put a Titan candle away, wrap it loosely in acid-free tissue paper and store it upright somewhere cool and dry. Don’t seal it tightly in plastic, because beeswax needs to breathe. Looked after like this, a Titan candle can last for years as a display piece.
Questions?
If you have a question about a specific piece, get in touch through the contact page or message us on Instagram @titan_candles. We’re a small team and we do answer.
Every Titan candle is handmade in Vancouver, BC, in soy wax, beeswax or a blend of the two. No paraffin. Choose unscented, Wild Lavender or Sun Peach, or ask for your own scent in the order notes. We’re a small studio, not a factory, so every order is made individually.