Soy Candles

Your soy candle has a mind of its own and no matter the type, may burn differently due to many factors.  No one wants a contrary soy candle with a small flame that decreases the amount of light cast or small burn pools that reduce your candles burn time, leaving a bunch of unusable wax.  Causes of a candle that have a small flame and small burn pools include the following:

1. The length of time that you burn your soy candle at each occurrence is not long enough.  You should try to let your candle burn long enough so the entire top layer melts to the sides before you put it out.  Of course this tip means a candle in a container versus a free standing one.  Be sure to burn your soy wax votive in a snug fitting container.  Try to burn candles at least an hour each burn for each inch of diameter of wax.  This allows the candle to melt down from the sides. 
2. Wick tips.  If your wick becomes to long from burning over long periods of time, be sure to trim it to about 1/8 of an inch.  This will keep your candle looking nice and lasting longer.  Carefully trim the wick every 4 hours or so in half, which will be about the 1/8 inch.  You may notice what looks like mushrooming of the wick.  This is normal for natural wicks.  Be sure and trim the wick before each use.  It is recommended to use a candle snuffer or bending the wick over into the wax when extinguishing your candle.  This will eliminate smoke from the wick.  Always re-center the wick for proper burning the next time you light the candle.  Use a non-flammable item {such as a metal nail file or silverware} to gently push the base of the wick towards the center.  
3. Temperature of the surroundings.  Be sure to keep candles away from cold sources when storing them, such as windows in the winter.  This causes the wax to become cold and when burning will melt slower, resulting in a small flame and wax being left on the sides.  Try to keep your soy candles at room temperature between 65-75 degrees F.  

Hopefully these suggestions will help make your soy candle burn experience a delight.  Happy Burning!