FAQs

General Candle Care + Wick Trimming

  • Trim the wick to ¼” before lighting every time!  This makes all the difference in the longevity and clean burning of your candle. A long wick burns much too hot and will both use up the candle more quickly and create soot.  Grab a wick trimmer or use nail clippers to get a close cut!

  • Burn your candle for up to 3-4 hours at a time.  It’s very important that the first time you use the candle to burn it long enough for the melted wax to reach the edges of the container.  This prevents the wax from building up and possibly tunneling during future use.

  • Never leave a candle burning unattended or within reach of a draft, pets, or small children.

  • If the flame seems high or the container is too hot in the midst of burning, simply extinguish the flame, let it cool down, trim the wick and restart!

What are Scent Notes?

A candle has three types of notes, a top note, a middle note, and a base note.  A top note is the first scent you ‘experience’ when the candle first burns or when you smell it when it is unlit. 

Then, the middle notes, which can also be called heart notes, are the scent results after the top note has faded a little.  This scent that you experience consists of the middle notes of the candle fragrance.

Finally, you then have the base note, which are the scents that reveal itself as the candle is lit and burning at a full melt pool (top layer is melted).  It can take up to an hour or so for this to occur.  So what is the true and actual scent of the candle?  That would be the mix of the middle notes and base notes. 

How long will my candle last?

  • Candles that are 10-12oz will last around ~70-80+ hours and are well suited for larger, open areas in your home or studio

  • Candles that are 8-9oz will last ~50+ hours and are well suited for small-medium sized areas in your home or studio

  • Candles that are 5-7oz will last ~25-40+ hours and are great for bathrooms, bedside tables and smaller, cozy spots in your home

Why Coconut Soy Wax?

It was extremely important to me to make good quality, clean and safe candles and in researching wax I found that Virgin Coconut Soy wax was the best out there. It is a plant-derived, vegan blend of natural soy and coconut. It has a creamy white appearance and gives an evenness of burn and wax consumption. Our wax at Upside goods is gluten free, toxin free, paraben free, and phthalate free. The entire blend utilizes only FDA approved waxes so you have peace of mind while using your home or studio.

Why is what wax you use important?

Most candles have a wax blend, most commonly you will see a soy-paraffin blend.  Paraffin is the most widely used wax for a lot of candles because of it’s low cost and optimal scent throw (how much you smell both when the candle is lit and when it’s cool). Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum as a byproduct of the refining process and tends to cause more concerns in the long run.  Therefore the thought of these candles being “clean” is a tad misleading. In an effort of Upside Goods to carry as much clean products as we can, we went the route of coconut soy wax!

What’s the deal with wood wicks?

Great question, not only do they provide a subtle crackling sound, they are organic, non-toxic and eco-friendly sourced from FSC-certified mills and made in USA.

Can I reuse my container? How?

YES!  This is part of the reason we are named Upside Goods - we want you to up-cycle after you use your candle.  A great way to make this happen is easy:

  • Place your container in the freezer
  • Remove the container after a few hours and dislodge the wax
  • Rock the wick holder back and forth to wiggle free from the container (this takes a little elbow grease)
  • Clean the container with for favorite cleaning product and VOILA!

Here are some ways we love to reuse our Upside Goods Co. containers: Refill with another candle from UGC, Desk or Office Accessory, Pencil holder, mini planter (make a drainage system inside or drill a hole).