As any PARTYLITE fan already knows their high quality scented wax candles far out-shine (if you pardon the pun!) any others currently available on the open market.

PARTYLITE candles are exclusively sold by the Company's own specially trained Consultants at party-plan type shows so that safety and product advice can be offered to enable you to get the best from your purchases. They are not available to buy in retail outlets or online. However, as these candles have now built up quite a reputation they are being offered for sale more and more on ebay and there's no denying that there are some great bargains to be had!

I thought I would write this guide as I am an ex-consultant who would like to ensure that buyers of these candles who are not attending shows to make their purchases have access to the correct product care and safety information plus tips on how to get the best from their wax products.

Much of the advice offered in this guide also applies to many other wax candles and not just PARTYLITE products.

Advice for burning specific PARTYLITE candle types

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VOTIVES

Partylite votives are designed to fully liquify when lit (as shown in the picture above), and should therefore always be burned using an appropriate heat resistant cup-style holder/container. You shouldn't under any circumstances burn them when placed on a flat open surface as the wax will spill as it liquifies.

Wicks should be trimmed to approx 0.5cm  and 'centred' before being lit as a long or crooked wick could crack the side of it's container.

Always remove the metal sustainer from the votive holder/container before burning a new votive candle to prevent a build up of heat in a concentrated area that again may cause the holder to crack which could result in hot liquid wax spilling out.

TEALIGHTS

All Partylite tealights are also designed to fully liquify and are now contained in 'universal' heat resistant clear plastic cups which means that they are suitable for use in both tealight holders and houses.

The plastic cups have little 'feet' on the base to raise the cup slightly thus directing the heat of the candle away from the surface of it's holder. It is not recommended, however that these tealights are used outside of an appropriate container.

The clear tealight holder cups also make more of an attractive display when used in glass holders as they enable you to view the colour of the molten wax through the glass unlike the cheaply mass-produced 'uglier' metal style cups that tend to get extremely hot very quickly and so pose a danger to many holders (which could crack) and surfaces that are likely to be damaged by red-hot metal.

ROUND PILLAR CANDLES

Flat topped pillar candles should be allowed to burn long enough for the wax to liquify to the edge of the candle after being lit. Generally this is approximately one hour per inch of the candles diameter (eg: a candle with a 3" diameter should be allowed to burn for around 3 hours until the liquifying wax reaches the edge). This will ensure that your candle burns down evenly without creating a 'well' in the centre.

Pillar candles with 'bell shaped' tops should initially be lit for 5-10 minutes at a time until the domed surface has flattened off. You should then follow the same burning advice as that of the flat topped pillar candle.

Round pillar candles can be 'hugged' to help retain their shape and flat surface. This simple process involves gently pushing the edges of the top of the candle inwards with your fingers after the flame has been extinguished and the wax has cooled and solidified but is still soft enough to mould. 

For best results trim wicks to approximately 0.5cm before burning.

Always stand the pillar candle on an appropriate holder and discard once the wax reaches an inch in height.

SQUARE PILLAR CANDLES

These pillars form peaks naturally at the corners so there is no need to 'hug' or try to shape them.

Again the wicks should be trimmed before being lit and the candle itself should always be placed on a suitable holder.

BALL CANDLES

These spherical candles need to burn for about an hour at a time to allow the wax to liquify to the edges. They do not need to be 'hugged' and should always be placed on the appropriate holder. Keep wicks trimmed short as with most other candles for the best results when lit.

3-WICK CANDLES

These need to remain lit for at least 6 hours to enable the wax to liquify to the edges thus preventing the development of three 'wells' in the wax. This is especially important the first time that the candle is lit.

Do NOT trim wicks, instead point them towards the middle of the candle before lighting.

Gently 'hug' after use to help retain shape and encourage even burning as with rounded pillars.

Again ensure that the 3-wick candle is placed on the appropriate holder before being lit.

TAPER CANDLES

Ensure that this type of candle fits snuggly into it's holder and doesn't wobble. It is important that it is kept dirrectly vertical to prevent wax dripping onto surfaces below.

Keep wicks trimmed to approximately 0.5cm before being lit.

JAR CANDLES

Wax filled containers such as jar candles need to be burned long enough to allow the wax to liquify to the edges. This will ensure that the candle burns evenly and will also help prolong it's burn time.

Ensure the wick is kept trimmed short and that it is also centred as a 'drifting' wick may cause the container to crack.  It is particularly important to use a snuffer to extinguish this type of candle to prevent molten wax splashing up the sides of the container or carbon deposits from the wick falling into the wax which could become a fire hazzard.

CARE AND SAFETY TIPS - TOP 10

1. Always burn your candles in the correct type of holder/container, ensuring that the surface where the candle is placed is flat and level.

2. Keep wicks trimmed to the correct length and centred as required.

3. Do not place a lit candle close to combustable materials like curtains and ensure that they are not in a draughty location such as near an open window or fan as this will cause the flame to flicker or go out.

4. Never under any circumstances move a candle whilst it is burning.

5. If you notice a build-up of black carbon deposits on the wick of your candle then carefully extinguish the flame and allow to cool. Trim the wick before re-lighting, taking care not to allow any of the debris to fall into the wax. It is recommended that wick-trimmers are used for this purpose.

6. Always use a snuffer to extinguish the flame of a burning candle to prevent hot wax splashing up and possibly scalding.

7. Always keep candles away from children and pets and do not place on top of heat sources such as radiator covers or electrical applainces like televisions as the heat generated by these could cause the wax to melt.

8. Keep candles out of direct sunlight as this can make the colour fade and in extreme cases can cause distortion of shape or even the wax to melt!

9. Gently polishing the surface of a larger candle such as a pillar or 3-wick with an old pair of tights/stockings will restore it's glossy sheen and help to remove surface scratches.

10. MOST IMPORTANTLY - NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED. MAKE SURE YOU OR SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN THE ROOM WITH AT ALL TIMES.

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