FAQs

Do you use toxic ingredients in your candles?

Absolutely not! Our soy wax is pure, natural, renewable, and petroleum free to ensure you’re getting a cleaner burn. Our wicks are braided cotton with responsibly sourced paper filament throughout to give structure and help reduce soot. Our high quality fragrance oils are phthalate free and skin safe. We add a tiny amount of organic, naturally refined coconut oil to help counteract frosting and improve hot throw but no other harmful additives. We’ve spent hours nitpicking the quality of our ingredients so you don’t have to.  

                                                                 

What the heck are phthalates?

Don’t worry, we had to look it up too. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They’re commonly used in personal care and beauty products despite their wide range of negative health impacts especially towards children, pregnant women, and animals. That didn’t sound good to us so we voted phthalates off the island. Goodbye.

 

What’s the difference between soy and paraffin wax?

Most candles you find at your local retail stores are commonly made with paraffin wax. Paraffin is made by removing the waxy substance from non-renewable crude oil, like petroleum, coal, or oil shale. This type of wax emits a high amount of soot, as well as toxins that can trigger allergies and cause headaches. Nevertheless, paraffin is still exceedingly popular because it’s the cheapest option.

Unlike paraffin, soy wax is naturally harvested from soybeans which are predominately grown in the Midwestern United States. Not only is soy wax more environmentally friendly, it also burns cleaner, slower, and without releasing harmful toxins into the air. Our soy candles will smell better, last longer, and help keep the planet happy. So, while soy wax is the slightly more expensive alternative to paraffin, you can still feel great about making a smart choice! 

 

How long will my candle last?

The answer to this question is partly up to you. If you treat our candles with love they’ll return the love for up to 65 hours. But if you’re a bad partner they’ll leave your ass immediately... in 45 hours. Head to our Candle Care tab to learn your candle’s love language before it’s too late.

Why does my candle look rough on the surface after I burn it?

Frosting, which is notorious in soy wax, is the indents left behind when the wax goes from hot to cold very quickly as the wax tries to return to its natural state. It can look a little funky but it’s actually an indicator that the wax is 100% natural and doesn’t have any nasty additives like paraffin. We do add a touch of organic, naturally refined coconut oil to our wax to help counteract this effect but it’s ultimately unavoidable and completely normal. We embrace imperfections around here.

If my candle is non-toxic, why is it giving off black smoke?

It’s time to trim your wick, babe. It’s an important and easy way to show your candle you care. You should trim your wick to 1/4” every single time you light it to help it burn evenly. Letting the wick build up between burns will make your candle burn faster, robbing you of hours of burn time. Trimming your wick is the most crucial part of getting the most out of your candle. You can buy a nice pair of wick trimmers on Amazon for less than $10 or you can use a pair of scissors or a pair of nail clippers in a pinch. Heck, even your fingers will work.

Why is my candle tunneling?

Believe it or not, candles actually have a good memory. If you don’t let the wax melt completely to edges of the container the first time you light it, your candle will never let you forget it. The next time you go to light it, the wax won’t melt past that point, causing it to tunnel down the middle, costing you valuable burn time. You can prevent this by letting your candle burn for at least 3-4 hours the first time you light it. But we know life happens. So to fix it, simply use a piece of tin foil and wrap it around the candle like a tent. Make sure there’s still a hole in the top so air can escape. Leave it like this until the melt pool reaches the outside of the glass (around an hour or two), then it’s safe to take it off and your candle should be good as new! Just be careful when handling the tin foil as it will be very hot. 

My wick is off centered, how can I fix it?

Since our wicks are made of cotton, they can get a little wiggly as the wax melts and can start to burn unevenly. No worries, it’s a simple fix. Let your candle burn for an hour or so, blow the candle out, then you can use something metal to nudge the wick back into place. You’re free to relight it afterwards and keep on burning. Just be careful, the jar and the wax will be hot!

 

Why has my candle started to discolor?

Discoloration in candles is caused by vanilla fragrances. Referred to in the candle world as “The Vanillin Villain”, vanilla tends to oxidize when it’s exposed to sunlight and oxygen.

Our vanilla scented candles like Pumpkin To Talk About and Cocoa Butter Cashmere are likely to discolor, whereas fragrances like Black Sea and Apple-y Ever After, that don’t include vanilla, are not likely to discolor. We have a few measures put in place on our end to help reduce the effects but it’s ultimately unavoidable and completely normal.

Your candle will still burn and smell just the same but keeping your candle out of direct sunlight will help to decrease the chances of this happening. Since we refuse to harmful dyes and chemicals in our candles, this is always a possibility. 

 

What can I do with my leftover candle container?

Once you’ve thoroughly enjoyed your candle, there are a few ways you can reuse your jar. To get the last bit of wax out of the bottom, you can put your candle in the freezer for a few hours and the leftover wax and wick should come right out. You can use soap and hot water to get any residual wax off the sides and then sky’s the limit. Our favorite way to reuse our candle jars is using them as cocktail glasses, so make sure you get a full set. We’d love to see how you recycle your jars. Show us your ideas on social media and don’t forget to tag us!

What if I still have questions?

We’re undaunted by questions and we love hearing from you! You can email hello@nightlightscompany.com with any questions, comments, or concerns. Or even if you just want to say hello.