Using Candle Holders Properly

Decorative candles reflect a unique artistic art form which can be used either as a stand-alone candle, or stored, unsweetened as a wax sculpture. Often highly detailed, highly sculpted decorative candles may contain pricey price tags. However, the craftsmanship involved in crafting these highly prized items often warrants their high cost. The delicate nature of highly decorative candles often means that cracked or damaged candles can lead to ruined works.

One of the most common causes of a candle becoming damaged, is if the wick becomes too brittle and breaks off in the middle of burning. When this happens the wick will often catch on fire and create a huge mess which will completely destroy the decorative candle and any surrounding objects. Even if the wick has not burned down completely out of the candle, if the flame remains hot the melt and embers will continue to heat up until the candle burns out completely. A melted wax candle is a hot wax cauldron, which can easily burst and cause damage to surrounding objects.

Another common issue regarding decorative candles comes from when the wax has cooled after being placed inside of a protective container. Care should be taken when placing a decorative candle inside of a protective container because it can easily get overheated and break. If the container is too hot, the wax will melt the surrounding objects which can cause damage to your decorative candle. Cooling the decorative candle after placement inside of the container is often enough to prevent a melt-away problem, but you should still allow the decorative candle to sit for a few hours prior to covering the candle. This will allow the candle to cool significantly before covering it with a sheet or plastic. Once the candle has cooled, removal of the plastic will typically reveal a crumbly piece of wax which has been pushed out during cooling.

Placement of decorative accessories around a room is important as well. Coroplast candle holders are commonly used in living rooms and dining rooms because they do not leave any crevice or hole where a hot candle can accidentally go. Candle tapers are traditionally used on doors because they do not create a hole in the door and they are less likely to fall out due to temperature changes. Some candle holders have been known to warp due to improper placement, but this seems to be a rare occurrence.

If a decorative candle is dropped or breaks, take note that one of two things may happen. The wax may splatter on the floor and create a mess. If there is no spill and the wax continues to melt on the ground, a small, black, melted piece of wax will stick to the bottom of whatever is placed under it. When the piece of wax lands on anything it heats up, such as a pair of shoes, it can often melt that pair of shoes and cause a terrible, permanent burn site.

As with any type of decorating, using candle holders correctly is essential to achieve the desired effect. Using decorative candle holders correctly means that you should place them where they are designed. They should not be put near a door or windows, as this could cause a serious mishap. Placing them near a window will leave a small opening through which a hot, burning candle can escape and create a fire. Placing decorative candle holders too close to an outlet, a fan, or a heater can result in serious burns.