Few things have the power to transform a room like candlelight, or to transform it so easily and inexpensively. At the crack of a match, even the most modest dining room can become glamorous, warm and inviting.
Candles consist of wax and a wick, but may also contain colorants, fragrances, and additives. Candles are most often made of paraffin, a petroleum by product. However, beeswax, a natural wax derived from the hive of honeybees; vegetable waxes, such as soy wax; gels made of minerals oil; and synthetic waxes are also frequently used to manufacture candles.
The cleanest burning candles are those that are undyed and unscented. Soy candles are naturally odorless and do not produce soot; beeswax candles emit a natural honey scent. It is best to avoid strongly scented candles altogether in the dining room, their fragrance will compete with the delicious aromas of your food.
Here is how to keep candles burning bright and clean:
- Cut wicks to ¼ inch in length before lighting. The longer the wick, the larger the flame, the more the soot.
- Protect candles from drafts, which can create a large flame that can shorten the life of the candle, as well as cause it to melt in a lopsided manner, which can eventually cause it to collapse.
- Protect candles from light and heat. Placing them on a sunny windowsill or in an overheated room can cause them to soften and droop.
- Keep wicks centered in pillar candles. Off center wicks can cause uneven burning, leading to spills and resulting in misshapen candles. To recenter, extinguish the flame, then insert a spoon handle alongside the wick and press it back into place.
- Limit burning time of pillar candles. Pillars should burn for approximately the same number of hours as the diameter measures in inches. For example, a candle that is 3 inches wide should burn for no more than three hours. Otherwise, the wax is likely to pool around the wick and bury it, ruining the candle. You can burn tapers as long as you want if they are not smoking or dripping excessively.
- If a wick is drowning in its own was, score the candle with a sharp knife all the way around, ½ inch from the top. Cut the candle through taking care not to sever the wick.
