Welcome to the world of handcrafted decorative candles!

Since this is still a relatively new and underexplored area, we at Happy Candles feel it's our duty to bring a little light not only into our customers' homes, but also into any uncertainties surrounding decorative candles.

Structurally, decorative candles fall into two main categories:

• Sculptural Candles – These are candles with irregular shapes, often crafted into forms like statues, flowers, animals, and more.
• Pillar Candles – These are candles with regular shapes, typically cylindrical or rectangular, often featuring engraved designs or motifs along the sides.

There are a number of practical differences between these two categories that influence both their burn time and how they should be cared for during and between uses. These differences stem mainly from the basic principle of how a candle works: wax serves as the fuel for the flame, which is absorbed through the wick and drawn upward.

When the wick has a steady supply of wax, it burns slowly and provides a long-lasting flame. However, when there isn't enough wax to sustain the flame, the wick itself is consumed quickly, causing the candle to extinguish prematurely. This issue is particularly common in sculptural candles due to their irregular shapes. The melted wax tends to flow away from the wick, preventing the formation of a stable wax pool. As a result, the flame may "cut" through the candle as it burns or even melt very thin candles entirely. That's why sculptural candles, while visually stunning, generally have shorter burn times than pillar candles.

Although some manufacturers prolong the burn time of sculptural candles by adding chemical compounds, Happy Candles prioritizes your health and the purity of the air you breathe. That’s why we use only natural soy or beeswax in our candles.

There is, however, a safe and effective way to extend the burn time of sculptural candles: by placing them in heat-resistant containers such as bowls or glasses. This way, the melted wax isn’t lost but collects in the container, creating a stable wax pool that helps the candle behave more like a container candle once the top layer has melted.

As for pillar candles, their geometric design naturally allows for a consistent wax pool to form around the wick, enabling longer burn times.

To maximize the burn time of a pillar candle, we use the "tunneling" concept, where the candle’s outer walls act as the container for the melted wax pool. As the candle burns, the wax pool will gradually extend toward the edges.

Each Happy Candles model is individually tested in 4-hour burn sessions. It’s important to note that when the wax pool reaches within 5–10 mm of the candle’s edge, the flame should be extinguished and the candle allowed to cool for 2–3 hours. If the melted wax breaks through the wall of the candle, it will begin to leak, creating a channel through which wax will continue to drain, significantly shortening the burn time—similar to a sculptural candle.

In such cases, we recommend extinguishing the candle, letting it cool for a few hours, and then sealing the hole with some of the wax that leaked out.

With proper care, once your pillar candle has finished burning, you'll be left with a charming, decorative keepsake cup 😊

Wick Care Tips:

• If your candle produces black smoke, the wick is too long and should be trimmed.
• Sometimes, the tip of the wick may mushroom or form a flower-like shape, a phenomenon known as “mushrooming.” This can hinder proper burning and may even extinguish the flame. In such cases, trim only the affected part of the wick before relighting.
• As the candle burns, the top of the wick will become carbonized. If not removed in time, this charred material can fall into the wax pool, slowing wax absorption or causing the flame to go out. We recommend regularly trimming the wick to remove carbon buildup and ensure a clean, steady burn.

Thank you for your attention!– Happy Candles 💛