DIY Network

Buying Candles Take this tutorial before buying your next candle. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-131

Host Stephanie Lydecker visits Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping Institute's home care director, to find out everything a shopper needs to know about candles. From wick to wax, Carolyn explains why certain candles are worthy of your money and some aren't. She also discusses wicks, wax, and fragrances—and provides very important safety tips.

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Carolyn shares details on what to look for when shopping for candles—and how to be safe when burning them.

Candle Buying

• A good quality of candle is a combination of things—type of wax, type of wick and even fragrance.

• Candles are made from paraffin, soy or palm wax, beeswax, a transparent gel or a combo of several of these. Wax provides the fuel that keeps the candle burning. Waxes melt at different rates and temperatures. For example, soy candles lose their shape very easily when lit. So, if you are buying a soy candle, make sure it is one that is in a glass jar or container. Most pillar candles are made of paraffin. They are much better at holding their shape and remaining solid. Pillar candles burn directly down the center so you don't have to worry about wax dripping onto the surface holding the candle.

• The wick is the most important part of any candle. The wick transfers the melted wax to the flame to keep the candle burning. Look for braided wicks, not twisted. Braided wicks mean that the candle is higher quality. Braided wicks that are flat or square are most often used in pillar or taper candles and they curl as they burn. The ones that stay upright are usually found in jar or votive candles and they curl as they burn. The ones that stay upright are usually found in a jar or votive candles because they won't fall over in the wax. Metal core wicks that are made of lead or a certain lead alloy will give off very unsafe emissions when burned. In 2003, the government banned the sale of metal-core wick candles. Some metal wick candles are made of zinc, which are safe.

• How can you tell if you are getting a quality fragrance candle? There are two different ways to put scent in a candle, synthetic fragrances or natural essential oils, which are derived from natural plant oil. The "essential oil" candles are more expensive but they give off a great scent. They are not too weak or too strong. It is actually the fragrance you pay for when you buy a candle. You don't want to get carried away because a low quality with too much fragrance can clog the wick, or produce excessive soot and too high a flame. If you are allergic to fragrances, or think you might be, you should just buy the fragrance-free candles.

• When buying a candle there are a few tips to picking the right one. First, you know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but you should a candle! Look at the packaging and make sure the burning instructions are well written. This will show that the manufacturer has put time and effort into making a good candle. Secondly, examine the wick. Make sure it is secure and centered. Loose wicks are not good because they can cause the candle to burn unevenly. Lastly, look at the quality of the glass for jar and votive candles. Cracks and bubbles in the glass are bad—just make sure it feels like thick quality glass.

Candle Safety

Candle safety is very important. There are tens of thousands of fires every year caused by candles. Here are a few safety tips:

• NEVER leave candles unattended.
  
• Keep all children, pets and flammable materials (curtains, magazines) away.
  
• Trim the wick to keep the flame small and minimize soot, but don't leave the wick trimmings or used matches in the candle, they can ignite.
  
• Remove all packaging before burning the candle.
  
• Pay close attention to candles that have the little dried flowers in the wax. The flowers could catch fire.
  
• Keep candles away from drafts.
  
• Only burn candles on heat resistant surfaces.
  
• Discard any candle that is not burning properly.
  
• Burn candles no longer than one hour for every inch of the candle's diameter.
  
• Use a candle snuffer to put out the flame because blowing on a candle can send flaming parts of the wick to unwanted areas (like carpet).

GUESTS :

Carolyn Forte
Home Care Director
Good Housekeeping Institute
E-mail: cforte@hearst.com
Website: www.goodhousekeeping.com