What to Know Before Lighting That Gorgeous Dried-Flower Candle

You’ve probably seen many candles like these available for sale recently. These candles feature dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or even coffee beans as decorative accents in the wax. They offer a unique look and interesting textures which can be appealing in a plain candle. Various new small businesses selling homemade candles boast these colorful and decorative elements.

However, today we are going to offer a word of caution against these trendy designs.

While they are visually appealing, proper fire safety should not be sacrificed for aesthetics.

The Potential Dangers Of These Candles

The problem with candles that incorporate dried sprigs and big woody pieces is that these things are flammable. Though they are often covered in wax, the heat generated by the candle’s flame will melt it and expose the dried and highly flammable materials. Examples of common additives include:

• Flower Petals
• Dried Herbs
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Pinecones
• Coffee Beans
• Dried Fruits
• Leaves

As the wax melts, the liquid pool may allow these ingredients to float closer to the wick and the flame. The most obvious danger is that the materials could catch fire causing harm to people or property. Additionally, many of these dried materials will spark and sputter when exposed to a flame. This means that they could even throw a spark out of the jar onto your furniture, floors or family.

The less dangerous issue is that these added pieces could prevent the candle’s flame from burning properly. If the dried ingredients sit next to the wick, they can block the wax needed to sustain the flame and cause it to go out.

The aforementioned dangers are the reason candle makers emphasize keeping the tops of your candles clear of debris. When burning your candles it is necessary to keep any foreign materials from blowing into the flame such as a window curtain, leaves, and even bugs.

You may be wondering, “does this mean I can never buy any of these candles?” Let's look at some acceptable times when these kinds of candles are ok.

Proper Uses Of Homemade Candles Featuring Dried Ingredients

There are so many new candle makers just starting their homemade candle business. While it is fun to support new businesses, you also need to ensure that you are supporting a reputable source that has researched and taken proper safety precautions.

If you are buying wax melts with dried materials in them, you do not have to worry about a live flame setting the ingredients on fire. Therefore, wax melts are one of the safest ways to enjoy these types of homemade candles.

An even safer way to support these small business owners and enjoy their products is to simply keep the candles as a decorative piece and never light the wick. This way, you never run the risk of catching the flammable materials on fire. Another method of melting these candles without a flame is by using a jar candle warmer. There are so many decorative and beautiful jar candle warmers available that heat the wax without a flame.

If you must light the candle, do not leave it unattended. Keep an eye on it at all times to ensure that the materials do not catch on fire, and extinguish it with a snuffer to avoid blowing the flame onto the dried materials.

Conclusion

These candles are not all bad, and they can be very beautiful. Yet, you always want to make sure you are being responsible with your candles and following proper fire safety.