FAQ

Why did you start making Two Rivers candles?

I have always loved candles.  There is something about the soft glow of the flame and the wonderful scent wafting through the house - candles just make me happy.  I started making Two Rivers candles because I wanted a clean burning candle that I felt good about burning in my home, with my family.  

Do you make all Two Rivers Candle Company candles?

Yes, I hand pour all Two Rivers candles.  I have a workshop in which I make my candles - from start to finish.

What kind of wax is used in Two Rivers candles?

I use a variety of waxes including soy, coconut, palm and bee waxes.  I do not use paraffin.

What is the difference between soy and soy blend candles?

TRCC candles that are listed as soy contain only soy wax.  Soy blend candles are made with a proprietary blend of soy, coconut, palm and bees waxes.

Do your wicks contain lead?

No, Two Rivers Candle Company does not use lead or zinc core wicks.  

What kind of wicks do you use?

I use several different types of wicks- depending on the wax used for a batch of candles.  I primarily use wood wicks and cotton wicks with a cotton / paper core.

How do I care for my candles?

Always trim your wick.  Cotton wicks should be cut to ¼” and break off the char from wood wicks prior to each burn.  Wood wicks will break where appropriate and you will avoid cutting away usable wood.  

Carefully extinguish any candle to avoid blowing melted wax from the candle using the lid, a candle snuffer or a gentle blow.

Store candles not used for extended periods of time in a cool, dry location.  I do recommend using Two Rivers candles within a year for best performance.

To prevent discoloration (yellowing) limit candle exposure to direct light.  Because I do not use a UV inhibitor, candles containing vanillan may yellow or brown over time.  Fortunately, this does not affect the performance of the candle.

Is it important to trim the wick?

Yes, it is important.  Ideally the wick should be trimmed before each burn.  Cotton wicks should be trimmed to 1/4” and wood wick should have the char removed by breaking it off.

A trimmed wick will allow for a cleaner burn and a longer lasting candle.  Less fuel is used with a trimmed wick which translates into longer lasting candle.  In addition, a trimmed wick removes any carbon build up from the previous burn which means minimal soot is released into the air.

What is the proper way to light my Two Rivers Candle?

Lighting a cotton wick is straight forward but a wood wick can be a little tricky at times.  I recommend holding the lighter flame on the wood wick a bit longer than you would naturally think.  The wick is raw wood and will require a little wax be melted to fuel the flame.  Therefore, hold the lighter flame on the wick until the entire wick is lit and you have achieved the lovely teardrop flame.

When lighting for future burning, always remove the char from the wick.  I recommend using a tissue or paper towel to break off the char or rub it into the tissue using your finger.  Too much char will cause the flame to smolder.  Also, be careful if you use a wick trimmer as you may accidently take good wood from the wick.

What is tunneling?

Tunneling occurs when the candle burns down the center leaving excessive wax on the sides of the container (hang up), wasting much of the candle and not dispersing maximum scent into the air.  Tunneling and excessive hang up will eventually drown the candle wick.

Why is there wax left on the sides of the candle container after burning?

A small amount of “hang up” is normal with the first burn or two of a new candle.  After the initial burn or two, the candle should retain enough heat inside the container to utilize any hang up. To avoid hang up and ultimately tunneling, it is important to make sure your burn time is adequate.  Ordinarily, a candle should be burned an hour per inch of the diameter of the container to achieve a full melt pool and avoid tunneling.

For example, if a contain is 3.25” in diameter, the candle should be burned 3-4 hours. 

A candle made with high quality ingredients, that is wicked appropriately and is burned for an acceptable length of time should not tunnel.  

What is the white stuff on my candle, and does it affect the candle?

The white stuff is called “frosting” and it is a natural process that happens with soy candles when the candle is either cooled to quickly or there is air disturbance in the room during cooling. Frosting does not affect the performance of the candle. I choose not to use additives that can reduce the appearance of frosting.

Why won’t my wood wick stay lit?

There are several reasons why your wood wick candle is not staying lit.  

First, is there excess char on the wick? A wood wick should have little to no char on it before each burn. If removal of the char has not resolved the issue, is there excessive hang up? Excessive hang up (the wax on the sides of the jar) is the usually the result of short burn cycles. A new candle should be burned 3-4 hours to limit hang up and future drowning of the wick.  If the wick is not able to get enough oxygen, it will extinguish itself. Unless it is early in the life of the candle, it is difficult to repair this issue. There are ways to fix but basically you need to remove the excess hang up.

How long before my order ships?

Most orders will ship within 1-3 days depending on the distance traveling and the day of the week the order was placed.  Some orders may be held during periods of extreme heat to avoid candles sitting with shippers over weekends.  Tracking numbers will be provided to any shipped order to allow you to follow delivery.

Is there local pick up or delivery available?

Yes, we offer the local pick-up option as well as free drop off, Naperville, IL delivery.

What days of the week do you ship?

We generally ship Monday - Friday only.   I believe it is best to avoid having candles sit in a warehouse or truck any longer than necessary but particularly during the summer months.  If a candle will be traveling more than 2-3 days, I may hold the order and ship it on a Monday to ensure that it will make it to its destination during the Monday -Friday timeframe. 

Because of the risk of shipping candles in the heat of the summer, I cannot be held responsible for melted candles.  I do utilize some waxes with higher melting points in my soy blend to reduce the risk, but it is still a risk that the consumer bears. In the past, I sent two candles to my son in South Texas where they sat in the July/August heat for 6 days, and they were perfectly fine when he opened them.

Tips for the safe travel of your candle order:

• Order early in the week or the weekend.

• Plan to be home for delivery or shortly, thereafter.

• If you cannot be home, have a friend pick up your delivery.

Do you ship to P.O. boxes?

Yes, we will ship to P.O. boxes. It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that the P.O. box will accept packages.

What if my order is damaged during shipping?

I want you to LOVE your Two Rivers Candle Company candle.  If your order is damaged, please send me a message through the website, include pictures of the damage and packaging.  I will address situations on an individual basis.

Can I return my candle?

Unfortunately, unless there is something wrong with the manufacturing of a candle I do not exchange or refund.  Candles make a great hostess gift or housewarming gift.