FAQ

How long before my order ships?

Most orders ship within 2-5 days assuming the items were in stock, there were no changes to the order, and depending on shipping service selected during checkout if applicable. In the event there may be a particular delay do to unforeseen circumstances we will reach out.

Is there a 'local pickup' option, if I am nearby and want to save on shipping charges?

We hope this will be available in the future. The website will be updated when this becomes available.

How can I keep my candles looking their best?

Candles may discolor or fade when they are exposed to intense light for extended periods as well if stored in warm or humid areas. We do not recommend displaying your candles for long periods in direct sunlight, fluorescent lighting or other strong illumination. Wax will soften in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Store your candles in a cool, dry place if they will be stored for an extended period of time.

What kind of Wax do you use?

We use multiple kinds of wax depending on the item and it will be listed on each individual product page. However, most products are comprised of soy blends and coconut blends.

What kind of Wicks do you use?

We use multiple kinds of wicks depending on the item.
These include, cotton core wicks, flat braid and threaded wicks cotton wicks. All wick types have various purposes and benefits ranging from rigidity to keep the wick centered to soot and smoke resistant properties. We do not use ANY lead wicks.

Do I really need to trim the wick?

For the most part yes, but of course it depends. You should trim the wick when it needs trimmed. If you see a carbon mushroom on top the wick, it definitely should be trimmed, or if the wick seems very long. When trimming, you really should trim the wick to 1/4" before lighting your candle. Or, at any point your flame is getting too large and you are seeing smoke or suit, simply extinguish the flame, trim and re-light.

If you do not keep your wick trimmed, problems can occur. Wicks of all candles can "mushroom" at the top which can lead to excessive flickering, smoke, and/or soot. Keeping your wick trimmed also makes your candle safer and last longer. Additionally, it can prevent your wick from curling back into the wax - wish is mainly a problem with non-cored wicks.

My candle is leaving lots of wax on the sides of the container after burning it. Why?

A little "hang-up" is normal especially towards the top and middle of the candle. It typically will catch up. But small amounts of hang up or film is completely normal. An excessive amount (Over 1/4") and in extreme cases of burning a hole down the middle (tunneling) while can occur for a number of reasons is best to avoid.

Multiple factors can contribute to tunneling. Improperly or cheaply made candles is one cause. A mistake during production, typically with the wick is another. Not burning the candle long enough (3-4 hours each burn) is another.

We use premium ingredients and all our recipes including wax, fragrance, and wicks have been extensively tested together. That doesn't necessarily 100% prevent this issue from occurring but it drastically reduces its chances.

Each time you burn a candle, should try and burn it at least until the wax pool reaches the edge (or very near the edge) of the container... even if it barely reaches. On average this is around 3-5 hours of burn time depending on the container and/or the number of wicks. Often your candle will self-correct as it burns down, but if the tunneling is bad enough, it may not be able to.

Why do I sometimes get small puffs of smoke coming from my wick and flame?

This can happen for a couple of reasons. First, make sure to keep your wick trimmed properly as mentioned above. Secondly, constant or random drafts can cause puffs of smoke as well. For example, if your candle is next to a window, door, vent, etc. the drafts will interfere with the flame causing it to dance around and produce smoke. Also, if your candle is located in a place where people frequently walk right past it, this can cause puffs of smoke as well. Unless its constant, its nothing to be too worried about.

There is a mushroom bloom head on my wick after burning? What is it?

A carbon buildup, otherwise known as a "mushroom" can happen with any kind of wick and wax. It is most common in highly fragranced candles as the fragrance oil travels up the wick while it burns. It is completely normal, however, it needs to be removed by trimming the wick before relighting as mentioned above.

In a way, the mushroom head is a nice reminder that, "hey, I need to trim my wick". (Please remember to give the candle plenty of time to cool and harden before attempting to trim the wick as you do not want wick debris falling into the wax.

How can I avoid making the candle smoke when I extinguish the flame?

There are a couple of ways to do this. Its important to note that you should try to AVOID BLOWING OUT THE FLAME as much as possible as this definitely does cause excessive smoke. It is also dangerous because you may blow the melted wax out inadvertently as well. So, If you do, please do it gently.

If you have a 'Wick Snuffer', then that is ideal as its a smokeless way to kill the flame. You can also use the lid of the candle if it is fire/heat resistant and safe to do so. The lid going on to the candle will suffocate the flame out in a matter of seconds.

Do your wicks contain lead?

No, not at all, we never have used lead wicks and never would.

Do you ship any day of the week including weekends?

Often, yes. However, we use discretion on this. If hot temperatures/extreme heat are expected we try to limit shipping to earlier in the week. This way candles are not sitting in hot vans or trucks over the weekend. Please be sure to plan having someone home to accept deliveries (particularly during the summer) to help cut down the risk of your candles sitting outside your front door for hours/days. 

Due to the risk involved when ordering candles during hot months, we cannot be held liable for melted candles and other wax products. Even though we insure all of our shipments, melted wax is not covered by DPD or Royal Mail, etc.

We offer the following tips to avoid problems:

* Because deliveries to your home will be often be left by your front door, outside(a bad thing during hot days), we suggest having them delivered to a place you know someone will be present. Other than your home if someone is there, possibly a friend or family member's house, or even your place of work if allowed. 

* If you are expecting a delivery to your home, try to plan to have someone there or at the very least, attempt to get the package inside to cool place as soon as possible so its not sitting in the heat too long.

* Also, as a courtesy we aim to ship early in the week so help avoid packages being left in warehouses and delivery trucks over the weekend.

How long does it usually take to ship and receive my products?

This depends a bit on the time of year. But we typically ship within a few days (with the exception of the hot summer months which, in that case, it might take a couple extra days to ship so we can aim at shipping earlier in the week as noted above). Depending on the carrier, typical transit times range from 1 or 2 days to a week depending on location. These are just averages and will not apply to all orders. Your order will include tracking info once shipped for you to monitor. 

*Note - During holiday seasons shipping delays are expected and common. We have no control over this once an order has left our hands. 

In addition, COVID-19 and pandemic related issues have also affected shipping times. The impacts are random and inconsistent but once again, shipping delays if encountered are outside our control unfortunately. 

What if an item is defective or damaged as it arrives?

Our goal is your satisfaction. If your product is damaged upon arrival, please send us a message via our "Contact Us" form on our website or by using the email of support@smandle.co.uk. Please retain the original packaging materials in case we need it returned back to us. Also please check out this page for more information here.

What if I really don't like the fragrance I ordered? Can I return it?

Unfortunately, unless there is a candle defect, we generally do not offer exchanges or refunds based on personal fragrance preferences. Everyone has a different sense of smell and preference so we hope you can understand that policy. However, remember that candles make great gifts and just because you are not fond of a scent, most likely a friend, work colleague, or a family member would be. We are sure to include fragrance profiles and notes inside each product description to help you make your choice.

Also, in the future we are planning on creating a way to test sample fragrances that would allow you to get an idea of different scents before making any larger purchases. 

Can I refill or re-use my candle jars and containers when they are empty?

Because glass weakens as it accumulates bumps and scratches from use, we DO NOT recommend refilling our jars for re-use as a candle. However, they make terrific holders for all kinds of things around your home: buttons, nails, cotton balls, potpourri, seashells ... or anything you may want to store. 

Why do most candles say to discontinue using the candle when a half inch of wax remains in the bottom?

This is purely a safety issue and any candle maker or retailer will recommend this. Glass gets hot on the bottom as the wick nears the base. It can cause cracking, breaking, or damage underneath the glass. We also recommend burning all candles on heat resistant surfaces.