Blog Moving to Wordpress

We are moving our company blog over to wordpress. You can find updates here http://uscandleco.wordpress.com/

New Candle Frangrances

Our new candle fragrances are now available online. We have 6 new candle scents which are being introduced in our jar and votive lines. The new scents are:

* Acai Berry - Pronounced (ah-sah-ee). It is one of the richest berry fragrances, similar to the sweetness of red and black current, strawberries, and mulberries: middle notes of apple, and bottom notes of rose and jasmine.

* Black Amethyst - Captures the rich tones of fall with juicy fruit, sheer petals and deep woods. The Black Amethyst opens with an intense, sweet, citrusy blast that is sparkling and fresh. Its unique sweetness is enhanced with the tantalizing aroma of red berries and pomegranate.

* Dancing Waters - Picture sparkling clear waters swirled with water lilies. It includes notes of watermelon, frosted orange, lemon Italian Ice, frozen spearmint, basil, bamboo leaf, Asian pear drops, and lavender, with white musk and teak wood.

* Frosted Musk - A light floral of lavender flowers with top notes of lemon, lime and orange combined with floral hints of jasmine, lily of the valley and rosewood on a musky background.

* Hot Apple Cider - Warm up the seasonal chill with this steaming blend of apple and spice! Cinnamon sticks and fresh cloves with freshly crushed tree ripened apples, vanilla, citrus and a hint of sweet musk, Tonka beans and rum.

* Jamaica Rum Cake - A very warm, rich, creamy vanilla syrup and pancake aroma. This French Vanilla bean is mellowed by a buttery caramel with the delicious aroma of English quickbread laced with the heady character of a tropical rum cake.

Fall/Winter Gift Baskets Are Here

We have our new fall and winter gift baskets online today. 3 brand new baskets featuring bayberry, spiced pumpkin, and cranberry scented candles. Also new today is our bridal poem candle basket. This basket includes a copy of the bridal poem and the taper candles to go with it. Take a look at these before you buy gifts for Thanksgiving or Christmas. These baskets make great gifts.

We Have A Facebook Page

We are now have a facebook page, become a fan and post your comments and suggestions for us and other fans to see. This is a great way for us to communicate product updates and specials to you and for you to let us know what you want and how to improve on different things. Check out our facebook page and see the 6 new fall and Christmas fragrances we have added to our sites. Our facebook page combines both www.keystonecandle.com and www.uscandleco.com information in one place.

Candle Gift Baskets

We have just launched a new category on our website... Gift Baskets. There are 14 new gift baskets styles now available. Each of these baskets are beautifully decorated and contain a variety of our popular fragrances. At affordable prices, these unique gift baskets are perfect for corporate gifts, bridal and baby showers, birthdays, get well, just because, and more. Be sure to come see what we have and start thinking of all the people who would love one of these gift baskets for Christmas.

Hanging Wicker Baskets

Brand new decorative hanging wall baskets with Christmas holiday themes and colors. These wicker basket arrangements are made to be placed on walls or doors. They have a flat back so they will lay flush on flat surfaces. Each of these 3 decorative baskets have beautiful mixtures of red holly and lush greenery. The large colorful bows make these hanging baskets really pop. One of the baskets has 2 teddy bears in it, one has a bird perched in the leaves, and one has an arrangement of holly and grapevines. Each basket is approximately 13" across. All 3 of these baskets are only $13.95 each! Get an early jump on your Christmas and holiday home decorating and maybe add one of these as a gift for a friend as well.

Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Sale

Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off Sale! Now through August 15, 2009. Get great deals on our paraffin and soy jar candles, soy votive candles, 4oz and 6oz reed diffusers. Use this opportunity to stock up on discount candles for Christmas and get gifts for your friends. Get more details on our sales and specials page.
*Special pricing not valid on wholesale orders. Sale price not valid in our outlet store.

Butterfly Kisses Unity Candle Set

Brand new unity candle and matching taper set for weddings. This new set is original and unique. The butterflies on these wedding candles look like they could flutter away at any moment. Each candle has an elegant band around the base that really makes the set pop. The unity candle is 3" x 9" and the tapers are 10" tall with a standard 7/8" base. You can get this wedding candle set for only $39.00. The holders are sold separately.

7 New Soy Candle Scents

We have just added 7 new fragrances to our soy candle lines. The new scents for fall and Christmas are Balsam Fir, Bayberry, Christmas Cakes, Gingerbread, Hazelnut Coffee, Mistletoe, and Sage and Citrus. Check out these amazing new scents. We will also be adding to our other candle lines soon so be sure to check back for updates.

Reduced Price on Webkinz

We have just lowered our regular price on Webkinz. They are now only $9.00 each. We most likely will not be ordering any more so once these are gone, that's it. We have quite a few pet styles left including some of the newer ones.

Our Candles In "Last Airbender" Movie Trailer

My wife and I went to the movies this weekend to see Transformers. (it was our anniversary) I am one of those people who love to see the previews as much as or more than the actual movie. I know it is strange but that's just me. Anyway, one of the previews was for the "Last Airbender" by M. Night Shyamalan. The whole scene was filled with hundreds of our candles! That was really cool to see on such a huge screen. I had never even heard of the "Last Airbender" until Paramount Pictures contacted us to see if we could make the candles for them in time for the shoot. Anyway, checkout our candles in this movie trailer.

New Glowbowl Fragrances

Brand new Glowbowl fragrances are here. For those of you who have never heard of Glowbowl, they are a flameless air freshening system. The Glowbowl product consists of 2 parts, the unit and the scented gel. The glowbowl unit is a 5 1/2" high stand and glass cylinder which has a small light bulb below it used to heat the gel. The scented crystals are water based and come in 18oz refill bottles. All you have to do to use this Glowbowl product is put the gel into the glass container and plug it in. As the light bulb warms the highly scented gel it releases the fragrance into the air. The colorful glow from the light shinning out through the colored scented crystals is amazing. You will notice over a few days the amount of gel getting lower as the water and fragrance evaporates into the air. If you notice that the gel is starting to look a little dry, just as some water to rejuvenate it. Glowbowls make fantastic gifts and can be used in many places where candles cannot. Come get yours today.

DIFFUSER SALE!

We have just started a 4oz reed diffuser kit sale. Purchase any three 4oz reed diffuser kits and get a 4th one for free. These diffuser kits come with everything you need, eight 12" diffuser reeds, a 4oz diffuser bottle, strong diffuser oil, and a wooden cap to add to the look. Each of the reed diffusers will last about 8 - 10 weeks. This sale will run from today through July 31st, 2009. Take advantage of this reed diffuser sale in time to get them before your 4th of July activities and freshen up your home.

Reed diffusers are a great air freshening method if you don't want an open flame or to use the plug-in kind. Put the reeds into the bottle of scented oil, set it on a shelf and that's it. You will soon notice a pleasant scent in the air.

Our reed diffuser special does not apply to wholesale orders and cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts, or coupons. Sale only valid on orders placed through www.uscandleco.com or over the phone.

Unity Candle and Taper Holder Sets

One of our biggest product lines is our Unity Candles. We haven't really had any nice unity candle holders to go with them...until now. A new selection of candle holder sets have been added to help you decorate your wedding day. Each of our new unity candle holders are available in brass or silver finishes. We have a couple holders that are made to hold both a unity candle and 2 tapers on either side. We also have a variety of matching unity pillar holders and taper holders. For a limited time when you purchase both the matching unity holder and taper holders you will save 16% off of the individual purchase (retail) price. Discount does not apply to wholesale orders. Come by and check out our wedding candle holder sets today.

New Pillar Candle Holders

Two new pillar candle holder style are here. We now have a couple of new wooden pillar candle holders at really affordable prices. Use these wood candle holders around the home or for a special event. The candle holders are designed to be used with 3" diameter pillar candles. You could put a 4" diameter candle on them but the candle would stick out over the sides. Each of the two holder styles come in 3 heights which can be purchased separately. The heights are 7", 11", and 15".

Monogrammed Votive Cups

We added a new product today which is a monogrammed votive cup. You can purchase these cups empty or filled with our unscented soy candle. These new votive cups can be lined up to spell out words or phrases making a nice personalized candle display. Use these monogrammed votive cups for home decorating or to decorate for special events. These votive cups can also be used as wedding favors, bridal shower gifts, at baby showers and many other ways.

Scented Paraffin Votive Candle Sale

It is June already, wow that was fast. We have added a new candle sale to our website for the month of June. Our paraffin wax scented votive candles are 10% off of the regular price of $7.20 per dozen. For this month only get our paraffin wax scented votives at $6.48 per dozen with no limit on the quantity. This sale price is only good on orders placed through www.uscandleco.com, not valid on phone orders or orders placed through www.keystonecandle.com Take advantage of this sale and save some money for your summer activities.

"Thinner" Taper Candle Holders

Due to the fantastic response to our bridal poem candles posts we have gone a step further and added two styles of "thinner" taper candle holders. (no these are not taper holders that are thinner, they are taper holders for thinner tapers) We have 2 glass taper holder styles that are for taper candles with a 1/2" diameter base. Smaller diameter taper candle holders are not nearly as easy to find as standard taper holders, until now. The first holder we added is a solid glass pineapple. Pineapples symbolize hospitality so it fits perfectly with the line in the bridal poem for the "thinner" tapers. The second holder is a solid glass chamber style holder with a small handle off the side. Either one of these would go perfectly with the wedding poem as part of a bridal shower or wedding gift.

New Candle Rings

We just added 4 new fall candle ring styles to our website. I know it is a bit early to be thinking fall but our vendor made them available, so I put them up. These new candle rings are beautiful, featuring vivid fall colors, greenery, berries, and flowers. We have even added a ring covered in poinsettias, a classic flower around Christmas time. Keep us in mind, as you start to transition from the heat of summer back to the cooler months, for your decorating needs.

Website Outage

Just want to say sorry to any of you who were trying to get on our www.uscandleco.com site yesterday (May 21) between around 12:00pm and 12:00am. One of the the servers that host our database had a cooling fan stop and it overheated. Kind of a bummer. Anyway we are back up and running again so thanks for your patience. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and Memorial Day.

Coupons For Our Brick and Mortar Store

Since we have started making coupons and discounts available through our www.uscandleco.com site, which are only able to be used for online purchases, we thought it would be nice to add a page of printable discount coupons our local customers could use in our brick and mortar outlet store. (no that is not a store that sells bricks and mortar, that would be Home Depot) Our factory outlet candle store is located right off of RT 322 between Harrisburg and Hershey Pennsylvania, across the highway from the Sam's Club and Wal-mart. Right now we have 3 coupons available that will each be valid for 2 weeks. The coupons offered on this new page will only be able to be used in our store. Check the In-store coupons page for more details and restrictions. And just in case you are wondering, we have way more in our store than we do on our site but I am working on catching up. Our store hours are Mon. - Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm EST. The address is:
Keystone Candle
7241 Paxton St. (RT 322)
Harrisburg, PA 17111
Come on in, we look forward to seeing you here, and don't forget your coupons.

Citronella Pillar Candles

Summer is fast approaching and everyone is getting ready for those fun outdoor activities; grilling, camping, starlit nights sitting out on the deck. We have just added your newest favorite candle scent to our pillar candle line... Citronella. We have this wonderful citronella candle scent in votives, tea lights, soy votives, soy jars, and now our 9 pillar candle sizes. Isn't candle light way more romantic than the bbbuuzzzzz..... sssnnnnaaapp..... cccrrraacckkk of a bug zapper? Well we think so. Stock up on your citronella candles and get ready for summer.

New Sales and Specials

We have just installed a mod on our www.uscandleco.com site that allows us to set up various types of specials and sales. Due to our enthusiasm at having this new found ability we have posted 5 sales effective immediately. One I have already blogged about (the free orange blossom reed diffuser with purchase of 2 12oz soy jars sale runs through May 31st 2009.). The 4 new sales will send out an automatic coupon code, after an initial order, to be used on a future order. The coupon discount amounts range from 5% off to 20% off the subtotal of the future order. Check out our new sales and specials page for more details. The 4 new sales are valid through June 30th 2009. Check our sales and specials page frequently to stay up-to-date on whats new. These 1st 5 sales are only offered to our retial customers, not our wholesale accounts.

Bridal Poem Candle Set

In an earlier post about wedding ideas and bridal shower gifts we talked about a bridal poem that used taper candles to mark special events in a married couples life. Well, we figured that if we had listed a wedding poem that used candles and we make candles, maybe we should put a set of candles together to go with the poem. (I know, rocket science right) So we have just added a new taper candle set just to fit the bridal poem. The set only includes the taper candles so you will need some sort of basket and lace to make it pretty. If you want to gift some taper holders we have those too but they are sold separately. Let me know what you think. I think that this is a great idea for a wedding gift.

Free Orange Blossom Reed Diffuser Sale

Now through May 31, 2009 we are giving away a free 8oz orange blossom reed diffuser with the purchase of two 12oz soy candles. Just add any two of the 12oz soy jars and an 8oz orange blossom diffuser will be automatically added to your shopping cart. There is no limit on the number of free 8oz diffusers per order. For example, put four 12oz soy jars in your cart, get 2 free 8oz orange blossom diffusers.

Gold Candles

We have just added metallic silver and gold candles to our pillar and taper lines. We have had many requests for metallic candles have finally added them to our website. These candles are the perfect decoration for 25th and 50th anniversary parties. These affordable metallic silver and gold candles will make any table display look expensive. Paring up a pillar candle with matching taper candles also makes for a very nice looking unity candle wedding set.

No Soot, Less Soot, More Soot Debate...Over

So there is this on going debate about soot from candles. The big issue is claims from soy candle manufacturers that soy candles don't produce any soot or they are soot free. We have been making paraffin candles a long time and soy candles since August 2008. While we have never believed that soy candles do not produce any soot we get asked about it quite often. People want to know if the air quality in their homes will be better burning a soy candle over a paraffin. According to the National Candle Association in an answer to the question "Is candle soot harmful?" they replied:


"No. The minuscule amount of soot produced by a candle is the natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is composed primarily of elemental carbon particles, and is similar to the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils. These everyday household sources of soot are not considered a health concern, and are chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, gasoline, etc."

In response to all the questions, I did my own test. I made two 16oz jar candles with the same fragrance and wicks, and burned them both daily for about 8 hours here at work until they were gone. I maintained both candles by trimming the wicks when they became a little to long from such a long burn period. The idea was to have the only difference be the wax type, 1 was soy, 1 was paraffin and see the amount of soot produced under a normal burn. I took this picture with the worst soot side facing the camera. The soy candle on the left has less soot around the top of the jar than the paraffin candle, but both have soot. Some of the soot around the tops of the jars was a result of blowing the candles out and the smoke that follows. The environment that these two candles were burned in was our factory and therefor quite drafty. Had these been burned in a home there would have been less soot on each jar. A second thing to keep in mind is that container candles have the hardest time burning with a still flame. They fight between hot air going out and cooler air coming in causes the flame to dance, causing more soot.
So what is the short answer to the soot question? Soy candles are not soot free but will produce less soot when burned under the same conditions as a paraffin candle.

Is Live Chat Helpful?

I have been considering adding a live chat type feature on our website so that customers can instantly get help and have questions answered. There are loads of programs and companies out there to use at a wide variety of prices. Of course each of the companies supplying the service tells me how much it improves sales and the overall shopping experience of the customer. Not that they are bias. To get an honest answer I am putting up a poll here on our blog. Basically, I would like to know if a live chat type program on our site is something you would find useful or if it would not really matter to you because you wouldn't use it anyway. Feel free to either leave a comment or answer in the poll.

New Prodcuct Added - Wax Tarts

We have just put a new line of products up on our site. Check out these new wax tarts. These candle tarts come in a small foil pan and have a nice decorative cut out shape in the top of them. Use the candle tarts in electric tart burners or in the tea light heated tart warmers. These 2 1/4 inch diameter candles are highly scented too. They are only $2.25 each. Need a cute gift idea for a friend? Put a few of these together with a tart warmer for a perfect gift idea. Go to our wax tarts page to check them out.

Mother's Day Event

We have our special Mother's Day Sale beginning today. Enter the code mother in the coupon code box and receive 20% off of any and all jar candles in your cart. The Mother's Day Sale will run from now until May 10th. Take advantage of these rock bottom prices and give your mom something she will love this Mother's Day. *discount not available to wholesale accounts. discount only available on purchases through the U.S. Candle Company website, not in our outlet store or through www.keystonecandle.com

Floating Candles

One of the questions we get quite often from our customers is regarding floating candles, or rather candles that float. The question is usually along the lines of " What makes the candle float or Will any candle float?" There is a pretty consistent look of surprise when we explain to them that just about all candles will "float". (I say "just about" since I'm sure somewhere there is a candle that won't) It is not the shape or size of the candle that makes it float but the fact that wax is lighter than water. The shape of a floating candle is important since that determines if the wick will stay out of the water. You could put one of our biggest pillar candles, 6x9, in a tub of water and it will float, only it will float on its side, putting the wicks under water.

CBS News Video - Burning Candles Safely

I just watched this news video done by CBS news on burning candles safely. It was a well done video and has some helpful information in it. I thought I'd share it just as a reminder to make sure to use your candles safely. Many times we (myself included) burn candles so frequently that we forget that if we are not careful we could injure our children or pets, or cause damage to our homes. The number one thing to keep in mind that was not mentioned in the news broadcast is NEVER leave a burning candle unattended. If you have to leave a room where a candle is lit, either blow the candle out or carefully take it into the other room with you. One of the most common areas I have seen lit candles left alone is in bathrooms. Many times the candles are left lit on the back of toilets. I don't think that the back of a toilet is a good place for a lit candle because someone with long hair, or a hooded sweatshirt could end up catching themselves on fire. Keep lit candles out of the reach of children. I know when my two girls were younger they were fascinated by the flicker candle flame. They also knew that the whole purpose of lighting candles was to blow them. Where did they learn that? The joy of blowing out birthday candles of course. So to kids, candles are a fun play thing. Please, please, please use candles responsibly. Now that everyone is terrified of candles, come check out our site for a wide selection of candles at really affordable prices.

Nice Testimonial

I received this email the other day for an extremely happy customer and thought I'd share it.

"Just wanted to send kudos your way for such quick shipping and a high quality product. I was having trouble finding a 6x9 pillar to fill a large, floor standing candle urn and your product filled the bill. I picked up the black, Opium candle and must say that the fragrance is a pleasant incense, not at all overwhelming like some cheap head shop. Great stuff! Keep up the good work and I'll spread the word about your business. Best, Neill - Florida"

It seems that it is more of human nature to send emails when your unhappy about an outcome then to send them when things turned out perfect. Of course we are here to help if there is a problem with anything. If you have any testimonials about our products we would love to hear them. I will be setting up a testimonials page on our site soon but for now you can either leave them as a comment here or shoot us an email.

Not All Candles Are Created Equal

We received a phone call the other day from a customer who had just placed a nice size order of jar candles with us a few days before this call. She wanted to check the status of it and we were happy to tell her it was shipping out that day. As the conversation started to come to a close she said she had a minor complaint. She said that on her previous order of jar candles non of them stayed lit, the flames just kept going out. That is not usually a complaint we get about our candles so we began to ask her a few questions of our own to try and see what the problem may be. Through continued conversation the lady admitted that she had been on our site and had left it. She wanted to do a little more looking around the web before making a purchase. She came upon a different candle company's website who sells jar candles in glass that look similar to ours. She must have called her order into this other company because she said she asked them if their jar candles were the same thing as U.S. Candle Company's candles. The customer service person told her they were so she placed her order with them. We explained to her that we do not sell to this other company and that they were not our candles. In fact she told us that her 26oz jar candles had 2 wicks in them. We DO NOT put 2 wicks in our 26oz jar candles, we don't need to. Our jar candles burn great with 1 wick. The point of sharing this story is that if you want OUR great burning jar candles make sure that you are getting OUR candles and not some cheap imitation made with lower quality materials. If you ever have doubts that another sites candles are not ours feel free to call or leave a comment to find out if they are legitimate.

Top 20 Fundraiser Fragrances Sept - Dec.

One of the most common questions we get asked by fundraising groups is "Which fragrances should I choose for my sale?" In order to help you out with that, we have put together a list of the top 20 scents. These numbers are based on the number of jars candles sold September - December, which is the best time of year for fundraising. The list is in order from highest number sold to least number sold.

1. Spiced Pumpkin


2. Baked Apple Crisp


3. Apple Cinnamon


4. Sage and Citrus


5. Maple Sticky Buns


6. Warm Vanilla Sugar


7. Caribbean Holiday


8. Homemade Pumpkin Roll


9. Sugar Cookie


10. French Vanilla


11. Cinnamon Stick


12. Gingerbread


13. Blueberry Cobbler


14. Holiday Wreath


15. Cinnamon Bun


16. Victorian Christmas


17. Lilac


18. Autumn Harvest


19. Christmas Essense


20. Coconut Mango Splash

What would you like to see?

In a business driven by what customers want, we do our best to come up with new products we think you want. There are a lot of ways to determine what will be in demand and what won't but the easiest way is to ask... So we are asking, what would you like to see us offer on our site? Let us know, anything from candles to accessory items, and we will do our best to make it available for you at affordable pricing. You can suggest items to us in an email or leave a comment right here on our blog. We are listening.

2009 Wedding Colors

The color trends for wedding decorations have been moving away from strictly white and ivory and more toward bold, vibrant colors. Some examples of these 2009 designer colors are hot pinks, bright oranges, tiffany blue, yellows, and purples. These fresh trendy colors help make the wedding atmosphere fun and bright. Use some modern accessories to give your wedding decor a classy touch. White and ivory decorations will always be part of wedding decorating but a splash of strategically placed color can have a really nice affect. The hardest part of adding these trendy colors to your wedding decor is not going overboard. You don't want all the guests to need sunglasses just to find their tables. Of course if you are doing a tropical theme wedding then color is the order of the day. So there is occasion to have color as the bulk of the design, it's your wedding do it your way. We have a very nice line of unscented candles available in these colors to help get the look you want. Start planning your wedding decorations with enough time to make sure you can get what you want, and remember to have fun.

Bridal Shower Candle Poem

We've had many customers come into our store with this poem in their pocket, looking for the tapers to go with it. This poem, can be attached to a basket full of tapers or columns in the appropriate colors, makes a wonderful gift for a bride-to-be and her soon to be husband.

A basket of candles that come in a pair,
of all different colors, for you two to share.

The white ones burn first, they are wrapped in white lace,
to celebrate the first night in your new chosen place.

The mauve pair is smaller, and thinner,
they burn with your first company over for dinner.

There are candles to burn Christmas Eve, before bed,
your first Christmas married, that’s why they are red.

The navy candles are for your first fight;
use them to burn when making up all night.

Pink candles will set the mood and pave the way
for your very first married Valentine’s Day.

Now when your first year of marriage is through,
the Ivory anniversary pair will light for you two.

By this time we hope maybe, just maybe,
you could burn the yellow ones on the birth of your baby.

And just when you thought you could put these away;
take the light blue ones for your fifth anniversary day.

Now just one pair left for the big "25",
the anniversary pair that will keep your love alive.

So congratulations both of you on the start of your "forever",
may the two of you always be happy together.

And burn these candles just like I said,
but please don’t forget…blow them out before bed!

To make this basket work you need
a basket, a bit of white lace, 1 pair of White candles, 1 pair of mauve candles thinner than the rest of your candles, 1 pair of Red candles, 1 pair of navy candles, 1 pair of pink candles, 1 pair of ivory candles, 1 pair of yellow candles, 1 pair of light blue candles, and 1 pair of silver candles or the color of your choosing.

Open For Questions.

With the many questions we get in regards to our candles and other companies candles in general I thought it would be a good idea to open up the blog for questions. I will do my best to help resolve any issues or answer any questions you may have. I'm sure that "I don't know" will be one of the answers I use but I don't plan on making that my favorite one. So if you have something you have been wondering, fire away.

Is The Scent Gone?

When we make our scented candles the fragrance is added to the liquid wax prior to pouring it into the molds or glass jars. So the candle is scented the same strength from top to bottom. This is how most candle manufacturers make their candles. Occasionally we get a customer that says when they first light a candle it smelled but after a while the scent was gone. The easiest way to explain this is the "fish analogy". If you have ever cooked fish in your kitchen you instantly smell it as it heats up and for a long time after it has been eaten but eventually you stop noticing it altogether. The fishy smell is gone. However, if someone else comes into your home they can instantly tell you cooked fish for dinner. So why can they smell it and you cant? The olfactory receptors in your nose that detect smell become accustom to it and have stopped sending neurological signals to your brain to tell you that fish is in the air. One of the easiest ways to get around this issue is to use multiple conflicting fragrances, one at a time. Burn one fragrance for a while then switch to another and so on. This helps to continually stimulate the sensors in your nose and trigger the signal to your brain. There are some poor quality candles out there that don't have a very strong scent, you're on your own to figure those out. Just remember, you can get a great smelling candle without spending a ton of money on a name brand.

Way Too Short?

A few posts back I gave a tip on burning candles involving wick trimming. Today I was getting ready to light a candle in my home and I trimmed my wicks prior to lighting it. Lately I have been burning our new 2 wick 12oz soy candles. I trimmed both wicks but on the second one I snipped it a little too short. I went ahead and lit them both to see if it might turn out all right. In about 5 minutes the short wick was out. I realized I should have included a tip in my prior post on how to fix a candle with a wick that is too short. There are two simple methods to use in this situation. If your candle is a multi-wick candle you can try lighting both wicks and see what happens. If after a few minutes the short wick goes out, simply pour out the liquid wax into the trash, trim the longer wick and re-light them. The second method can be used if not enough wax has been liquified or if your candle only has one wick. Using a butter knife, spoon, or other similar object, carve a layer of wax off the top of your candle and throw it out (or put it into a candle warmer). The re-light your candle, grab a book, and relax.

A Common Unscented Candle Question

One of the most common questions we receive from customers who have ordered unscented candles from us is "Why do my candles smell, I ordered unscented?" I kind of chuckle when I get this question because it actually helps us market our scented candles too. The answer to this common phenomenon is this: The unscented candles that were sent to our customers are unscented. What is happening is that we make both our scented and unscented candles in the same building. We also do all of our packing for shipments in the same area too. The air in here gets pretty heavy with scent from the wax used in our scented candles and it sticks to everything. The packing peanuts and cardboard boxes absorb some of the air saturating them with fragrance. The scent in the air is even strong enough that when we go out to eat, after work on Friday nights, the cooks and waiters/waitresses that know us will come say hi to us while we are still inline because they smelled us walk into the restaurant. So the simple solution to solving the case of the scented unscented candles is take them out of the packaging and use them when you are ready. They won't give off any smell. The way this helps market our scented candles is if our unscented candles can smell that great, imagine what our scented candles smell like.

Decorative Accents Aid In Home Decorating

Just about everybody, except for maybe college age males, are at least a little bit interested in decorating their abode. It is simple to put together very attractive and affordable displays that can help brighten up you home. We have just recently added a new category to our site called Botanical Accents. It includes all kinds of nuts, pods, balls, and textures in a variety of colors. Adding these small decorative pieces around a display of candles, in a glass vase, or bowl is all it takes to put that extra touch into your decor. Even a college age guy can do it, if he wanted to.

Candle Burning Tip

One of the single best things that you can do to keep your candles burn correctly is trim the wicks each time you light it. Candle wicks tend to get a little too long, the longer a candle burns. Of course there are exceptions. If you like to let your candles burn all day it would good to occasionally extinguish it and trim the wick back down to about a 1/4 inch. If you notice that you candles are burning hot (the flame seems big) you can trim the wick even a little shorter. Some fragrances burn a little "easier" than others like vanilla. Make sure that you keep the wick trimmings out of your candle. There are lots of special cutting tools available that will hold the wick piece so it doesn't fall in. We sell the Wickman Wick Trimmer which works nicely. A pair of scissors works fine too. Keeping your wick the right length will also help reduce sooting.

Don't be afraid of your candles. If you notice that the wick has drifted out of the center of the candle, use a knife or pair of scissors to move it back to center while the wax is warm.

Stimulate Your $ cent-es

In times of economical crisis, after the fears subside, people start to realize what's really important. We start to enjoy the small things in life - a home cooked meal, time with loved ones, and we appreciate the things we have. Decorate your home even on a "shoe-string budget". You can even use them as a functional light source. Get the most "bang for your buck", using our affordable candles to stimulate your mind, body and spirit with warm, soothing, or invigorating candle fragrances.

Wedding Candle Ideas and Tips (part two)

Scent or No Scent?

Don't rule out scent at your wedding reception. Choose candles that have a fruit or food related fragrance, such as vanilla, chocolate, apples, or berries. Still think scent is not right for your wedding? Use unscented candles from our pillar, votive, floater, and taper lines.

The Perfect Color

Don't stress if we don't have your "perfect" color. The lights in reception rooms are usually dim. The color trends for this year are bold, exotic, and bright. Aqua, Hot pink, oranges, yellows and lime green are the colors for 2009! Don't want to go too bold? Use these shades as a splash of color in your candle arrangements.

Destination wedding

Want a destination wedding, but guests can't afford to travel? Make the destination your wedding theme. Use exotic, tropical colors in your wedding candles and accessories.

Pearls and Ribbons

Create candle designs that are truly your own and save cash at the same time! Craft Stores carry pearl pins that you can pin to your wedding candles, and attach a ribbon in your wedding colors.

Unique Tables

Not all of the table centerpieces need to be exactly alike. You can decorate with a set of 3 pillars on one table and on the next table have a bowl with floating candles. The use of reed diffusers as a centerpiece can add dimension that is visually and aesthetically stimulating.

Also, let those centerpieces do "double duty". Designate someone to distribute them to special friends or relatives, or to hospitals, churches, or retirement homes when your event is over. You could use them as prizes given to winners of games played during the reception.

Varying heights

Use candles of different heights to make a statement. A mixed arrangement of pillar candles, of all different sizes make a spectacular look.

Finishing touches

Create your own table decorations for a one-of-a-kind wedding! Use stones, beaded garland, or dried flowers as a finishing touch to your centerpiece.

Favors and Gifts

Our candles are cost-effective, so consider purchasing one for each guest at your reception. Wrap them in tulle, or with raffia ribbon, and leave them at each person's place setting.

If you are stumped when it comes to what to get your bridesmaids, consider the gift of candles! Personalize each candle with a photo of the happy couple, either alone or with that bridesmaid, or with the wedding date, invitation, or design of your choosing processed on each candle!

Honeymoon romance

One of the most romantic ways to begin your lives together is by the light of a candle. Toss a candle tin or some tealites into your suitcase! You will earn points with your partner!

IT'S YOUR WEDDING! DO IT THE WAY YOU WANT!

Wedding Candle Ideas and Tips (part one)

There are so many different things you can do with candles for your wedding. Whether you use candles as the main focal point in your centerpiece, or as accents on your tables, you can create a look that is unique and personal. Below are some tips and ideas on how to make your wedding easy, affordable, and a "day to remember".

Light your candles prior to the event.

Lighting your candles prior to the wedding, will help them re-light easier and faster during the ceremony. Light the candle wick briefly, and then blow it out. Also, check the area around your candles. Test lighting will ensure that they will stay lit throughout the entire ceremony, and won't be extinguished due to overhead fans or air ducts.

Outside Weddings

If you are planning an outside wedding, glass hurricanes or cylinders are a wonderful was to help keep your candles lit on a windy day.

Candle light Receptions

Use candles as a functional light source. Dim the room lights and light the candles to create a romantic look. Candles give you the most "bang for your buck", and this can be an economical way to start your new life together.

Storing Candles

Store your candles in their boxes, and keep them away from direct sunlight so the color won't fade. Store them at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze them, this will cause the wax to crack.

Unity Candles

Want a unity candle that is made just for you? We can personalize your candles by using your invitation, wedding date or a design of your choosing. Want to keep that candle forever? We can put a tealite in the top of it, so your candle will remain intact for years to come.

Memorial Candles

A great way to include a deceased loved one in your wedding ceremony is with a memorial candle ceremony. A personalized memorial candle can be a touching yet simple way to have that person participate in your ceremony. Place it next to your unity candles at the ceremony, or have it at the entrance of the church.

Soy Votive Line

We have just added a new candle to our soy line. Due to the great response to our soy jars we have added soy votives. These candles are made with 100% soy wax, burn great, and smell strong. They retail for $2.75 each and that includes the votive cup. These candles are ready to go right out of the box. We also offer a sampler pack which includes 1 of each of our 12 scented votives for $28.80 per dozen. Get yours today.

Free Candle Giveaway

We are offering to give away FREE sample soy candles to any of our customers willing to do a product review in their blog. The great part is that you can review any candle product that you have purchased from us in the past. It doesn't matter how long ago you bought it. All you need to do is:

• email us to let us know the item you will be reviewing


• email us the link to your blog


• wait for us to email you back with the keywords and link back URL's to use in your review


• write the review in your blog and email us the URL


• email us your shipping address to get your Free candle

If you have never purchased one of our candles feel free to purchase one and do a review to get in on the free giveaway! Just go to U.S. Candle Co. and order what you like.


*free giveaway only available in the 48 states

*only 1 free giveaway per customer

*offer expires March 31, 2009