At MemoryWicks Candle Co., quality matters. Our sustainable candles are hand poured in small batches using our own unique blend of all natural soy and beeswax blend. Our candles come in beautiful, reusable vessels. We use premium fragrance oils that are locally sourced, right here in the Midwest.  

Our fragrance oils are free of phthalates and made without ingredients found on California’s Proposition 65 list.  In addition, our fragrances are free Carcinogens, Mutagens, Reproductive Toxins, Organ Toxins and Acute Toxins.

 

Can I order custom candles for special occasions or corporate events?

Yes, you can. We are happy to work with you to create a custom or personalized candle for your occasion. Minimum quantities apply.  

How long before my order ships?

Most orders ship within 1-3 days assuming the items are in stock, there are no changes to the order, and depending on shipping service selected during checkout if applicable. In the event there may be a particular delay due to unforeseen circumstances we will reach out.

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

Yes! You will receive an email/text when your order is ready to be picked up.  Email MemoryWicksCandleCo@gmail.com for more information.

How can I keep my candles looking their best?

Candles may discolor or fade when they are exposed to intense light for extended periods or stored in warm/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 our own recipe that consists of a Soy Beeswax Blend.  This is the perfect "green" choice. Our soy beeswax blend is luxurious and burns longer and cleaner than paraffin candles.  Beeswax gives our candles an even longer burn time due to its low melting point and emits less soot.  Our candles are a safe and natural alternative to petroleum-based paraffin wax candles.  

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. Lead wicks have been banned in the U.S. for many years now.

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 soot, 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 - this 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?

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) can occur for a number of reasons.

Multiple factors can contribute to tunneling. Improper 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.

Try to burn your candle 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 2-4 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 head on my wick after burning? What is it?

A carbon buildup, otherwise known as a "mushroom head" 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. So, If you do blow your candle out, 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 in a matter of seconds.

Do your wicks contain lead?

No, not at all. Its been illegal for sometime, but 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 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 on a hot porch 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 FedEx, USPS, etc.

We offer the following tips to avoid problems:

* Because deliveries to your home will be left on front porch (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 employment if allowed. 

* If you are expecting a shipment 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.

* Also, as a courtesy we aim to ship early in the week to help avoid packages being left in warehouses and on 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 shipping service and 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. Please retain the original packaging materials in case we need it returned back to us. Also please check out Shipping and Returns.

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 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, co-worker, or 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 containers when they are empty?

We do not recommend refilling our containers 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 display.