A candle does not spoil in damp the way food spoils. But through one humid season in northern Vietnam, a candle kept in the wrong place can still be hard to light, collect water under the lid and show mould on the vessel.
The three common problems are: the wick takes up moisture so it is hard to light and burns unsteadily in the first minutes, the lid and the vessel wall collect water when the temperature changes, and mould appears on natural vessel materials such as bark or wood. The general answer is to store it closed, somewhere cool and airy, and not directly on the floor.
Storing candles in a humid home
- Keep the lid on when not in use, so dust and water vapour do not settle on the wax surface.
- Raise it off the floor and away from external walls, the two dampest places in a house.
- Avoid the bathroom and avoid window sills, where temperature and humidity change constantly.
- With a paper box, keep the box dry; a damp box passes the smell of damp paper to the candle.
- Store it apart from anything with a strong smell, because wax takes up odours from its surroundings.
If the wick has taken up moisture
Take the lid off and leave the candle somewhere airy and dry for a few hours. Trim the tip of the wick and try lighting it again. If the flame is still small and goes out, leave it another half day. Do not use a hair dryer or direct heat on the wax surface, because the surface will deform.
Mould on a jar made of natural material
With cinnamon bark vessels and other vessels made of natural materials, a thin white bloom of mould on the outside can happen when they sit a long time somewhere damp with no air movement. The answer is to wipe it dry with a soft cloth and move the vessel somewhere airy. In our workshop we find the best place for this kind of vessel is moderately dry with a light draught passing through, rather than in a closed cupboard. This is an observation from our workshop.
Conversely, a very dry room is not good for bark either, because the natural cracks will open further. The comfortable level is in between, and it is close to the level that is comfortable for the people in the room too.
A few questions you often send us
Does a candle have a shelf life
Wax keeps for a very long time, but the scent fades over time. A candle kept for several years usually still burns normally while the smell has thinned from when it was new. Keeping it sealed and out of light slows this down.
Does a slight colour change on the wax matter
With a scented candle kept near light, the wax surface can darken or yellow slightly over time. This is usually a cosmetic matter. If the surface has an unusual smell or feels tacky, that is a different matter and it should not be used.
Should a desiccant sachet go in the candle box
In a sealed box they are useful, and they should be replaced periodically. Do not let a desiccant sachet touch the wax surface or the wick directly.