Journal

Your Cinder bubble candle is more than just a candle — it's a sculptural piece designed to bring beauty to your space whether lit or unlit. Here's how to ensure you get the most beautiful burn and longest life from your candle.

The First Burn is the Most Important

The first time you light your bubble candle sets the stage for every burn that follows. Allow the wax to melt completely to the edges of the candle — this typically takes 2-3 hours for our 3x3 Bubble and 1-2 hours for the Mini Bubble.

This creates what's called a "memory ring." If you extinguish your candle before the wax pool reaches the edges, it may tunnel down the center in future burns, wasting wax and reducing burn time.

Trim Your Wick

Before each burn, trim your wick to approximately 1/4 inch (6mm). A properly trimmed wick ensures:

• A cleaner, smoke-free burn
• Reduced soot on the wax
• Even heat distribution
• Longer overall candle life

You can use scissors, nail clippers, or a specialized wick trimmer. Simply pinch off the charred portion of the wick before lighting.

Burn Time Guidelines

For optimal performance, burn your bubble candle for 2-4 hours at a time. Burning for less than 2 hours may cause tunneling, while burning for more than 4 hours can cause the wick to "mushroom" and produce excess smoke.

Placement Matters

Place your candle on a heat-resistant, level surface away from drafts, vents, and air currents. Drafts can cause uneven burning, dripping, and excessive smoking. Keep candles away from flammable materials and never leave them unattended.

Enjoying Your Candle Unlit

One of the beautiful things about Cinder bubble candles is their sculptural quality. Many of our customers display them as decorative objects, only lighting them for special occasions. The subtle fragrance releases even when unlit, providing a gentle scent to your space.

Storage Tips

Store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Soy wax can be sensitive to temperature changes, so avoid storing in extremely hot or cold environments. If your candle develops a "frosted" appearance, don't worry — this is a natural characteristic of pure soy wax and doesn't affect performance.

The unique sculptural form of our bubble candles makes them incredibly versatile decorative pieces. Here are five inspiring ways to incorporate them into your home decor.

1. Create a Curated Shelfie

Bubble candles are perfect for styled bookshelves. Their geometric form creates visual interest when placed alongside books, small plants, and collected objects. Try grouping a 3x3 Bubble with a Mini Bubble in complementary colors for added dimension.

Pro tip: Use the rule of threes — group your candle with two other objects of varying heights for a balanced, designer-worthy arrangement.

2. Elevate Your Coffee Table

Transform your coffee table into a focal point by creating a styled tray vignette. Place one or two bubble candles on a decorative tray alongside a small stack of coffee table books and a single stem in a bud vase. Choose candle colors that complement your existing decor palette.

3. Bathroom Sanctuary

Turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat. Place a bubble candle on your vanity or bathtub ledge to create ambiance during your self-care rituals. Our Clean Linen scent with notes of lemon, cotton blossom, and sandalwood is particularly lovely for this setting.

The soft glow of candlelight transforms any bathroom into a calming sanctuary — perfect for unwinding after a long day.

4. Dining Table Centerpiece

Create an elegant tablescape by arranging multiple bubble candles as a centerpiece. For a cohesive look, choose candles in the same scent but varying colors, or the same color in both sizes. Scatter some dried flowers or eucalyptus around the base for an organic, gathered aesthetic.

Our Mini Bubbles are especially perfect for dinner parties — they provide intimate lighting without obstructing conversation across the table.

5. Bedroom Nightstand

Create a calming bedside ritual by placing a bubble candle on your nightstand. Light it while you read or wind down for the evening, then extinguish before sleep. Our Bohemian Rose scent, with its warm notes of rose, magnolia, and patchouli, creates the perfect atmosphere for relaxation.

Pair with a small plant, a beautiful book, and a minimal lamp for a perfectly styled nightstand.

Bonus: Mix and Match Colors

Don't be afraid to mix colors! Our palette is designed to work harmoniously together. Some of our favorite combinations:

• Soft & Romantic: Blush + Porcelain
• Fresh & Natural: Sage + Butter
• Warm & Cozy: Honey + Porcelain
• Cool & Calm: Mist + Sage

Every Cinder candle begins with intention. From selecting the finest soy wax to perfecting each sculptural form, our hand-pouring process is a labor of love that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibility.

Why Soy Wax?

We chose 100% natural soy wax for our candles for several important reasons. Soy wax is derived from soybeans, making it a renewable and biodegradable resource. It burns cleaner than paraffin, producing less soot and releasing fewer toxins into the air.

Soy wax also has a lower melting point, which means it burns slower and cooler, giving you more hours of enjoyment from each candle. And it holds fragrance beautifully, releasing scent gradually and naturally.

The Pouring Process

Each batch of Cinder candles is poured by hand in our small studio. Here's a glimpse into our process:

Step 1: Preparing the Wax
We begin by melting our premium soy wax to the precise temperature required for optimal scent throw and smooth finish. Temperature control is crucial — even a few degrees can affect the final result.

Step 2: Adding Fragrance
Once the wax reaches the perfect temperature, we carefully add our custom fragrance blends. We use phthalate-free fragrance oils, chosen for their complexity and the way they complement modern living spaces. The scent is added at a specific temperature to ensure proper binding with the wax.

Step 3: Adding Color
For our signature colors — Porcelain, Honey, Sage, Butter, Mist, and Blush — we use skin-safe dyes that create our soft, muted palette. Creating our ombre designs requires particular skill, as we layer different colored wax to achieve that beautiful gradient effect.

Step 4: The Pour
We pour the wax into our specially designed bubble molds at a precise temperature. Pouring too hot can cause issues with the surface finish, while pouring too cool can create air pockets. This is where experience and intuition come into play.

Step 5: Curing
After demolding, our candles cure for at least one week. This curing period allows the fragrance to fully bind with the wax, resulting in a better scent throw when the candle is burned. Patience is essential to quality.

The Beauty of Handmade

Because each candle is hand-poured, slight variations may occur from batch to batch. We consider these variations part of the beauty of handmade goods — each candle is truly unique. You might notice subtle differences in color saturation or the way the bubble texture forms. These are signs of authentic craftsmanship, not flaws.

Small Batch Philosophy

We intentionally keep our batches small. This allows us to maintain quality control, ensure freshness, and give each candle the attention it deserves. It also means we can be more responsive to custom requests and seasonal collections.

When you purchase a Cinder candle, you're not just buying a product — you're supporting a small, independent business and the art of traditional candlemaking.

In our busy, screen-filled lives, creating moments of intentional calm has become more important than ever. Scent is one of the most powerful tools we have for shifting our mood and creating atmosphere — and it's at the heart of what we do at Cinder.

The Science of Scent

Our sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions and memory. This is why certain scents can instantly transport us to a specific time or place, or shift our emotional state within seconds.

When you light a candle, you're not just adding fragrance to a room — you're creating a sensory experience that can reduce stress, improve focus, or help you wind down.

Morning Rituals

Start your day with intention by lighting a candle during your morning routine. Our Spring Blossom scent, with its bright notes of cherry blossom, bergamot, and peony, is perfect for energizing mornings. Light it while you enjoy your coffee, journal, or prepare for the day ahead.

The simple act of striking a match and watching the flame catch can serve as a mindful moment before the rush of the day begins.

Work-from-Home Focus

If you work from home, scent can help create boundaries between "work mode" and "home mode." Our Clean Linen fragrance, with its notes of lemon, cotton blossom, and sandalwood, creates a fresh, focused atmosphere perfect for productivity.

Light your candle when you begin work, and extinguish it when you're done for the day. This ritual helps your brain understand when it's time to focus and when it's time to relax.

Evening Wind-Down

Create a sacred evening ritual to signal to your body that it's time to relax. Our Bohemian Rose scent, with its warm, grounding notes of rose, magnolia, and patchouli, is perfect for unwinding.

Light your candle an hour before bed. Use this time to disconnect from screens, take a bath, read, or practice gentle stretching. The soft glow and subtle fragrance create the perfect atmosphere for transitioning into rest.

Weekend Self-Care

Designate time on weekends for deeper self-care practices. Set the scene with candles, run a bath, apply a face mask, or simply sit in stillness. The presence of a lit candle transforms ordinary moments into intentional rituals.

Creating Your Ritual

The most important aspect of any self-care practice is consistency. Choose a time of day that works for you, select a scent that resonates, and commit to showing up for yourself regularly. Over time, the simple act of lighting your candle will become a powerful trigger for relaxation and presence.

Choosing a scent can feel overwhelming. That's why we've kept our collection intentionally focused on three signature fragrances, each designed to complement modern living spaces and meaningful moments.

Bohemian Rose (BR)

Notes: Basil | Grapefruit | Rose | Magnolia | Patchouli

Our most romantic and complex fragrance, Bohemian Rose opens with unexpected freshness from basil and grapefruit before revealing a heart of delicate rose and magnolia. Warm patchouli grounds the scent, giving it depth and longevity.

Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, evening rituals, romantic dinners

Season: Year-round, but especially beautiful in autumn and winter

Pairs well with: Honey, Blush, and Porcelain colors

Clean Linen (CL)

Notes: Lemon | Cotton Blossom | Linen | Sandalwood | Violet

Fresh and familiar, Clean Linen evokes the comfort of sun-dried sheets and quiet Sunday mornings. Bright lemon and soft cotton blossom create an uplifting opening, while subtle sandalwood and violet add sophistication.

Best for: Bathrooms, home offices, guest rooms, spring cleaning

Season: Spring and summer, or anytime you want a fresh atmosphere

Pairs well with: Porcelain, Butter, and Mist colors

Spring Blossom (SB)

Notes: Cherry Blossom | Bergamot | Magnolia | Peony

Light and feminine, Spring Blossom captures the essence of a garden in bloom. Cherry blossom and bergamot create a joyful opening, while magnolia and peony add softness and romance.

Best for: Living spaces, dining rooms, celebrations, bridal showers

Season: Spring and early summer

Pairs well with: Sage, Mist, and Blush colors

How to Choose

Not sure which scent is right for you? Consider:

• Where will you burn it? Fresh scents work well in bathrooms and offices, while warmer scents suit bedrooms and living areas.
• When will you burn it? Bright scents are energizing for mornings, while deeper scents help you wind down in the evening.
• What mood do you want to create? Romance, focus, relaxation, or celebration?

When in doubt, Bohemian Rose is our most versatile and best-selling fragrance — a safe choice for any space or occasion.

Let's be honest: most wedding favors end up forgotten or discarded. But candles? Candles are different. They're useful, beautiful, and every time your guests light them, they'll think of your special day.

Why Candles Make Perfect Wedding Favors

Wedding favors should be something guests genuinely want to take home and use. Candles check all the boxes:

• Universally appreciated: Everyone can use a beautiful candle
• Memorable: The scent creates lasting associations with your wedding
• Decorative: They double as table decor during the reception
• Size-inclusive: Unlike clothing or jewelry, candles fit everyone

Our Mini Bubble: The Perfect Favor

Our 2x2 Mini Bubble was designed with events in mind. It's the perfect size for a wedding favor — substantial enough to feel special, but compact enough for guests to easily take home. The sculptural bubble design makes it instantly recognizable and Instagram-worthy.

Customization Options

We offer several ways to personalize your wedding candles:

Color Matching: Choose from our standard palette or request a custom color to match your wedding theme. We've created custom shades of dusty blue, sage green, terracotta, and more.

Ombre Options: Our ombre candles feature a beautiful gradient effect — perfect for adding visual interest to your tablescape.

Packaging: We offer custom packaging options including ribbon colors, gift boxes, and personalized tags.

How to Order

For wedding and event orders, we recommend:

• Reaching out at least 6-8 weeks before your event
• Ordering 10% extra to account for any last-minute guest additions
• Choosing one scent for consistency (Bohemian Rose is our most popular for weddings)

Styling Ideas

During the reception, your candle favors can do double duty as decor:

• Place one at each seat as a place card holder
• Cluster them in the center of the table as a centerpiece
• Line them along the aisle for an ethereal entrance
• Create a display table where guests can pick their color

Wholesale Pricing

We offer special pricing for bulk orders. Minimum order quantities apply:

• Mini Bubble (Standard Colors): 24 units minimum
• Mini Bubble (Custom Colors): 48 units minimum