Why are AVA & MAY candles special?
Our candles are made out of a vegetable wax blend, are vegan and completely cruelty-free. Our wicks are also made from 100% sustainably sourced cotton and are not soaked in lead. The wooden lid of our candles is sustainably sourced and can be used either as a coaster for the candle or to close it. We also use high quality fragrance oils developed by world class perfumers. All our products are manufactured in Europe and the majority of our raw materials are also sourced in Europe, in order to have a better carbon footprint and higher quality.
How long do the candles burn?
Within our core range, our standard sized candles (180gr) have a burn time of 40 hours, midsize candles (380gr) have a burn time of 55 hours, and the large candles (500gr) can burn up to 70 hours. The mini candles have an average burning time of 8 hours. For all special/limited edition products which come in special jars and sizes, please see the product page for the burn time.
How long can I store AVA & MAY candles? Until when should I use them?
There is no specific date until the candles have to be used but we recommend to use them within a year. Otherwise the intensity of the scent could be impaired.
Why does the wick of my candle sometimes form a knob?
The so-called "wick flower" is a natural reaction to the perfume oils in the scented candles. This is when soot collects on the wick. Therefore, shorten the wick to approx. 0.5 to 1 cm before each lighting so that the flame shines brighter and no soot marks form on the glass.
How do I prevent tunnelling of my candle?
Tunnelling happens when only the center of the wax melts, leaving unused wax around the sides. To avoid this, let your candle burn long enough on the first burn for the melted wax to reach all the way to the edges — this can take 2–5 hours depending on the size. After that, try to let it reach the edges each time you burn it for the best performance. The initial burn is really the most important to let reach the edges, as otherwise your candle will have a "memory" and continue to tunnel if it was extinguished before it reached the edges.
If your candle has already started to tunnel, you can gently wrap a layer of foil around the rim (leaving an opening above the flame) for a short burn — the extra heat will help melt the remaining wax and even out the surface. Check out our Instagram highlight for Care Tips to see this in practice. We recommend to only remove the foil after you have blown the candle out and allowed it to cool, as the foil can be hot to the touch.
Why is there still wax in my candle?
Do not worry - this is intentional and calculated into the burning time of the candle! At the bottom of each candle incorporated a metal base that extinguishes the flame at about 1 cm of residual wax to protect the glass from overheating.
DIY & Recycling Ideas: What to do with empty candle jars?
You can give your candle jars a second life! By removing the remaining wax, our candle jars can be used as a flower box, a gift box with a lovely message, an egg cup, a shot glass or storage for the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. There are no limits to your imagination! Share your ideas with us or check out our Instagram account or Pinterest for inspiration!
Which products fit on your decorative trays?
Both our concrete and bamboo tray can fit all of our candle sizes up to 550g. Our concrete tray has dimensions of 15x30cm, and the bamboo tray has dimensions of 40x20cm.