We use a blend of coconut and soy wax that contains a miniscule amount of food grade paraffin to improve candle performance. Paraffin wax is safe to burn and does not emit harmful particles. A 2021 study tested scented candles made from different waxes, including soy and paraffin, and found that all types were safe to burn indoors. No type of wax had a better emission profile than any others: https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Measurement-and-evaluation-of-gaseous-and-particulate-emissions-from-burning-scented-and-unscented-candles-2021.pdf To learn more about candle wax sustainability and why we chose our wax, check out our blog!

We use a few different kinds of flat-braided cotton wicks depending on what works best for each fragrance. None of our wicks contain lead (or zinc). Lead wicks have actually been banned in the United States since 2003! If you would like to learn more about this, check out this report: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2003/CPSC-Bans-Candles-With-Lead-Cored-Wicks

Phthalates are a large group of chemicals with widespread uses in consumer products. Some research has found that exposure to phthalates is linked to harmful health effects. For example, studies have shown that phthalates can disrupt hormones and affect reproductive functioning. Although the CDC and other government organizations have somewhat acknowledged these concerns, most phthalates have not been banned for use in consumer products. In candles, phthalates are sometimes used in fragrances to increase the scent’s intensity. To be on the safe side, none of our candles contain phthalates. If you would like to learn more about this, check out these resources: - Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/07/what-are-phthalates - Harvard School of Public Health: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/the-big-3-why-phthalates-should-be-restricted-or-banned-from-consumer-products/ - CDC Factsheet: https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html#:~:text=Phthalates%20are%20a%20group%20of,%2C%20shampoos%2C%20hair%20sprays).

Trim your wick to about 1/4 inch before burning! - How? Use a wick trimmer, scissors, or even a (clean!) set of nail clippers to gently snip off the burnt top part of the wick, along with any little soot balls that may have formed during the previous burn. If any debris or soot balls fall into the jar, be sure to remove them. - Why? This helps the candle burn more evenly and slowly! It also reduces soot buildup on the wick. Burn your candle for at least 4 hours, but not over 5 hours at a time. - Why? This helps the candle reach a good melt pool. If you burn the candle for only 1-3 hours, it will not have time to melt outwards towards the edges of the jar. This can lead to tunneling. But if you burn your candle for over 5 hours at a time, the melt pool will get too deep! This means the candle will burn faster than usual and will not last as long as it otherwise would. The optimal burn time for our candles is 4-5 hours per burn session. Keep your candle out of drafty areas. - Why? Drafts and gusts of air make the oxygen supply for your candle flame inconsistent, which can lead to the production of more soot and a less even burn. For the best burn, keep your candle away from drafts and air vents. Keep your lit candle on a stable, flame-resistant surface (wood surfaces are not recommended). Do not leave your candle burning unattended! Keep your lit candle away from pets, children, and flammable materials. - Why? Fire safety!

Please refer to our Troubleshooting Guide blog post (https://www.flickeringfelinecandleco.com/post/trouble-shooting-guide-is-it-normal-if-my-candle) about how to address common issues with your candle, such as wax hangup on the sides of the jar. Hint: most of these issues are actually normal or can be solved by following the candle care instructions above.

You should stop using the candle when there is 1/2 inch of wax left in the jar. At this point, the candle is no longer safe to burn due to the very small amount of wax remaining.

All of our packaging is ecofriendly (with the exception of the plastic packing tape used for shipping boxes – we’re working on that)! Please reuse or recycle your honeycomb paper and paper kraft bag or cardboard box after you unpack your candle(s) at home. You can dispose of the biodegradable packing peanuts by reusing them, putting them in your home compost, or dissolving them in warm water and washing them down your sink! To learn more, check out our blog post on packaging (https://www.flickeringfelinecandleco.com/post/flickeringfelinepackaging).

Nope! Some softening or melting during transit time in hot summer weather is normal and not a big deal, although it may cause some visual imperfections. Just let the candle come to room temperature before burning so that it does not burn too quickly from being softened by the outdoor heat!

We strive to get orders out within 1-3 business days of when the order was placed. Shipping time varies based on USPS and on your location. During hot summer months, we will only ship packages on Mondays and Tuesdays. This is to reduce the chances of your candle sitting in the back of a hot truck over the weekend and melting during transit. If we are experiencing a high volume of orders or any processing delays, we will announce this on our website.

We are so sorry to hear that! Please email us at flickeringfelinecandleco@gmail.com with your order details and photos of the damaged order. We will offer to refund your order or send you a replacement at no additional cost.

Make sure your address was entered correctly. Give USPS a couple of extra days in case they are behind before reaching out to them to report that your package is missing.

We ship to the United States and Canada! As our business grows, we will consider adding other locations. Please note that international shipping costs more than shipping within the United States.