How to Get the Most Out of Your LAWA Candle
A soy pillar candle is not a set-and-forget object. It rewards a small amount of attention — the kind you give to a good cast iron pan or a leather bag that improves with use. Here is what is worth knowing.
The first burn
Soy wax candles have a memory. The first time you light a candle, the wax will melt to a certain diameter — and that diameter becomes the reference point for every subsequent burn. If you extinguish it too early, the candle will only ever melt to that smaller pool, tunneling down the center and wasting the wax on the sides.
For the first burn, allow the wax pool to reach the full diameter of the candle before extinguishing. For most LAWA pieces, this takes two to three hours. It is worth it.
About the wick
Trim your wick to approximately 6mm (a quarter inch) before each use. A wick that is too long produces a larger flame, more heat than the wax can absorb evenly, and candle soot — the black residue that sometimes appears above the wax pool.
LAWA uses brown cotton wicks specifically because they burn clean and curl slightly as they burn, self-trimming to some extent. Still, a quick trim before each use makes a visible difference in how the flame behaves.
Burn in sessions
Two-hour burn sessions are ideal for sculptural pillar candles. This is long enough to develop a full melt pool without overheating the wax. Extended burns — four or five hours — can cause the wax to pool unevenly or the form to lose its edge faster than it should.
EcoSoya Pillar Blend wax, which LAWA imports from England, has exceptional rigidity at room temperature. This means the form holds its shape well between burns — a quality important to the sculptural integrity of each piece.
The drip pattern
On many LAWA candles — particularly the taller forms — the wax will drip as it burns. This is not a flaw. It is part of the design.
The drip pattern is unique to each burn. Over time, it becomes a record of how the candle has lived — the temperature of the room, the direction of air movement, how long each session lasted. Two people with the same candle will end up with different objects. There is something worth appreciating in that.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long should you burn a soy pillar candle the first time?
Allow the wax pool to reach the full diameter of the candle on the first burn — typically two to three hours. This prevents tunneling and ensures even wax consumption on all subsequent burns.
How do you stop candle soot?
Trim the wick to 6mm before each burn. A wick that is too long produces excess heat and soot. Keeping the candle away from drafts also helps maintain a clean, steady flame.
How long do soy pillar candles last?
Burn time varies by size, but soy wax candles generally last longer than paraffin equivalents because soy burns cooler and more slowly. Burning in two-hour sessions and trimming the wick maximizes burn time.
Why is my pillar candle dripping?
Dripping on sculptural pillar candles is normal and intentional. It is caused by wax flowing over the edge as the pool forms. The drip pattern is part of the aesthetic and unique to each burn.
Should you put a saucer under a pillar candle?
Yes — a small tray, plate, or saucer under a pillar candle will catch any drips and protect the surface beneath. A marble or ceramic dish works well and can become part of the display.
Written by the LAWA Candles team — Published May 2026
LAWA Candles handmakes sculptural soy wax candles in Los Angeles using EcoSoya Pillar Blend wax and cotton wicks.
