FAQ's

candle care

first burn

• When lighting your candle for the first time, allow it to burn for at least 2 hours or until the wax has melted all the way to the edge of the glass. This will create a candle “imprint” and prevent the candle from tunneling (only burning in the center of the wax).


• Wax has a memory, and it will always burn up to the radius of the last burn. To ensure you get the most out of your candle and increase it’s longevity, make sure to burn it for at least 2 hours each time.

• Do not burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time - see our safety section for more information.

candle care

• Always keep the wick trimmed to ¼” before each burn to ensure your candle is burning gently and to keep your wax pool free of debris

• We recommend burning no longer than 3-4 hours at a time and stop burning when only ¼” of wax remains in the jar

• Never leave your candles unattended! Always place away from children, pets and drafts.Keep your candle in a well-ventilated area when lit.

• Do not place under a cabinet or on a shelf. Your candle needs room to breathe!

candle safety

• Drafts can cause the flame to flicker excessively which can lead to small puffs of smoke and lead to a build up of soot. Keep the candle away from windows and drafts to avoid.

• Burning your candle for longer than 4 hours at a time can cause your candles’ flame to become too large and cause an excessive build up of soot.

• Not trimming your wick after each use can cause the wick to “mushroom”. This can cause the wick to flicker excessively and lead to soot building up as well. It can also cause your candle to burn faster, and nobody wants that!

• If your candle jar starts to show soot around the rim of the jar, use a damp cloth to wipe it off. Also ensure the candle wick has been trimmed to ¼” and that there are no foreign objects in the wax pool.

candle FAQ's

why should I trim my wick?

• Trimming your wick keeps the flame in control and ensures your candle isn't getting too hot from too big of a flame

• trimming your wick before each burn removes the "mushroom" that often is created on top of wicks after their burned. this mushroom is a carbon buildup from the wick and is completely normal - but needs to be removed each time to ensure the wick is burning properly

• reduces excessive soot build up by keeping the wick trimmed (if your wick is sparking or popping it's too tall + needs to be trimmed!)

• by keeping your wick trimmed increased the longevity of your candle by keeping the wick at just the right temperature (not too hot!)

purchase a wick trimmer here

what are your wicks made of?

Our wicks are made with natural cotton and are lead and zinc free.

are your fragrance oils harmful?

No! Our fragrance oils are phthalate + Paraben free.

Our fragrance oils are a combination of natural essential oils and synthetic aroma chemicals. They are never diluted, so each has a strong concentrated aroma that doesn't disappear when burned in a candle.

how can I repurpose my candle jar?

Repurposing your candle jar is super easy + can be super fun to upcycle!

Option 1:
Once your candle has 1/4" wax remaining on the bottom you can remove the melted wax with a few cotton balls or paper towels, making sure to extinguish the flame first.

Option 2:
If your wax has already hardened again, you can place your jar on a cookie sheet in the oven to melt the wax.
• make sure your oven is at the lowest setting possible (usually around 180 degrees)
• check every 15 minutes to see if the wax has melted
• use oven mitts to handle the hot glass.
• wipe out wax with a paper towel and continue on to the next step.

Once all the wax is out, use warm soapy water to gently wash the inside of your container. Leave upside down to dry out. 

Repurpose + Upcycle ideas:
• pencil cup
• bathroom storage (cotton balls, cotton swabs, scrunchies, bobby pins, etc.)
• table centerpiece (mini acorns, potpourri, etc.)
• misc. trinkets
• spare change jar

why is there black soot on my candle jar?

When burning your candle you may notice some smoke coming from the flame. This is normal. Anything that burns will produce soot - but soy candles will produce extremely less than other wax types.

If you see excessive black smoke, or soot, it may be because of your wick. When your wick is not kept trimmed to ¼” after each burn, or if your candle is in a drafty place, it can cause small puffs of smoke to escape from the wick causing soot. Make sure to trim your wick and keep away from drafts to decrese the amount of visible soot you see.

why is my candle tunneling/not burning evenly?

When burning your candle for the first time it is important to burn it for at least two hours, or until the wax becomes level with the jar. This is called a full melt pool and is important for the longevity of your candle.

Soy wax has a "memory" and will burn to the same melt pool as the first time it was burned. This is why your first burn is so important!

If your candle is tunneling you may not have burned the candle long enough the first time. Please email us to find ways to fix this - haley@collectiveharmonyco.com

shipping + order fulfillment

when will my order ship?

I do my best to get your orders out as quickly as possible!

Most orders will ship within 2-5 business days. During peak seasons (holiday, special launches, etc.) our shipping time can increase to 5-10 business days.

Please have patience with us during these times and don't hesitate to reach out with any concerns!

how will my order ship?

All orders are shipped via UPS + USPS - depending upon where you live and which option is the most cost effective. You will be able to choose which you prefer at checkout as well as see pricing for both.

We have a local pickup option available at checkout if you are in or around the montgomery, IL area.

my package is missing

Once a package leaves our studio it is out of our hands and the responsibility of the postal service. If your package shows delivered but you haven't received it we recommend waiting a day or two for it to show up. Sometimes a package can be marked as delivered in error.

If it's been more than 2 days and your package hasn't arrived please file a missing package claim online with applicable postal service.
USPS claim info
UPS claim info

We're happy to assist as needed with filing a claim. Email us your order number and we'll work with you to get the claim filed.

my package arrived damaged

Once a package leaves our studio it is out of our hands and the responsibility of the postal service. If your package shows delivered but you haven't received it we recommend waiting a day or two for it to show up. Sometimes a package can be marked as delivered in error.

If it's been more than 2 days and your package hasn't arrived please file a missing package claim online with applicable postal service.
USPS claim info
UPS claim info

We're happy to assist as needed with filing a claim. Email us your order number and we'll work with you to get the claim filed.

do you ship internationally?

At the time we are only shipping in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico).

The exception to this is if you order a perfume. Our perfumes are made with alcohol which is considered a hazardous commodity when shipping. Due to this we're only able to ship perfume domestically currently via ground shipping.

returns + exchanges

do you accept returns?

At this time we are only accepting exchanges. In order to exchange your item it must be unused and in originally packaging. To start the exchange process use our contact page or email us at haley@collectiveharmonyco.com

how do I ship my order back to you?

Once you've reached out to start your exchange process we will provide further instructions about returning your item for exchange. You will be responsible for the return postage.

miscellaneous questions

do you sell wholesale?

Yes - please check out our Wholesale page for more info, or email us at haley@collectiveharmonyco.com

do you accept customs?

Yes! Please use our contact page to reach out or shoot us an email: haley@collectiveharmonyco.com

custom wall hangings request