dusk hand-pours some 6 million candles a year using the finest quality, food-grade paraffin wax.

No. In recent years there has been a lot of misinformation about paraffin wax. In truth paraffin wax is considered to be a very safe product. Paraffin wax has been extensively tested around world and in all categories it is classified as non-hazardous, non-toxic and is considered to be non-carcinogenic and stable.

Individual health effects can vary with the type of exposure and individual susceptibility. We always advise that if you burn or melt wax that it is done in a well ventilated room. This is not specific to paraffin wax. It is the same recommendation we make for bees wax, soy wax or any other type of wax.

No, dusk candles are made with lead-free cotton wicks
Some of our candles such as containers and votives have a fine zinc core to keep the wick upright - these are safe and non-toxic.

All candles should have their wicks trimmed to about 6mm every time before burning (and have all debris removed). Also make sure the candle is not oxygen-starved and never burn candles in a draught.

No. The minuscule amount of soot produced by a candle is a natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is similar to everyday household sources of soot such as from kitchen toasters and cooking oils and is not considered a health concern.

Primarily it's down to the quality of manufacture. The best will certainly drip less. However, it's impossible to guarantee a dripless candle.

Avoid draughts and turn the candle periodically.
 

Use dusk candle wax stickers on bottom of taper candles.

Yes. Just refrigerate the tapers for an hour before burning. Make sure you put them in a bag first or the wick will absorb moisture.

Gently rub with a nylon stocking to bring back original shine.

Burn time is affected by wax type; wick size and type; the actual insertion of the wick; dye colouring (a darker candle will not burn the same as a light one) and burn environment (draughts will significantly reduce the burn time).

A good rule of thumb is always to burn your pillar candles for 1 hour per 2.5cm of diameter each time you light them. This allows a wax pool to develop, preventing the candle wall from falling in.

Store candles in a cool, dark and dry place and keep like scents together. Candles have different melting points, so never leave candles in your car on warm days.

Keep candles out of direct sunlight.

Drop a teaspoon or two of water into the votive holder before putting the votive in. This will help the candle to slide out for replacement.

Let the wax cool. Use a plastic spatula to scrape off excess and a mild abrasive cleaner to remove the rest.

Let the wax cool. Place a paper towel over the spill and use a warm iron to heat and absorb wax. Change the towel repeatedly. Turpentine will dissolve paraffin wax – place a small amount on a clean rag and gently rub the area.

An exceedingly complex area. The candle's ability to 'throw' a scent is affected by: wax type; quality of scent; amount of scent, its manufacture and size of room.

No. Outdoor candles are generally designed for that use, with larger wicks to combat drafts and draw more fuel.

These are known as 'wet spots' and are caused by a variety of things, particularly the adhesion between the wax and the jar. Some are controllable, some are not. dusk uses a variety of techniques to minimise the effect, including a special blend of wax.