Product Care

We take a lot of time and care in creating all of our products at Holmes Handcrafted and we want you to get the most out of them and enjoy them as much as possible! Below we have some key tips in storing, caring for and using our different products to achieve this.

Candles

All of our candles are made using a high quality, natural blend of coconut and soy waxes as well as eco-wicks that are made from paper and cotton. We have tested our candles to ensure that you get a nice, clean burning candle with the best scent throw and overall look from them. Once you have purchased one of our candles, it is your responsiblity to use them safely. Here are some key tips to follow to get the best out of your candle:

• Always read safety instructions listed on the bottom of the candle before using.
• Keep wick trimmed to 6mm above wax before each use.
• Don't burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time.
• For the first burn, make sure the whole top layer of wax has melted fully to the outside edges. This prevents your wax from tunneling the next time you use it.
• As for above, each time you use your candle, try to make sure you always get an even wax pool before blowing it out.
• Candles are best extinguished using a snuffer. If you are blowing your candle out, make sure the wick is completely extinguished and no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Once your candle is completely cooled, you can replace the lid again.
• When the candle has melted down and there is only about 1.5 cm of wax left at the bottom, stop using. If you want to re-use your candle jar (which we recommend) then let the wax cool and harden fully again. Once it is fully cooled, gently remove as much wax as you can and the remaining wick and throw it away. Carefully wash the container in hot water to remove any wax residue and then you have a gorgeous re-usable jar!
• Never leave your burning candle unattended!
• Always burn your candle on a stable, heat proof surface and away from anything flammable, kids, pets and drafts.
• Don't try to move your candle while it is burning.
• Store in a cool place, out of direct sunlight.

And once your candle is completely finished, jump back on our website and order another one!

Wax Melts

Our wax melts are made with natural soy wax, vegetable based colours, eco-friendly shimmers and bio-glitters. They are designed to be used in tea light wax burners or approved electric burners. Here are some further tips on how to use them:

• Always read safety instructions listed on label before use.
• Only use wax burners on a heat proof and stable surface, away from anything flammable as well as kids, pets and drafts.
• Never leave unattended.
• Do not move when in use.
• Make sure you do not overfill your wax burner and only start with one or two melts first depending on the size of the burner.
• To use simply pop one or two wax melts in the top dish of your wax burner. Then set a burning tea light underneath or switch your wax warmer on. And enjoy the lovely aromas!
• Do not burn for more than a few hours at a time.
• Once the fragrance has dissapeared or is weak (the time can vary between fragrances) it is time to change your wax melt. To do this either turn off your wax warmer or blow out the tea light and whilst the wax is still metled, pop in some cotton pads to soak up the wax, then dispose of. Be careful to not get any wax on you! Alternatively you can also let the wax harden fully and try pop it out once cold. Or if that doesn't work, light the tea light again or switch the warmer on, wait about 30 seconds for it to just begin melting and pop it out then. Again be very careful to not burn yourself! 
• Another tip is to place a ribbon in the wax when still melted, let it harden and then pull the piece of ribbon to pop it out!
• If you want to clean your burner fully before putting in another melt, use a cloth, hot water and some dish soap to clean it. But only when it is cold!
• Store wax melts in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.

Then after you have finished your bag of gorgeous wax melts, try a different one!

Artisan Soaps

We hand make a variety of artisan soap bars using a range of natural and plant based ingredients as well as fragrances and essential oils. Because of this, the shelf life of our soaps are not as long as other soaps with artificial additives in them. Therefore we have some guidelines on how to store them:

• Our soaps are made cold processed and are fully cured before we sell them. This means they are ready to use when you purchase them!
• Artisan soap bars are best when they are used straight away. The colours, fragrances and especially essential oils will start to fade the longer they are left (although they do strengthen again slightly when you use them).
• If you are storing them before using, please do not wrap them in plastic as they will sweat. Store them in a dry, cool place and out of direct sunlight.
• Our soap bars can last up to a year but they will not be as fresh.
• They also last longer if you use them with a sponge or loofah. They are super creamy and have a lovely bubbly lather to them but this is amplified even more when used with a sponge or loofah, so you can get the most out of them!
• In between uses, always store your soap on a well draining rack or soap dish. The soap needs to dry out fully when not being used to make it last as long as possible. If it is in a constant puddle of water, the soap will quickly break down and go very mushy and be unusable.

But overall - enjoy your luxury soap bar!

Bath Bombs

Our bath bombs are handmade with skin-loving ingredients and natural additives for the best bath experience. We make them all in small batches to make sure they are all made to a high quality and so you get a freshly made bath bomb every time! Here are some other tips for our bath bombs:

• Bath bombs are best when they are used as soon as possible!
• They have a shelf life of approximately 6 months. They can be used after this but they won't be to the same effect.
• To get the most out of the additives, fragrances and fizziness, aim to use them shortly after purchasing.
• To store them, keep them somewhere very dry, cool and not in any direct sunlight. They are ideally to be kept in a container or jar where no moisture can get to them at all, as moisture will make them go soft and mushy, partly activate them and make them loose their fizz!
• Always make sure your bath is clean before and after having a bath with a bath bomb. This is to prevent any colourants or mica powders sticking to hidden soap scum and creating a ring around your bath.

Lastly -sink in, lay back, relax and enjoy your bath bomb!

If you have any further questions, please contact us x