Frequently Asked Questions
HELP & GUIDANCE
Answers about our fragrances, materials, candle care, shipping, and the details that make Meadow & Ember distinct.
What makes Meadow & Ember candles different?
Meadow & Ember candles are hand-poured in small batches and thoughtfully developed from the ground up. Our fragrances are custom blended, which means they are unique to Meadow & Ember — not stock fragrance oils used straight from the bottle and not dupes or knockoffs of designer scents.
Each candle is tested for fragrance performance, wick behavior, burn quality, and overall experience before it becomes part of the collection. We care about how a candle smells cold, how it performs while burning, how the wax pool develops, how the flame behaves, and how the fragrance fills a room over time.
Are your fragrances custom blended?
Yes. Meadow & Ember fragrances are custom blended to create scent experiences that feel layered, atmospheric, and connected to the natural world.
We may start with individual fragrance materials or high-quality fragrance oils, but each finished scent is developed with its own character, balance, and story. Our goal is to create fragrances that feel distinctive to Meadow & Ember — not generic, not mass-produced, and not copied from another brand.
What kind of wax do you use?
Our candles are made with a premium coconut-apricot wax blend selected for its smooth appearance, beautiful burn, and strong fragrance performance.
Coconut-apricot wax is known for its creamy finish and ability to hold fragrance well. As with any natural wax blend, small cosmetic variations may occur, but they do not affect the candle’s performance.
What kind of wicks do you use?
Meadow & Ember candles are made with wooden wicks. Wood wicks create a warm, modern burn experience with a soft crackle and a beautiful horizontal flame.
Because wood wicks behave differently than traditional cotton wicks, they need slightly different care. When properly maintained, they create a cozy, atmospheric candle experience.
What should I expect from a wooden wick candle?
Wooden wicks may produce a soft crackling sound while burning. The flame may also vary slightly as the wick draws wax into the flame. This is normal.
A healthy wooden wick flame should look steady, controlled, and calm. It should not produce heavy smoke, excessive flickering, or a large uncontrolled flame.
Because wooden wicks burn across a wider surface area than many cotton wicks, they can create a beautiful melt pool and strong fragrance experience when cared for properly.
How do I care for a wooden wick?
Before each burn, trim the wooden wick to approximately 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch.
The easiest way to do this is to gently pinch or clip away the blackened, ashy portion of the wick once the candle is completely cool. Do not trim the wick while the candle is hot or while the wax is liquid.
A wick that is too long may create a flame that is too large or smoky. A wick that is too short may struggle to stay lit.
Why won’t my wooden wick stay lit?
Wooden wicks need access to melted wax to burn properly. If your candle will not stay lit, the wick may be trimmed too short, covered by wax, or trying to burn through too much charred wood.
Try gently removing the loose blackened portion of the wick once the candle is fully cool. Then relight the candle and allow it to burn long enough for the wax to melt evenly around the wick.
How long should I burn my candle?
For the best experience, burn your candle long enough for the wax to melt across most of the surface, especially during the first burn. This helps prevent tunneling and supports an even burn over time.
Do not burn your candle for more than 4 hours at a time. Always burn within sight and discontinue use when approximately 1/2 inch of wax remains at the bottom of the vessel.
What fragrance oils do you use?
Meadow & Ember uses high-quality fragrance oils selected with safety, performance, and transparency in mind. Many of the fragrance materials we use come from CandleScience and align with their CleanScents standards.
CandleScience fragrance oils are vegan, cruelty-free, formulated without phthalates, and made without ingredients found on California’s Proposition 65 list. Their CleanScents+ fragrances are manufactured without carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, organ toxins, acute toxins, phthalates, and Prop 65 ingredients. Their CleanScents fragrances are manufactured without organ toxins, acute toxins, phthalates, and Prop 65 ingredients, though some may contain one or more suspected CMR ingredients disclosed by CandleScience.
Source: CandleScience CleanScents Program.
Are your candles phthalate-free?
Yes. Our candles are made with phthalate-free fragrance oils.
Phthalates have historically been used in some fragrance formulations as solvents. We choose fragrance materials that are formulated without phthalates.
Are your candles paraben-free?
Yes. Meadow & Ember candles are made without parabens.
Parabens are more commonly discussed in personal care products, but we understand that customers want clarity around the ingredients used in the products they bring into their homes.
Are your candles “non-toxic”?
We avoid using the word “non-toxic” because it can be vague and misleading. Instead, we focus on transparency, responsible sourcing, and safe candle use.
Our candles are made with carefully selected wax, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and wooden wicks. Like all candles, they should be burned according to safety instructions, in a well-ventilated space, and away from children, pets, drafts, and flammable materials.
Are your candles safe for pets?
Candles should always be used with care around pets. Keep burning candles out of reach of animals, avoid placing candles near tails or curious paws, and burn in a well-ventilated room.
Pets can be more sensitive to fragrance than people, so use your judgment and discontinue use if you notice discomfort or irritation.
Why does my candle have texture, frosting, wet spots, or slight variation?
Small visual variations are normal in hand-poured candles, especially with natural wax blends. You may notice slight texture, wax adhesion changes, small surface imperfections, or subtle color variation.
These cosmetic differences do not mean the candle is defective and should not affect the burn quality or fragrance experience.
Why does the scent seem stronger or softer in different rooms?
Fragrance throw can vary based on room size, airflow, ceiling height, temperature, and where the candle is placed.
A candle may smell stronger in a smaller bathroom or office than in a large open-concept kitchen, living room, or entryway. For best results, place your candle away from fans, open windows, and strong drafts.
Do your candles contain essential oils?
Some fragrance blends may include fragrance materials inspired by botanicals, woods, resins, florals, or citrus notes, but our candles are not marketed as essential oil candles.
We use fragrance oils because they allow for better performance, consistency, safety documentation, and more complex scent design in candles.
Are your candles hand-poured?
Yes. Every Meadow & Ember candle is hand-poured in small batches in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Where are your candles made?
Meadow & Ember candles are made in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Our fragrances are inspired by prairie landscapes, changing seasons, quiet rituals, and the beauty of everyday moments.
Do you offer wholesale?
Yes, we are open to select wholesale opportunities. Please contact us at hello@meadowandember.comwith your shop name, location, and a little about your business.
How can I contact you?
You can reach us through our Contact page or by emailing hello@meadowandember.com. We typically respond within 1–2 business days.