About Oil Candles

Help Centre

Getting started with oil candles

• How do I use my oil candle for the first time?

  Fill the candle with lamp oil, leaving a little space at the top, then insert the wick. Before lighting it, make sure only about 1 mm of wick is showing above the metal collar. Leave it for a couple of minutes to allow the oil to soak up through the wick, then light. Once the wick has absorbed the oil, you can simply light the candle, blow it out and relight it whenever you need it.

• Do all Clearcraft refillable oil candles work in the same way?

  Yes. Although they come in lots of different shapes and sizes, the basic principle is the same: fill with lamp oil, insert the wick, make sure approximately 1 mm is showing and light.

• Can I use any lamp oil?

  We recommend using Clearcraft lamp oil. We supply the cleanest-burning lamp oil available, so you can enjoy your oil candles indoors or outside without a smoky flame. Don’t use olive oil or vegetable oil. These oils are too thick to travel up the wick quickly enough. You may get a flame initially, but the oil can’t reach it fast enough to keep it burning, so the candle will eventually go out.

• Do I need to buy spare wicks with my first candle?

  No. The wicks are very long-lasting. Unlike the wick in an ordinary wax candle, the wick doesn’t simply burn down as the candle burns. The lamp oil travels up through the wick to fuel the flame. You can always buy replacement wick later when you eventually need it.

• What's the difference between refillable oil candles and disposable liquid wax candles?

  The main difference is simple: one is refillable and the other is disposable. Disposable liquid wax candles come ready-filled. Take off the cap, light the wick and enjoy the candlelight. They’re available with burn times of 8, 24 or 40 hours. Once they’re finished, simply dispose of them and replace them. Refillable oil candles are designed to be used again and again. When the lamp oil gets low, simply refill the candle.

Using & looking after your candles

• How do I clean my oil candle?

  Simply wipe it with a damp cloth. That’s all it needs.

• How often should I adjust the wick?

  If the flame looks good, you don’t need to do anything. If the flame becomes a little small, first check the oil level and top up the candle if necessary. If that doesn’t solve it, gently raise the wick, making sure that no more than about 1 mm is showing above the metal collar.

• What happens if I let my oil candle run dry?

  Don’t worry. The flame will simply go out. Occasionally, the top of the wick may become a little charred. If that happens, twist the wick up gently from underneath the metal collar and trim off the charred section. Refill the candle, leave it for a couple of minutes for the oil to soak through the wick, check that approximately 1 mm is showing and relight.

• How long will my candle burn between refills?

  Different candles have different capacities, so burn times vary. You’ll find the approximate burn time between refills on each product page. You don’t need to wait until your candle is empty before refilling it. We think our glass oil candles look their best when they’re more than half full, so we recommend keeping them topped up.

• Can I use my oil candles outdoors?

  Yes. As with any candle, you’ll need to protect the flame from the wind. We recommend using a shade around the flame when using your oil candles outside.

• Can I replace the wick myself?

  Yes. You can buy replacement wick and reuse the existing metal components. When you buy wick from us, we provide threading instructions showing you how to re-thread it. It’s a straightforward job.

• My spill-resistant wick appears to be leaking. What should I do?

  This is unusual, but after many hours of use you may occasionally find that a spill-resistant wick appears to be leaking. It normally means the small air hole in the metal wick collar has become blocked. Remove the wick and give the metal collar a couple of firm taps on a table to clear the air hole. Replace it and it should be ready to use again.

• What if I break a shade or another part of my candle?

  Don’t worry. Replacement shades and other parts are available from our website. If you can’t find the particular part you need, just give us a call and we’ll help you find the right one.

Lamp oil & safety

• How should I store my lamp oil?

  Clearcraft lamp oil doesn’t need any special storage. Simply keep it out of the reach of children. All Clearcraft lamp oil bottles are supplied with a childproof cap.

• Can I colour my lamp oil?

  Yes. We supply dye packs for Home customers so you can change the colour of your lamp oil. We don’t recommend using other dyes. Not all dyes mix properly with lamp oil and some may simply float on the surface or sink to the bottom.

• Can I use citronella lamp oil indoors?

  Yes, although our citronella lamp oil is specifically intended for outdoor use. For normal indoor use, we recommend our clear lamp oil.

• What should I do if I spill lamp oil?

  Simply mop it up with a damp cloth.

• Can I leave an oil candle burning unattended?

  No. As with any candle or naked flame, an oil candle should never be left burning unattended.

Business Customer FAQs

• Will I receive a VAT invoice?

  Your VAT invoice is attached as a PDF to your order confirmation email. If you need another copy, just email sales@clearcraftltd.co.uk.

• Why does the VAT on my lamp oil look wrong?

  It probably isn’t.
  
  Most of our products are charged at the standard rate of VAT, but lamp oil is a fuel and is charged at the reduced VAT rate of 5%.
  
  This means that if your order contains both lamp oil and other products, you may see different VAT rates on the same invoice. Your VAT invoice will show these clearly.

• Do you provide training for our staff?

  Yes. We provide a staff tutorial video showing how to fill, light and look after your Clearcraft oil candles correctly.
  
  The tutorial is sent as part of our welcome email series, along with other useful tips and advice to help your team get the best from the candles.
  
  There is also a video library on our website, so your team can easily revisit the instructions whenever they need to. This is particularly useful for restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses, where new members of staff may need training from time to time.

Ordering & delivery

30

Day GUARANTEE

• What is your 30-day money-back guarantee?

  If you change your mind, simply return the goods to us within 30 days and we’ll refund the original cost of your order.

• What if my order arrives damaged or incorrect?

  Please get in touch with us and we’ll sort it out for you. No complicated process. Just let us know what’s happened and we’ll put it right.

Still not sure? Just ask us.