How do I know which glass candle I should choose and how does OHD help me?

As a result of most of GCS’s products being sold online, we make it our duty to describe each product in detail.

Each glass candle must look exactly right in its chosen environment. The first measurements to consider is the glass candle itself.  

GCS provides the DIMENSIONS of each glass candle itself using D- Dimension and H- Height.

The diameter – D of the glass candle takes into account the longest horizontal length of the glass candle while height- H its vertical length.

Every glass candle has a different Burning time- B; depending on the volume of liquid it can contain.

Finally, there is another important measurement and can be explained like this: A small glass candle would not look right in a 5-armed candelabra that is 80 cm + high and therefore GCS came up with a measurement checker called OHD- Optimal Height Décor.

The measurement provides the optimal height of the adjacent piece/decor the glass candle should be used with.

Glass candles may either sit on flat surfaces or placed in candle holders, candelabras, vases etc.

Example 1 below illustrates Medium Lollipop with Medium stem (i.e. Product code LOLMEDMIDH)

The dimensions of the Lollipop itself are Height 45 cm Diameter  8 cm.

Nevertheless, a guide as to what size vase the Lollipop should reside in is indicated by the OHD. i.e. in this case the vase.

The OHD in this particular case is that the vase should be +- 21 cm high to get the optimal look.

Example 2, 3, and 4 illustrates how an OHD with a range of 8 cm to 80 cm is used to illustrate how a TEARSHAPE glass candle can be used.

One can see in these example how different candle holders; varying in height between the range of 8cm to 80 cm suits the TEARSHAPE product in question

Example 1 Here is a ‘Medium Lollipop with Medium stem (i.e. Product code LOLMEDMIDH ‘‘that sits in a vase. The Lollipops dimensions are: Height -45 cm Diameter - 8 cm. The OHD (i.e. Optimal Height Decor) is 21 cm i.e. the height of the top surface of the vase should be 21 cm for this particular glass candle to look right	Example 2 Below is a TEARSHAPE glass candle (Product code: TearGCC200N). Its dimensions are Height - 11 cm & Diameter -5 cm and has an OHD of 8 cm- 80 cm. This implies that the Tearshape glass candles looks good with an adjacent décor piece of between height 8 cm- 80 cm. The 5 armed Nickle plated Candelabra below is 75 cm making the Tearshape withing range.
Example 3 Height of candelabra- 37 cm for 5 armed crystal below. The Tearshape glass candles therefore are within range of OHD- 8 cm- 80 cm of the decor piece ie the 5 armed crystal candelabra	Example 4  The stand holding the Tearshape below is 8 cm high and is therefore within range of  OHD- 8 cm- 80 cm

Are glass candles safe?

Glass candles should be treated like any type of candle that emits a flame in that they should not be placed next to any flammable material.

As the glass candle is fuelled by a lamp oil, the lamp oil GCS uses has a high 'flashpoint' which implies that it takes more energy than say a more flammable oil; like kerosene to ignite.

GCS's oil is difficult to ignite by itself and therefore requires a lighting system ( i.e. glass, oil and wick combination) to work affectively.

 One should be cautious not to place a glass candle on any heated surface that could cause the oil in the glass candle to boil.

In such rare circumstances the boiling oil in the glass candle could pressurise the glass candle and it could break or even explode.

Otherwise glass candles are safe to use because of the relatively 'low flammability' of the oil being used.

It is important that lamp oil be bought from the supplier of the glass candles as the specialised oil used is specifically chosen to work with wick of that system.

Cheap flammable oils not only burn far more quickly but emit smoke that poses a health hazard when burning many candles in a confined space.They may seem cheaper than better quality oils but one ends up paying more because of their fast burning rate.

Glass candles are safer than wax candles i.r.o. the flame not burning down and igniting a combustible surface i.e. wax burns away/down while glass candles dont and therefore wax candles can come into contact with a combustible surface; like a tablecloth and catch alight.

Are glass candles recyclable?

Yes, glass candles are recyclable

Are glass candles allowed on planes?

As a private passenger, glass candles are allowed on planes but without the lamp oil that accompanies it.

If one requires oil to be sent by plane one speak to GCS as there are courier companies who have permission to transport lamp oil by plane.

Where are glass candles made?

AUTHENTIC OR CLASSIC GLASS CANDLES are HAND BLOWN BY GLASS BLOWERS.

Glassblowing is a craft which skills are developed over a life time. Glassblowing is a niche industry.

Glass based candles are mostly made by machines but are very different to the type of glass candles; glass blowers make. The former uses recycled glass which bears little resemblance to hand blown glass candles that use high quality glass usually borosciliate glass that is clear and which lacks inclusions and blemishes.

The other benefit of using glass candles that are hand blown is that the product can be blown into different  styles and shapes

Can glass candles explode?

One should be cautious not to place a glass candle on any heated surface that could cause the oil in the glass candle to boil. In such rare circumstances the boiling oil in the glass candle could pressurise the glass candle and it could break or even explode.

Can you take glass candles in hand luggage on planes?

As a private passenger, glass candles are allowed on planes but without the lamp oil that accompanies it.

If one requires oil to be sent by plane one speak to GCS as there are courier companies who have permission to transport lamp oil by plane.

How to decorate glass candles?

There are various ways to decorate glass candles.

Certain glass candles are made to incorporate decorating items such as coloured sand, flowers, stalks etc by having inserts in and holes around the glass candle ( see HANGING LANTERN).

Sandblasting is another option but requires a glass candles that has enough of a flat surface on the glass candle to incorporate the text or drawings required on the glass candle.

Decoupaging is another option. Consideration of colour is important when using glass candles and this is done by GCS's capability to make any colour of oil required.

How to reuse glass candles?

Resuing the glass candle again and again is one of the greatest benefits of using this type of candle.

Unlike a wax candle which relies on a burnable wick and wax to fuel it, the wick on a glass candle doesn’t burn down. It is re-usable.

The wick in a glass candle is merely a conduit to assist the oil to be sucked up the inner glass tube via a capillary action when the candle is lit.

How to use glass candles?

1.Glass candles are made to either sit on flat surfaces or to be placed into a candle holder/candelabra.

2. When placing a corked glass candle into a candleholder, it is best to first take the cork off (i.e. this is a matter of feel depending on the candelabra you have) the spike at the bottom of the glass candle and place it in the candleholder.

Once placed, take the glass candle and gently insert it into the cork.

3. Pour oil through the side hole in glass candle. If there is no side hole pour oil into the hole at the top which contains the loose wick. Do this before the cartridge/wick is placed in the glass candle. Thereafter put the wick/glass cartridge through the hole.

4. Cover the hole/s of the glass candles with your fingers and shake the candle in order to wet the wick (i.e. you need only do this the first time you use the glass candle/s).  Light the candle and give it a minute or so to settle into the perfect flame.

5. Do not light the glass candles with a wax candle as it will seal the glass tube and render the glass candle unusable.

What are glass candles?

Glass candles are as the name suggests i.e any candle that is shaped by glass and burns.

Most glass candles use moulded glass made by a machine, contain wax and a wick that burns.

Hand blown glass candles are crafted candles and typically use a purified lamp oil that is smokeless and odorless and are reusable i.e. the wick does not burn down

What glass is safe for candles?

Hand blown glass candles typically use glass that can withstand 1300 Celsius heat

What to do with glass candles?

Glass candles may be used in so many different ways and settings whether they are used in a restaurant, hotel, health spas, guest houses, for an event; be it a wedding, party or celebration.

Glass candles can be given as a gift;an anniversary present, bitrthday, for home decoration or used for ones own personal pleasure.

Glass candles come in very handy when load shedding occurs.See EXTRA LARGE ROUNDS often referred to as the' LOAD SHEDDER'

Where to buy glass candles?

GCS's products are predominantly sold online.

Based in Johannesburg prospects and customers are welcome to visit our factories

Can glass candles turn black?

It is not uncommon that some black residue appear at the point on the glass where the flame is emitted.

Simply take a cloth and wipe off the residue when the candle is not lit. It will dissapear almost effortlessly.

Although glass candles are reusable it is also not uncommon for the top of the wick to become a bit brittled and blackened over time. Again, this is why it is important to use the manufacturers purified lamp oil to prevent this form happening too quickly.

Nevertheless, when the blackening does occur, simply take some sharp scissors and cut off the few millimeters of blackened wick, pulling up the clean wick underneath.

Wicks may eventually be replaced years down the line which can be purchased as an accessory from GCS.

What are advantages of using glass candles?

1. Reusable; economical, quick return on investment.

2. Practical- no wax, no mess

3. Clean burning smokeless, odorless oil

4. Quality and Beauty

What makes glass candles better to use than wax candles?

Wax candles are disposable and messy whilst hand blown glass candles are reusable, hand crafted and much more practical

Do glass candles last for life?

Glass candles can last for life by using the correct lamp oil, caring for and eventually after many years replacing only the wick

Im worried about breakages?

Glass breaks and accidents happen usually when they are dropped on floor or mishandled.

Breakages however have never stopped customers from buying these products. Why? - the reusability factor- the payback period of using lamp oil in a reusable glass candle vs disposable wax candles is short.

GCS provides 'SAVINGS AND PAYBACK CALCULATORS' modelled for the specific glass candle in question ( yes, depending on the type of glass candle in question; each burn at a different rate)

Despite breakages being a small percentage of the typical amount bought, the 'payback period' is a sensible way of knowing that whatever investment one has made in the product, wont be wasted-

The calculator factors in a 5% breakage and 5% spillage percentage when calculating ROI ; a reasonable and conservative figure; a  eg. payback period using glass candles vs wax

What makes glass candles different to wax candles?

Quality glass candles are made to be reusable whilst wax candles are disposable.

Wax is not as clean burning as glass candles that use a purified lamp oil; resulting in a virtually smokeless and odorless flame.

Hand blown glass candles rely on having to use a high quality glass which contains less infractions/nclusions as opposed to glass candles made by machines that use recycled glass.

Hand blown glass candles can be recycled

Do I fill glass candles to the top with the lamp oil?

It depends on the way you want to use the glass candles.

Users who us use the candles at home typically fill up the glass candles completely and despite there being lamp oil left when they are blown out,  the glass candles are left in their place and relit when reneeded.

When the oil is depleted, the glass candles are filled up again.

When glass candles are used for an event the process is a bit different as it is not necessary to fill the glass candles to the top.

GCS's glass candles have different burning times ( i.e. measured in time; B- Burning time when filled to the top) and because most of the glass candles burn for many times longer than a typcal event; whether it be 3 hours or 8 hours, it is not necessary to fill the glass candles to the top. ( See 'CALCULATORS' for different burning times).

So, if for example a glass candle burns for 28 hours and the event is 7 hours; filling it up a quarter of the way would be sufficient.

Note; it is not necessary to be so exact in filling up the glass candles to time an event exactly,

By not filling the glass candles to the top event planners are merely saving on the time taken to decanter them  after an event particularly when there is a lot of oil left..

For aesthetic reasons, glass candles look far better when they are filled at least halfway as the oil itself improves the overall affect/ambiance of the glass candles themselves.