How to Store Candles in Indian Summer
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Store candles below 25°C, away from direct sunlight, upright and lidded. Soy wax softens above roughly 35°C, which is a normal Indian afternoon from April to June. An interior cupboard is the right place; windowsills, car interiors and appliance tops are the worst.
Why Indian summers are hard on soy
Soy wax has a melting point around 45–52°C, but it begins to soften well before that — noticeably from about 35°C. Surface temperatures on a sunlit windowsill or a car dashboard in an Indian summer go far past that.
Softening does not ruin a candle. It can distort a sculpted shape, cause the surface to become uneven or oily-looking, and in a jar it can make the wax pull away from the glass. The candle still burns fine.
Where to keep them
| Place | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Interior cupboard or drawer | Best — stable and dark |
| Bookshelf away from windows | Good |
| Air-conditioned room | Good, though not on a direct vent |
| Sunny windowsill | Worst — direct heat and UV fading |
| On top of the fridge or a TV | Bad — appliances vent heat upward |
| Parked car | Never |
Rescuing a softened candle
Move it somewhere cool and leave it flat and level for several hours. Most pieces re-firm and largely recover their shape. Do not put it in the freezer — rapid contraction cracks the wax and can crack glass.
If a jar candle has developed an uneven surface, one full burn levels it out completely.
Shipping in summer
We pour and dispatch from Ludhiana, and candles do sometimes arrive soft during peak summer, particularly to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Central India. Leave the parcel unopened in a cool room for a few hours before unpacking, and the candle sets again.
If a piece arrives genuinely deformed rather than just soft, photograph it and write to us within 48 hours — that is a replacement, not something you should work around.
Frequently asked questions
At what temperature does soy wax melt?
Fully around 45–52°C, but it begins to soften noticeably from about 35°C.
Can I store candles in the fridge?
It is not necessary and not ideal. Condensation forms on the wax and can affect the surface and the wick. A cool cupboard is better.
Will a melted candle still work?
Yes. Softening affects appearance, not function. Let it re-firm level and it will burn normally.
How do I stop candles fading in the sun?
Keep them out of direct sunlight entirely. UV fades both dye and fragrance, and that damage is not reversible.
My candle arrived soft in summer. What should I do?
Leave the unopened parcel in a cool room for a few hours. If it is genuinely deformed rather than soft, send us a photo within 48 hours.
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About the author
Richa Sharma is the founder and CEO of Candles by Midnight. She started the business in 2025 and hand-crafts every candle herself in her workshop in Ludhiana, Punjab, working with 100% GMO-free soya wax and curing each batch for ten days before it ships.