We often say Coventry is “Where Magic Happens” is because we use magic freely and often in our creative processes. We set up a sacred space to work in, choose our ingredients purposefully and pull in the energy of the stars, planets and moon by making our candles during the most beneficial astrological times. Magic makes us think that things happen without any effort on our part—but that is Disney magic, not magic of the real world. A lot of effort and planning goes into why candle magic works; it works because of us, not in spite of us. We are all magical beings, and we at Coventry have combined everything you need to make a little candle magic for yourself. The only ingredient left to add is you and your intention.

Our candles work because of scientific as well as spiritual reasons. Each ingredient carries the vibration that is in alignment with a specific action and outcome. The entire recipe, the words on the label, and when the candle is made all work together to hold the space for you while you relax and allow the vibrations to influence your reality. What you are doing is giving the energy held in the candle your address. You do this with your thoughts (your intention), desires (which include your feelings), and words (the blessing on the label and the words you add)... and off it goes to start the manifestation process. Energy is like that, it’s 100% potential and you give it a purpose and a direction. Our candles give you a focus and a platform from which you may launch the energy. Even though this may not sound scientific, it really is. You are working on the quantum level of life when you do magic—which is really science with heart!

Here’s a little tidbit from Coventry Magic by Jacki Smith: “The candle is a great medium of magic, so simple, yet so powerful. Its careful preparation is the core of very powerful spells (even a vague preparation of a mass-produced candle has decent effects). I was initially attracted to candle magic above other mediums because a candle is forged into existence using all four elements. The other powerful aspect to candle magic is the sympathetic action of transformation to release your spell. Using fire, the element of transformation, to transform something relatively mundane into a magical petition is a double whammy of magical intent. Wax in itself is not a magical item, but it is a great insulator and container of energy—it holds it until it is released.”

Magic is all about managing the flow of energy and this is the main reason why our candles work. Energy is something we don’t fully understand, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use it to create our world with it—because that’s what our world is made of. If you are creating a work of art, you would pick your medium carefully and place the elements of your piece just so to create something that fills you with joy. Our candles are just one of the tools you can use to create your own work of art called your life.

Shop our list of candles and look for the one that best describes your need and follow the directions on the label. The more you believe in yourself and that you can have a wonderful life, the more effective our candle will be for you. If you’d like to learn more about candle magic and spell work, pick up a copy of Candle Magic by Jacki Smith. If you’d like to learn more about healing your life, pick up a copy of Healer’s Almanac by Patty Shaw.

There is a wonderful tutorial at wikihow.com.

At Coventry, we favor the freezer method of getting large amounts of wax out of a candle holder.

For smaller amounts, we like to put the candle holder in hot water that had reached boiling point but is no longer on direct heat. This melts the tiny bits right away and you can wipe them out with a paper towel.

Wax crumbs come out brilliantly with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This is also a wonderful way to get soot off. If the soot is stubborn, that hot water trick is perfect.   

*** DO NOT POUR HOT WATER CONTAINING WAX DOWN THE DRAIN. It will clog your sink very quickly.

We make our candles by hand in a sacred space. Even with all the technological improvements in the world, we find the handmade method is the most efficient and effective.

Yes. There is less than one part per million difference in the toxins released from paraffin vs soy wax. You would ingest more fossil fuels walking through a parking lot than you would by burning dozens if not hundreds of candles.  

For more information read our Soy vs Paraffin article in the About Us section.

All candles have a risk of fire, all fragrances have a risk of allergens. Our founder, Jacki Smith, has sensitivities to fragrances so we are extra careful with the ingredients we use in our products. Essentially, burning a scented candle in a fire-safe container in a ventilated room is safe as long as it is attended by you. For more information, read our A Blend of Oils article.

We do have some essential oils in our products but in small amounts. According to our fragrance supplier, he starts with the essential oil and creates a chemical match that makes the fragrance stable for its intended use.   We pour our candles at 180 degrees and most essential oils are volatile (evaporate) at 150 degrees. The essential oils we use are for subtle scent changes and energetic purposes.     

Although all of our products have a minute amount of essential oils, we do not claim essential oils in any of our products.  Legally one drop of essential oil in our product would allow us to claim that status. In our minds, an essential oil product should be at least 75% essential oil and our integrity will not let us tell that tall tale.

The National Candle Association has the following guideline:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.

BEFORE LIGHTING

• Remove all packaging, including the box, label, and plastic film around the candle. Trim the wick to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping, or flaring.
• Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. It should be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
• Burn candles in a well-ventilated room.
• Place the candleholder on a stable, heat-resistant surface. This will also help prevent possible heat damage to counters and table surfaces and prevent glass containers from cracking or breaking.
• Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches, and debris at all times.
• Avoid drafts, vents, or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, black soot forming on holder walls and ceiling, and excessive dripping.
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on burn time and proper use.

WHILE BURNING

• Never touch or move a burning candle. Never touch or move a votive or container candle when the wax is liquefied.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains (1/2 inch if in a container).
• Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This is to make sure they don’t melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
• Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
• Always keep the candle within your sight. If you are going to leave the room, be sure to first blow out all candles.
• Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Don’t burn too many candles in a small room or in a “tight” home where air exchange is limited.
• Never use a candle as a night light.
• Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment – such as a lantern or kerosene heater.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets, or anyone else.

WHEN EXTINGUISHING

• Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It’s the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering or hot embers from being blown onto furniture or floors.
• Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might break a glass container.
• Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
• Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.
• Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use.

Coventry’s votives have a zinc core wick. This allows the wick to remain upright for the entire burn. Cotton or paper core wicks in such a small candle have a tendency to fall over and drown out ½ way through the candle.

Coventry does not nor has it ever used lead wicks.

If burned in an appropriate sized candle holder:

• Affirmations/Wicked Witch Mojo/Aunt Jacki's Ultimate: 40 hours
• Blessed Herbal: 40 hours
• World Magic/Witches Brew: 80 hours
• Votives: 10 hours

Burning a candle for at least three hours is optimal. You can burn the candle for as long as you like as long as you never leave a burning candle unattended.

All of Coventry's candles are considered “Dressed”

A dressed candle is a candle that has been anointed or "dressed" with oils, herbs, powders, or other ingredients for a specific intention or purpose.

The amount of smoke that comes from a candle is determined by the amount of fragrance, the size of the wick, and the amount of draft. Large candles, even when they have a properly balanced wick-to-candle diameter, will smoke. Soy wax does smoke, and although the industry says that the smoke is white, we have personally experienced it as black. If your candle is smoking excessively, extinguish the candle, let it cool, and trim the wick to 1/4" in length. Eliminate all drafts in the room.

Coventry wants to add to the ambiance of the room and your spell, not take it over. Everyone’s olfactory is different, some people are sensitive and can smell even the slightest fragrance variance, and some cannot smell well at all. We strive for a balance of gentle, pleasing fragrances. For more information, read our "A Blend of Oils" article.

Yes, they can be. Asthma is a serious issue and any fragrance or essential oil can trigger an attack. For more information, read our "A Blend of Oils" article.

A witch is a self assigned title to someone who works with the unseen energies around them to empower themselves and others to create the life they desire. There are other definitions that shed a negative light upon being a witch, but there is a growing movement of women and men who are reclaiming that word for a positive meaning.

Here is a lovely in-depth article that talks about the modern meaning of a witch.

Magic is intent combined with belief and actions toward a specific goal that is seemingly outside of your normal influence. In other words, it is using everything around you, including the unseen energies to make the change you want. Magic is called many things, setting intent, prayer, mindfulness, positive thinking and the law of attraction. Magic is simple.  It’s about affecting change and healing. Nothing scary here.

There is more information on this in my book, Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs.

At Coventry, we don’t see magic as evil. We actually believe that we co-create with the divine and working candle magic or any magic with this intention creates a deeper connection with your higher power.

Absolutely. Magic is not of a particular faith, although other religions will call magic different things; the power of faith, the power of prayer, positive thinking, miracles. For that matter, witches are not of a particular faith either. Both Magic and Witch are non-denominational.

The only way you can do your spell wrong is to not put your intent in it. Even then, you can take a moment and deeply connect the energy you are raising with the true intent you have for your spell. There are as many ways to build a personal spell as there are people. The most powerful magic comes from your heart and your need, use that as your inspiration and you cannot get it wrong.   

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

If you get more than one candle to work on your magical goal, you have a choice on burning them all at the same time or one at a time. The difference I find is that when you burn them all at the same time the energy combines to create the perfect vibration of magic to manifest with. If you burn them one at a time, you are taking the time to peel back the layers and take a slower road to healing at the core level. Both are viable, powerful ways to make magic happen.

Coventry’s philosophy is that the most powerful time to do your magic is when you need it. If the moon is in a different phase, and tapping into energy that increases or decreases is really important to your spell there are other ways to do it. Here is a quick chart:

THE MONTH

Waxing moon (new moon to full moon) bring increase

Waning moon (full moon to new moon) brings a decrease

THE DAY

Midnight to noon - brings increase

Moon to midnight - brings a decrease

THE HOUR

From the top of the hour to the ½ hour (minute arm moving down the right face of the clock) brings a decrease

From the 1/2 hour to the new hour (minute arm moving up the left side of the face) brings an increase

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

No, it just feels a bit more magical to some. The idea that a match is better than a lighter is because of the sulfur on the match head. It is said to drive away evil or ill intent before you cast your spell. I have not seen a difference in my magic either way.

Many teachers will say to never blow out your candle. The reasons are varied, but the most prevalent one is the fear that your magic will blow away.

Aunt Jacki takes a different view on this and lives it every time I light a candle. I blow my candles out!  It’s ok, the intent is already out into the universe and it knows that you should never leave a burning candle unattended. I see blowing out the candle as a way to put your DNA stamp on your spell and give it more breath of life. I ask the universe to continue my spell whether the candle candle it lit or not, until the wax is consumed or I set the intent that it is done. My candle spells are powerful enough to withstand a little puff of air. Your spell are powerful enough too.

Never leave a burning candle unattended. Unless you are going to be present the entire time your candle is lit, you will need to extinguish it at some point. I don’t even leave 7 day candles going. Flame is a powerful element and unpredictable, add magic to it and you will see weird occurances. I have seen strange things happen; flames jumping, glass shattering, and more. This is with any candle and not just the Coventry candles.

Generally no. Don’t short change your magic be trying to be cheap. Use that candle all the way and match your magic blossom larger than you imagined. There are a few candles that are good for re-use because of their nature. A candle for luck or clearing can be used a little at a time as needed, yet you see it still has the same intent as you burn it all the way down.

If you discover that you don’t want the magic you started you need to do an energetic retraction. Extinguish the candle and put it upside down in your candle holder. Pour some salt around the candle and state aloud your intention to stop and/or retract your spell. If you have to do more energetic clean up, light a Van Van candle to cancel the spell.  Take the unlit candle and pass it through your aura, then do the same with Van Van oil.

It depends on whether the person who re-lit the candle has any ill will toward the spell you are casting. If this is a random lighting of a candle, no worries. Your magic is already working. At Coventry, we have candles going every day and the first person in lights them. Your magic is strong and this will not derail it.

Our blessings and affirmations are a suggestion to get you started.  If the words just don't do it for you, by all means, write a new blessing.  This is your spell. Your words and intention are an important part of the recipe.

It can. People who do not agree with what you are doing will try to talk you out of it, discount your belief and build doubt in you and that is a magic killer.

ON the other hand, discerning who is the right person to tell can add a lot to your spell in support, excitement and even helping make the real life connections to manifest your magic.

I dispose of the leftover wax in the garbage. Some people collect it any make a candle out of the leftovers. If this is what you want to do take the following into consideration. If you are doing clearing or cleansing spell get rid of that wax, you don’t want to keep anything from that spell.  Once your spell is done, unless otherwise charged, the leftover wax is empty of the energy you sent out.

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

You can do the magical work at your altar and charge up an article of power and bring that with you. You can also use oils and sprays in a place where candles are not allowed. Using the oils or sprays are a different magical process so adjustments will need to be made.

Yes. We use the same recipe for the oils as we do for the candles. They will smell slightly different because burning oils smell differently than oils in the bottle. Oils can be used on the body, on items, mixed with other things like lotion or laundry soap, diffused, and hidden.  Oils can go where candles cannot. They may need to be refreshed a few times to keep the spell going. You can mix the oils together to create a unique and fine tuned spell of your own. Use your imagination.

Using the oils is a 200 page book all on its own. From using them to anoint, make other products, scent, body scent, put in shoes, put in bath, the list is gigantic and only limited by your imagination. Get to googling it, witches love to talk about what works for them.  You can also join our Witches Union: Spell Caster Club group on Facebook and ask your fellow witches what they do with their magical oils. 

Children’s skin is much more sensitive than an adult’s and may be an irritating or cause a reaction. We recommend that you put very small amounts of the oil in their shoes, on their clothes, or an item that your child will carry with them.  You can also try a diffuser, but watch your child closely for reactions. Discontinue use immediately if your child is having a reaction and put your child in fresh air and open windows and doors to ventilate the room.

Because pets are very sensitive we do not recommend using oils on or diffusing them around pets in case of injury or irritation.

No. These are not for internal use or ingestion.

The candles from Coventry are made with oils, herbs, colors and blessings already in them, no need to dress them further.  Many magic makers add more oils, sigils, and words to the candles to fine tune their energy. This is a great way to add to the magic.

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

The best place to burn your candle is on your altar, or in your favorite sacred space. If you do not have a place where you do your magic, then place the candle in a spot that is safe and protected from the candle being knocked over. You can also look at the different places in your house for their specific energy to add to your magic. For instance, for magic that involves your family or protection, light the candle in your living room.  For love spells, light the candle in your bedroom and for abundance use the kitchen.

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

Usually a fast burning candle means your magic is fast acting.

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

First check for technical issues, is it in a draft, did the wick get clipped too short, is it in a candle holder that is not giving it enough oxygen? If that is not the case, the may not be the magic for you, there may be a big block in your way, someone may be working against you and/or you need to spiritually cleanse before you do this work

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

First check for technical issues like draft, extra heat one side or a uncentered wick. Burning to one side may tell you that you are only getting part of the issue, there is a block on one direction or extra protection on one side.  

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

You may be splitting the issue or not seeing some external influence.

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

There are books that talk about the messages that our magical candles bring to us while in use. My favorite is The Big Book of Candle Magic (I wrote it). The most important thing to remember and do is to sit with your candle and let your intuition tell you what is most important about the moment.

Don’t forget to check the drafts, traffic around and general location of the candle to rule out and simple technical difficulties.

Yikes!  If this happens to more than one candle holder you have a really big explosive issue that needs a reading and bigger spell work to tackle it.   

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs.

Magic begins working quickly and the first place it works is on you and your perspective. You are shifting your vibration so you can see the opportunities or changes around you. Pay attention, look around and watch the magic unfold in subtle ways to create a bigger shift.

Time for a reading and introspection. Did you miss the opportunity? Did you not really want it?  Did you go for something too big or not in your influence?

There is more information on this in my book Coventry Magic with Candles, Oils and Herbs or The Big Book of Candle Magic.

Yes! My favorite way to clean a candle holder is with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Not only does it work well, the name says everything.

In some magical tradition, creating a sacred space and casting a circle helps you move from your everyday mind set into a magical mindset. You are inviting your energy to become sacred and your divine allies to be present to make magic. It also helps contain the energy you are generating until you choose to release it.  A circle keeps you safe from interfering energy affecting your magic or meditation.

Nope, your simple request for financial stability will not kill Uncle Joe so you will inherit his stash of cash. Your money magic may ensure that Uncle Joe’s wish for you to have the family jewels is honored. The magic you manifest always comes through your spheres of influence.

From hour long rituals to a moment of positive thought, there are millions of ways to clear your space. Start with making your space comfy, lovely and stress free. You can also use a Coventry Product like Spiritual Cleansing candles and oil or Karma Klearing sprays to make the job easier.

This isn’t “Charmed”  This is real life. Every spell you cast is upon yourself first. You have to take care of your own needs before you can be of any use elsewhere.