The procedure supposedly creates a low-level vacuum that sucks wax and other debris out of the canal. Some proponents even claim that impurities are removed from the inner ear, the facial sinuses, or even the brain itself, all of which they claim are connected to the canal. Commercially available ear candles can be made by soaking linen or cotton soaked in wax or paraffin and allowing it to harden. Home varieties include wax-soaked newspaper and cones of pottery into which herbal smoke is blown.
Some waxes contain herbs or other substances.
Most instructions direct the person undergoing the procedure to lie on his or her side. A collecting plate is placed above the ear, and the candle is inserted through a hole in the plate and into the ear canal. The candle is lit, and, as the wick burns down, it is often trimmed. After the candle is blown out and removed, a cotton swab is used to remove visible wax from the ear. Package directions typically state that the ear will feel warm but not hot and that the experience will be relaxing or even spiritual.