Candles provide a comforting and relaxing atmosphere while adding the perfect ambiance to any room or occasion. However, proper care is essential to ensure their longevity. To help you maintain your candles and achieve optimal results each time you light them, here are some straightforward tips for candle care:
Ensure even burning during the first use of your candle.
- When lighting your candle for the first time, allow it to burn for at least an hour.
- As a general guideline, burn the candle for one hour per inch of its diameter.
- Allowing the wax pool to reach the rim of the jar establishes the candle's wax "memory," preventing tunneling during subsequent burns.
- Regularly trimming the wick is crucial for a prolonged, clean, and even burn, while avoiding soot buildup.
- Trim the wick to approximately 1/4" before lighting the candle. To prevent the burnt wick from falling into the candle, invert the solidified candle while trimming.
- Utilize a wick trimmer to trim the wick or remove the previous burn's "mushroom" residue.
- Prolonged burning can compromise the scent of the candle and lead to smoking, potentially leaving marks on the container. Keep the candle away from drafts. Place the candle in an area where it is shielded from drafts, air currents, or vents.
- Exposing the candle to constant air movement can cause uneven burning and increased soot production.
Safely extinguish the candle using a candle snuffer.
- Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame and prevent wax splatters.
- Avoid using the lid to put out the flame, as it can stain the glass and leave smoke marks.
- Alternatively, if blowing out the candle, do so gently to prevent wax from scattering.
- You can also dip the wick into the melted wax pool using a wick dipper to extinguish the flame, ensuring minimal smoking or "afterglow."
- Preserve the candle's quality and lifespan by storing it away from light and heat sources.
- Ensure the candle is kept upright and level during storage.
Avoid burning the candle completely.
- Cease burning the candle before it completely runs out of wax. Burning it down to the bottom can cause excessive heat, potentially leading to a messy situation.
- To reuse the candle container, either use a mug warmer to melt the remaining wax or place the candle in the freezer.The frozen wax will contract, facilitating easy removal.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Always place candles on a protective and heat-resistant surface.
- Keep candles away from flammable objects.
- Ensure candles are out of reach for children and pets.