If you’re a candle lover like me, you might be burning candles a lot – maybe even every day! (No shame.) To get the best and safest burn out of your candles, you’ll want to do a few things:
Trim your wicks
If you take nothing else away from this post, remember to trim your wicks! Before I started making my own candles, I had no idea you were supposed to trim your candle wicks. It’s an important part of candle care for a few reasons. Trimming your wick before each burn helps to eliminate any sooting, and even impacts the size of your candle flame – keeping the flame small, and preventing it from flickering too much. Properly trimmed wicks can also help prevent your candle from tunneling, and help to keep the rest of your candle wax free of soot and debris. Trimmed wicks help your wax to burn evenly, meaning your candle should last longer!
Burn time
It is actually recommended to let your candle burn for 3-ish hours at a time. Burning a candle for this long – especially the first time you burn it – allows your candle to reach a full melt pool. This means that the melted wax will reach every side of the container. Achieving a full melt pool can also help prevent candle tunneling, which can leave excess un-melted wax around the sides of your candle.
Mindful candle placement
Your ability to smell a lit candle in your home can actually be negatively impacted depending on where you place it. Avoid placing candles in drafty areas, or near air vents. Also take into consideration the size of the candle, and the size of the room you have it in. A small 5 oz candle likely won’t fill a large, open concept area of your home. Sometimes larger spaces need larger candles, or candles with multiple wicks.
Basic candle safety
It should go without saying, but we have to say it anyway. Don’t leave a lit candle unattended! Blow out your candles before going to sleep or leaving the house. Avoid placing candles near drapes, or too close to any furniture. Keep your candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface. And of course, keep candles out of reach of small children and pets.
Keep these tips in mind, and get the most of your candles!