The Secret to Longer Lasting Candles
If you’ve ever wanted to extend the life of your candle, then you’re reading the right article. That’s because I’m about to teach you how to best take care of your candle, not only for your safety, but to get the most out of something that you love.
Many people burn candles without much thought and don’t even realise how important the first burn is. It prepares the candle for every following burn and can potentially shorten its life. If you’ve ever had a candle “tunnel” or not burn all the way to the edges, then you’ll know the feeling of a wasted candle.
First of all, always keep your wick trimmed to ¼ inch or about 5mm. This will prevent the flame from burning too high and risking a fire hazard. Ensure your candle is clear of any dust and debris prior to burning as a precaution.
Second, burn your candle until the melt pool reaches the edge of the jar. This will preserve the candle’s “memory” and prevent any wasted wax, thus ensuring the maximum life of your candle. Depending on your candle size, this could take up to 4 hours. If your candle has more than one wick, you will need to make sure that all wicks are lit. While this may seem counter-productive, ensuring your candle burns evenly is the most important factor when it comes to increasing the life of your candle.
Remember to store your candle only after the flame is fully extinguished. Although rare, any remaining embers in the wick could relight and cause a fire.
So go forth and get the most out of your beloved candles and never have any wasted wax again.