You bought a candle you love. Now let's make it last. A little care goes a long way, and most of these tips take about ten seconds. Do them, and you'll get a cleaner burn, a stronger scent, and a lot more hours out of every candle.
Here are five simple ways to make your candles last longer.
1. Get the first burn right
This is the big one. The first time you light a candle, let it burn until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar. For most candles, that takes two to four hours.
Why does it matter? Wax has a memory. If you blow it out too early, your candle "remembers" that small pool and burns down the middle from then on. That leaves a ring of wax stuck to the sides, and you lose it for good.
So light it when you have time to leave it going. That first long burn sets up every burn after it.
2. Trim the wick before every light
Before you light your candle, trim the wick to about a quarter inch. A long wick burns too hot. It makes a big flame, gives off smoke, and eats through your candle fast.
A short wick burns slow and clean. You can use a wick trimmer, small scissors, or even a nail clipper. Just do it every single time, and pinch off the little burnt tip before you light.
3. Don't burn it too long
It feels nice to leave a candle going all evening. But burning it more than four hours at a stretch isn't doing it any favors.
After about four hours, the wick builds up carbon and the flame gets bigger. That means more soot and a faster burn. Blow it out, let it cool, trim the wick, and light it again later. Your candle will thank you.
4. Keep it away from drafts
Set your candle somewhere still. A spot near a fan, an open window, or an air vent makes the flame flicker and dance.
A dancing flame looks pretty, but it burns unevenly and creates smoke. A calm flame burns clean and slow. So skip the windowsill and pick a steady surface instead.
5. Know when to stop
When there's about half an inch of wax left in the bottom, it's time to retire that candle. Burning below that point can overheat the jar.
But don't toss the jar. Soy wax cleans out easily with warm, soapy water. Once it's clean, that jar makes a great little holder for cotton rounds, hair ties, or a few stems of dried flowers.
Small habits, better candles
None of this is hard. Get the first burn right, trim the wick, keep it out of drafts, and stop before the very bottom. These small habits turn a good candle into one that lasts, smells better, and burns clean the whole way down.
Want a candle worth caring for? Shop hand-poured soy candles made to burn slow and clean.