You just bought a new candle - and you’re absolutely in love with it. So now you’re wondering how to make it last as long as possible, right? Proper candle care is essential for extending the life of your candles and ensuring they burn safely. In this post, we’ll take a look at easy, important tips to help you get the most out of your candles and keep your home smelling great.
1. Trim that Wick!
Before lighting your candle, it's essential to trim the wick to 1/4 inch. This is the rule for both wooden and cotton wicks. It’s best if you use a wick trimmer to do this (here’s our favorite wick trimmer of the dozens we’ve tried and this is not an affiliate link) A longer wick can create a larger flame, causing the candle to burn faster and produce more soot. A shorter wick will also help prevent the flame from flickering, which can cause uneven burning and decrease the candle's lifespan. 
2. Timing is everything
It's important to burn your candles for the appropriate amount of time. If you let it burn for too long, you may find yourself getting less burn time out of the candle than it was meant to provide. This is because the longer a candle burns, the more heat is produced within the candle vessel which in turn melts through the wax at a much faster rate than the candle maker intended. On the other hand, if you only burn it in short bursts (less than an hour for candles that are over 1.5 inches in diameter) chances are your candle will tunnel eventually. “Tunneling” happens when a hole is formed in the center of the candle around the wick, wasting the wax around the edges. It substantially shortens the life of the candle because you’re not using all the wax across the diameter of the candle. A good general rule is that candles should be burned for at least one hour for every inch in diameter, allowing the wax to melt evenly across the surface of the candle.
3. Keep Your Candles Cozy
Drafts can cause candles to burn unevenly or flicker, leading to soot buildup and decreased candle lifespan. To avoid drafts, keep your candles away from open windows or doors, ceiling fans, and air conditioning vents.
4. Snuff ‘em out
Blowing out a candle can cause the wick to bend or break, making it challenging to relight. Instead, use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame gently. These are always metal. Never use a wood or plastic stick as a snuffer. Using a proper snuffer will help prevent wax splatter and ensure the wick remains intact. 
5. Keep a lid on it!
Storing candles properly can help preserve their scent and quality. Keep candles in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Avoid storing candles for longer than two years as their scent may fade over time. Some people use cloches for their favorite candles since those beautiful glass domes are such cool decorative accents — we love them as well. If your candle comes with a lid or dust cover, we recommend using them after the candle is extinguished and has had time to cool. This will protect your candle from dust and other debris. Never snuff a candle with a lid or a dust cover. Not only is this a safety and fire hazard, but you’re trapping the smoke from the extinguished wick in the candle and that smell will eventually settle into the melted wax, changing the scent the candle was meant to have (and not in a good way).
6. Mind your (soy/paraffin/coconut/bees)wax
Different types of wax burn differently and have different “memories.” A wax’s “memory” means that some waxes - like soy - will develop burn and melt patterns after being burned a few times based on how they’re burned. If you don’t burn a soy or paraffin candle correctly, you may be dealing with a tunneling candle after a few burns. Paraffin can do the same. Coconut wax is less likely to develop a memory, but it does have its own characteristics to be aware of. Coconut wax candles tend to not develop full melt pools during the first few burns. Meaning, even if you burn a 3.5” wide candle for 4 hours, a properly made coconut candle will still likely have some wax “hang up” around the edges that’s about 1/4 of an inch thick (give or take a smidge) the first few times you burn it. You’ll notice full melt pools across the entire diameter of the candle after the first 3 or 4 burns. That’s when the coconut wax plays catch up and you’ll have an even surface across the whole candle for the rest of the life of the candle. It’s just a fun little quirk of coconut based waxes! The difference between a tunneling candle and a candle with hang up is the thickness of the wax around the edges. A tunneling candle will have a noticeable ring of wax that’s more than 1/4 of an inch. A candle with hang up will have a ring that’s about a 1/4 of an inch thick or less. Here’s a picture of good and expected “hang up” in a coconut wax candle:
By following these tips, you can help extend the life of your candles and enjoy their fragrances to the fullest. Proper candle care is easy to do and can save you money in the long run, so be sure to implement these steps the next time you light a candle.
Happy burning!
