You may be asking yourself, “Are there really ways to ‘care’ for a candle?”

Well, actually, yes there is. The way you burn a candle (especially a scented one) is important to get the most out of it.  Here’s how and why…

Burning a candle for the first time sets it’s ‘memory’.  Have you ever seen a jar candle or a pillar candle that the flame had just tunnelled through the middle? – This is usually because the flame didn’t have time to melt all of the surface before it was snuffed out during its first use.

A candle memory is set by its first burn. It’s a good idea to have a few hours to spend with it when you light it for the first time. The memory is set by allowing the pool of wax to build up until it reaches the edge of the glass. This would take around 1.5 to 3 hours or until there is at least 1cm of liquid wax. Then snuff out the flame and leave your candle to return to a completely solid state.

The candle will only burn up to the point of the last burn because it burrows deeper each time; it can’t reach the top to burn it off flat. So it’s important to only light the candle when you have enough time to keep an eye on it. This is also important for every burn to stop the tunnel effect and get the most use and life out of it.

Before you light the candle again (and each time after), it’s important to trim back the wick. Leaving it at a length of around 5 millimetres (0.5cm). If you leave the burnt excess wick on the candle and light it again, the flame will become high, and the candle will burn faster in the centre. It’ll also smoke like a steam train and fill your space with a sooty smell rather than the lovely fragrance you brought it for.  

When the candle has been alight for around three hours, you may notice that the wick has gained a mushroom shape to it. It’s definitely time to blow it out and let it cool completely. That mushroom it created will need to be removed before lighting it again for the reason just mentioned (excessive smoke) but also to keep your candle free from little black bits of carbon falling into the pool of wax and altering the scent. Once the wax has dried, replace the lid to stop the dust from building up and altering the scent also.

And lastly, please don’t forget to keep your candle products away from young children and pets and be mindful of where you place it in your space and upon what surface.

If you stayed with me this long and follow the tips provided, your candle will keep smelling vibrant and fragrant throughout its life!