A little care makes a noticeable difference to how a candle burns. Follow these simple steps to help your candle burn evenly, minimise soot and get the best from it from first light to last.
Before you light it
Place your candle on a stable, level and heat-resistant surface, well away from curtains, books, bedding and anything else that could catch fire.
Keep it away from open windows, fans, air vents and strong draughts. Moving air can disturb the flame, causing uneven burning, smoking or soot on the inside of the vessel.
The first burn
The first burn helps establish how the candle will behave later.
Where possible, allow the melted wax pool to spread across most or all of the surface before extinguishing the candle. This helps reduce the chance of tunnelling, where the candle repeatedly burns down through the centre while leaving unused wax around the sides.
For many container candles this may take a few hours. Always follow the instructions supplied with the candle and do not burn it for longer than recommended.
Trim the wick
Before each burn, trim the wick to around 6 mm / ¼ inch.
A wick that is too long can produce a larger, less stable flame and may lead to smoking, soot or the carbon build-up sometimes known as mushrooming.
Wick trimmers make the job easy, but clean scissors can also work. Remove any wick trimmings, matches or other debris from the wax before lighting the candle again.
How long should you burn a candle?
Avoid very short burns wherever possible, as the wax may not have enough time to melt evenly across the surface.
At the other extreme, do not leave a candle burning indefinitely. As a general rule, a container candle should not be burned for more than four hours at a time unless its own instructions state otherwise.
After extinguishing it, allow the candle and wax to cool fully before trimming the wick and lighting it again.
How to extinguish your candle
A candle snuffer is a simple way to extinguish the flame with minimal disturbance to the wax. You can also gently blow the candle out.
Make sure the flame and wick are completely extinguished before leaving the candle.
Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause hot wax to splatter and may damage a hot glass vessel.
Do not touch, move or handle the candle until the wax and container have cooled.
Know when to stop
Do not burn a container candle all the way to the bottom.
Stop using it when roughly 10–15 mm / about ½ inch of wax remains. Allowing the flame to burn too close to the base can cause the container to become excessively hot.
A small amount of wax left at the bottom is normal and is preferable to overheating the vessel.
Candle safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep candles away from children and pets.
- Burn candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
- Keep the flame away from curtains, furniture, paper and other flammable materials.
- Keep candles away from draughts, fans and open windows.
- Do not move a candle while the wax is liquid or the vessel is hot.
- Keep the wax pool free from wick trimmings, matches and other debris.
- Never use water to extinguish a candle.
- Follow any safety instructions supplied with the individual candle.
Storing your candles
When not in use, store candles somewhere cool, dry and away from prolonged direct sunlight.
Keeping a candle covered or lidded when fully cool also helps prevent dust and debris settling onto the wax and can help protect its fragrance.
A better burn, from beginning to end
The essentials are simple: trim the wick, give the wax enough time to melt evenly, keep the candle away from draughts, never leave it unattended and stop burning before the wax reaches the bottom of the vessel.
A few seconds of care before each burn can help your candle perform more consistently throughout its life.
