Candle Care
Tips for Burning Candles Correctly
1. Avoid too short and long burnsIf you light your candle for brief periods only, the wax is not able to melt completely. Candles should burn one hour for every 1 inch in diameter of the actual candle size. For example, a candle that is 2 inches across should burn for 2 hours. If a candle is not burned for long enough to allow the wax to liquefy or to melt from edge to edge of the container, it will create a “memory ring.” Once a candle has a “memory ring,” it will continue to tunnel for the life of the candle.
Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
2. No drafts
Constant flickering and smoking occur when the teardrop shape of the flame is disturbed. This allows small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) to escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. If too much (or too little) air reaches the candle flame, it will disturb the flame’s teardrop shape, causing it to soot. To avoid this, always burn your candles in a well-ventilated room, away from drafts, vents or strong air currents.
3. Accept ‘leftover’ wax
Residual wax can have the benefit of preventing the candle from becoming too hot. Variability in burning conditions result in different amounts of leftover wax. For example, the length of time the candle’s been burning or the temperature of the room can affect the amount of leftover wax. At the end of the candle, leave 1/2 inch of wax to prevent the glass from over heating/shattering or debris catching a flame.
4. Trim your wick
Before you light a candle, always trim the wick to ¼ inch and remove any debris left in the wax pool such as wick trimmings or matches. Any debris will add more fuel to the candle than it’s designed to handle. Too much fuel can cause the flame to unexpectedly flare up or even start a small fire near the candle flame. Wicks that are left long or crooked can cause uneven burning, dripping, flaring and sooting. Trimming wicks will help prolong the life of your candle. Your candles will burn up to 25% longer if you trim the wick every couple of hours.