Candle Care

Ensure Your Candle Burns Evenly

When you light a candle for the first time, let it burn for a while. You want to ensure the entire surface of the candle melts before you put it out. If you don't, your candle could end up with a rim of solid wax that never ends up melting. (This is called tunneling, and you've probably seen it happen.) If you want all the wax in your candle to burn, let it burn evenly before you put it out. This process should take at least one hour and can take up to four hours —so try not to light a new candle unless you have a little time to spare.

Keep the Candle Clean

Once you've used a candle a few times, you may notice that soot and other debris have accumulated inside the container. Clean this gunk out the moment you see it. Debris that protrudes above the wax can be ignited by the candle's flame and produce multiple flames in the candle. This can cause the candle to overheat, creating a flashover (when the candle's entire surface lights on fire).

Use tweezers, (or something similar) to pluck wick trimmings from your candle's wax whenever you see them. Use a dry towel to wipe away soot, fingerprints, and other aesthetic distractions. (Don't use a wet towel, because water can disrupt your candle's burn.)

Trim the Candle's Wick 

If you want a clean, even burn, make sure your candle's wick is the right length. This might require some trimming. Before you light your candle, double-check your wick's length. If it's longer than the recommended 0.25 inches, use scissors (or a wick trimmer) to neatly trim it. Try to be as precise as you can. A too-short wick can get lost in a sea of melted wax and fail to light.

Minimise Mess When Putting Out Your Candle

When it comes time to put out your candle, do so carefully. If your candle came in a jar, you can put it out by placing the lid back on. Or you can invest in a proper snuffer. Blowing a candle out works, but should be done carefully. Be gentle, if you blow too hard, you can cause wax to splatter everywhere—wasting your wax and creating a mess for you to clean up. You can also put your candle out by dipping the wick in melted wax. LaVanier suggests using a special candle tool called a wick dipper to press your wick into the wax, then straighten it back up before it dries.

Retire Your Candle With Wax in It

You should stop using a candle before it completely runs out of wax. Why? If you let your candle burn all the way down, it could overheat its container—which could damage the container, create a mess, or both. Most candle experts recommend retiring your candle while there's still 0.5 inches of wax left in it.

Remember, you can always clean out the wax and reuse your container. We recommend using a mug warmer or heat gun to melt the rest of the wax, pouring hot water into the jar until the wax floats to the top and can be popped out or placing your candle in the freezer to shrink the wax, allowing you to get it out more easily. Give your vessels another life and reuse them for other purposes—as a flower vase, an orchid pot, a pencil holder, a makeup brush holder, or even a drinking glass.

Store Candles in a Cool, Dark Place

Unfortunately, your candles can expire over time. And while they're unlikely to spoil the same way food does, they can lose their fragrance, become discolored, or otherwise grow stale. Temperature fluctuations can speed the aging process up—and light can, too. Find a cool, dark place to store your candles between seasons. (We recommend storing your candles at room temperature.) And whenever possible, try to light your candles within 12 to 16 months of buying them.