Have you ever lit a candle only to see it burn unevenly or leave black marks on the container? We’ve all been there. A Candle can be a perfect mood-setter, but without the right know-how, they can also be frustrating. The good news? You can make the most of every candle you light with simple steps. This guide is here to walk you through the essentials of candle care — from trimming your wick to storing candles correctly. Discover practical tips to help your candles last longer, burn brighter, and keep your space looking and smelling great.
Go for Multi-Wick Candles
Amoret Muse
Candles come in various shapes and sizes, and the number of wicks can genuinely influence how they burn. One wick might not be enough for those who enjoy larger, wider candles. With multiple wicks, you have several flames evenly distributed. This ensures that the entire surface of the candle gets melted consistently. It safeguards against the often-frustrating phenomenon of tunnelling, where only the centre melts, leaving a rim of unused wax. Multiple flames mean the candle can achieve a full melt pool faster. This is efficient and can enhance the scent throw, making your room smell wonderful in a shorter amount of time. Let’s not forget the aesthetic value. Multiple wicks can add a touch of elegance and provide a brighter, more luminous glow, perfect for setting moods during dinners or baths.
Make sure your candle has a
Well-Trimmed Wick
Wick Trimming
At the heart of every great candle experience is a well-maintained wick. A wick that's too long can lead to a bigger, smokier flame, which means uneven burning and those unsightly 'burn pools'. Aim for the sweet spot: ⅛ to ¼ inches. Trimmed wicks reduce soot production, ensuring the flame is not only steady but also clean. This means less residue on the candle jar and in the surrounding air. A long, untrimmed wick might lean over and come into contact with the container or other materials, posing a fire risk. Keeping it trimmed safeguards against this. While scissors and nail clippers can do the job, consider investing in a wick trimmer. It's designed specifically for this task, making it easier and more precise.
Light the candle using Longer Matches and Lighters
Every step in the candle-burning process is essential, and that includes the initial lighting. While it might seem like a simple act, the tool you use to ignite the flame can have repercussions. Using shorter matches or lighters can bring your hand too close to the flame, risking a burn. Longer matches and extended lighters keep your hand at a safe distance.It allows for a direct approach to the wick. When people use shorter matches, they sometimes tilt the candle for better access, leading to uneven melting right from the beginning.
Extended lighters often last longer and provide a more consistent flame than their shorter counterparts. This ensures you can light the candle in one go, reducing potential soot or unnecessary smoke.
Remember, how you light your candle sets the tone for its entire burn. Starting off on the right note can make all the difference.
Wait Before You Burn Again
Relighting a candle may seem straightforward, but a pause makes all the difference.Waiting for the wax to solidify ensures that when you relight your candle, the wax melts uniformly, preventing tunnels and uneven burn pools. Allow the wick to cool down fully can extend its life, ensuring you get the most out of your candle.
A candle burning for a while gets hot. Lighting it up immediately after extinguishing can make the container hotter, risking cracks or breakages.
Remember, patience pays off. A cooled-down candle provides a better burning experience and lasts longer.
Ensure the Wax Melts Evenly
By allowing the entire surface to melt uniformly, you ensure the wax burns at the same rate, preventing a tunnel-like depression in the centre. To Maximize your candle life, achieve a full melt pool. It ensures you get the most out of your candle and prevents wax wastage, giving you more burn time in the long run. As you might know, the first burn is pivotal. It sets the tone for subsequent burns. An even first melt pool will likely mean even burns thereafter.
Choose a Perfectly Flat Base
for Your Candle
The surface on which you place your candle plays a pivotal role in determining how it burns. It’s not just about preventing accidents but also about ensuring an ideal burn. A level surface guarantees that the wax in the candle melts uniformly. This ensures a longer-lasting candle and an even fragrance release throughout the room.
Candles placed on an unstable or tilted base tend to flicker more. Over time, this can lead to excessive smoke and cause unsightly dark marks or soot on the container or nearby surfaces.
An uneven surface can pose a risk beyond the burn. The candle might tip over, leading to spilt hot wax or even starting a fire. Always prioritize safety by double-checking the stability of your candle’s position.
Use foil to melt candle tunnels
While candles add beauty and ambience, they can sometimes show signs of tunnelling, where the centre melts downwards, leaving a ring of hard wax on the sides. However, there’s a handy solution that many might not know about:
Wrapping the top of a tunnelled candle with aluminium foil helps retain and redirect the heat towards the outer wax, facilitating it to melt and even out with the centre.
Light your candle and then carefully wrap a piece of foil around the top, ensuring you leave an opening in the centre for the flame. It’s vital to keep an eye on the candle while doing this. After about two hours, you should notice a more even wax pool with reduced signs of tunnelling.
Always exercise caution when using this method. Ensure the foil is secure and doesn’t come too close to the flame. It’s recommended to stay in the same room with the candle while trying this fix to ensure safety.
This simple yet effective method can save your favourite candles from being wasted and extend their life, ensuring you get the most out of each burn.
Don’t blow out the candles,
Snuff them
Putting out a candle may seem straightforward, but there’s a right and wrong way to do it, especially if you wish to preserve the candle’s integrity for future burns. Here’s a detailed breakdown of why snuffing is preferred:
When you blow out a candle, tiny particles from the wick scatter into the liquid wax. Over time, these particles accumulate and can hinder the candle’s ability to burn uniformly in subsequent uses.
Not to forget, blowing might lead to unwanted splashes of hot wax or cause excessive smoke, leading to sooty residue on the container or nearby walls.
Snuff Them Out!
The ideal tool to extinguish a candle is a candle snuffer which is designed to gently deprive the flame of oxygen, extinguishing it without any fuss. A simple metal spoon can also smother the flame if you don’t have one on hand. Some candles even come with fireproof lids, which can be used for this purpose.
An often overlooked trick is the use of table salt. You can modify the wax’s melting speed by sprinkling a pinch over the melted wax. This trick leads to a more uniform burn the next time you light up and can extend the candle’s lifespan.
Avoid Using Water to Put It Out
It might seem intuitive – using water to put out a fire. However, with candles, this method can do more harm than good. Pouring or sprinkling water into a burning candle can cause the hot, melted wax to splash. This wastes the wax and can lead to potential burns or damage to surfaces.
Plus, introducing cold water to a hot container suddenly can cause it to crack or shatter due to the swift change in temperature. Water may not even succeed in putting out the candle immediately, especially if the wick remains above the water level, leading to potential risks if left unattended.
Stick to snuffers, lids, or even spoons for a safer and cleaner way to extinguish those soothing flames.
Keep your candles free from dust
You might not realise it, but how you store your candles when they’re not being used can dramatically affect their performance. Dust particles that settle on the surface of your candles can clog the wick, leading to an inconsistent flame, more smoke, and a crackling sound. Over time, this can reduce the candle’s burn time and efficiency.
Using lids or specialized candle covers ensures no dust settles on your candles. For those without lids, placing them in a cupboard or drawer can also shield them from dust. If you want to prolong your candles’ lives, consider storing them in the freezer. This hardens the wax, making the candle burn slower and last longer when used.
Store carefully, and your candles will give you many more hours of serene, flickering light.
Candle Care: FAQ
Q1: What is the importance of the candle's location in burning it the right way?
A1: The location is crucial for even burning. A level surface ensures uniform melting of the wax, leading to a longer-lasting candle and consistent fragrance release.
Q2: Why should I use multi-wick candles?
A2: Multi-wick candles provide several flames evenly distributed, ensuring the entire surface melts consistently, preventing tunnelling and enhancing scent throw.
Q3: How long should a candle wick be for optimal burning?
A3: A well-maintained wick should be trimmed to ⅛ to ¼ inches. This reduces soot production and ensures a steady, clean flame, reducing residue and fire risk.
Q4: What is the best way to light a candle?
A4: Use longer matches or extended lighters for safety and consistency. This prevents tilting the candle, which can lead to uneven melting from the start.
Q5: Why is waiting before relighting a candle important?
A5: Allowing the wax to solidify and the wick to cool down ensures uniform melting and extends the life of the candle, preventing tunnels and uneven burn pools.
Q6: How can I fix a tunnelled candle?
A6: Wrap the top of the candle with aluminium foil, leaving an opening for the flame. This helps melt the outer wax evenly with the centre, reducing tunnelling.
Q7: What is the recommended way to extinguish a candle?
A7: Snuffing out a candle is preferred over blowing. It prevents wick particles from scattering into the wax and avoids splashes of hot wax and excessive smoke.
Q8: Why shouldn't I use water to extinguish a candle?
A8: Water can cause hot wax to splash and potentially crack the container due to rapid temperature change. It’s safer to use snuffers, lids, or spoons.
Q9: How does dust affect candles and how can I prevent it?
A9: Dust can clog the wick, leading to an inconsistent flame and reduced burn time. Use lids or store candles in a dust-free environment to maintain their efficiency.
Q10: What are some tips for candle care and maintenance?
A10: Regularly trim the wick, ensure even melting, use the right tools for lighting and extinguishing, and store candles properly to extend their life and performance.