Candle Storage
When it comes to making your candles last longer, there is more to it than simply knowing how to use them.
Like many people, you may find yourself buying candles in bulk at good prices, or simply not using your candles for extended periods of time. On top of this, you’ll rarely use a decent sized candle in a single sitting.
When candles are not in use, they should be stored. But you can’t just store them like any other object.
They need to be stored properly.
In this article, are going to go over why you should correctly store your candles and how to store the different types of candles you will inevitably have in your home.
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How To Store Your Candles
Storing candles incorrectly can degrade the quality of your candles and also increase the risk of a fire hazard. Here are the various factors you need to consider.
Fire Safety
Did you know that from 2014 to 2018 the National Fire Protection Association reported that fire departments across the United States responded to approximately 7,600 residential fires caused by candles? It goes without saying that recklessly stored candles can be hazardous to you, your family and your home.
For this reason, they should be kept away from pets and children even when they are not lit to mitigate this risk. You can take this a step further by avoiding containers or storage spaces made of flammable materials.
Room Temperature
Of course, candles are made to be lit and melted. Even so, you do not want them to melt on their own!
Warmth can bend, soften, and eventually melt them. Conversely, if you store your candles in an area that is too cold, the wax will harden and possible crack and split.
Ideally, store your candles in a temperature range of 45°F – 90°F.
Room temperature also works fine. If you are not hot or cold, your candles will also be comfortable as well.
Exposure To Sunlight (And Light In General)
Aside from the temperature of the room, you must also store your candles in a place without direct sunlight. Not only will exposure to direct sunlight melt candles, but it will also fade the fragrance and color more quickly.
On top of this, keep your candles away from direct artificial light as well. You don’t want your candles directly beneath a desk lamp for example.
Choose a dark place like a cupboard or pantry.
Moisture And Candles Don’t Work Well Together
A dry storage area can also make a difference in the lifespan of your candles. We know that it sounds tempting to keep one or two by the bathtub on days when you need a little treat. However, it would be a mistake to leave them below the sink. Damp basements are not ideal either.
Candles exposed to moisture will lose their structural integrity and wax quality. The wicks will also be damaged and won’t burn as well. With that being said, avoid freezing your candles as this will add a lot of moisture.
Our tip? Store candles in plastic or metal containers in a cool and dry place. Ideally, humidity levels should be below 50%.
Store Away From Kids and Pets
We suggest placing your candles, regardless of the type, far from kids’ and pets’ reach. This is a highly important tip since candles can pose significant health risks when accidentally ingested. Also, pets and kids may play with candles and start accidental fires.
Putting It All Together
The more of these factors you can implement when storing your candles, the better off they will be.
- Store candles in a cool, dark and dry place, away from direct sunlight.
- Keep them in hard to reach places away from children or animals.
- Ensure that they are not stored near any flammable materials.
- Preferably, store candles in a container.
How To Store Different Types Of Candles
The tips we have previously mentioned will work for most candles. However; there are other considerations depending on the type of candle you are storing.
Tip: Try to keep the original packaging of the candle. This can be a lifesaver when you store them!
Tumbler And Jar Candles
The best way to store your tumbler and jar candles is to ensure that they are standing upright.
Thanks to the container, these candles are less at risk of warping and melting. This makes them lower maintenance than other types of candles. On top of that, they are easy to stack and can be arranged in different ways for display purposes.
Taper Candles
Taper candles might seem harder to store, but the trick is to store them flat to avoid any warping. These candles are rather sensitive as they can get easily scratched or damaged.
We recommend using tissue paper to individually wrap them and store them in a basket or box to avoid them from sticking together.
Pillar Candles
If your pillar candles come in glass jars, you may store them upright safely. But if they do not, store them flat and wrapped in paper, just like you would with taper candles.
Votives And Tea Lights
Store votives and tea lights upright. Do you own a lot of them? If so, you can stack them inside a box with dividers. If you have a lot of them, you cannot go wrong with egg cartons or ornament boxes.
Birthday Candles
Bakers and enthusiasts probably have a bunch of birthday candles on hand. They are small items, so they are quite easy to store. You can keep them upright or flat. A small tin or glass jar should suffice or the original packaging.
Wax Tarts and Melts
Wax tarts and melts should be sealed in the boxes they came in to stop them from sticking together. If you have the time to separate them individually, ice cube trays work like magic.
Storing Scented Candles
When it comes to storing scented candles, more is at stake as you are also factoring in the fragrance of the candle. After all, a degraded or non-existent scent makes these candles kind of useless right?
Similar to what we have mentioned, keep your scented candles in a cool, dry and dark place; otherwise, warmer places can diffuse the fragrance. If you have jar or tin candles, ensure they are stored in their own containers to help preserve the scent.
The other tip for storing your scented candles is to seal them in a plastic or zip lock bag to ensure no air or moisture gets in. This helps to keep them smelling and looking fresh. Tissue paper also comes in handy as it helps to keep the scented candles from sticking together.
On this note, we highly recommend keeping an eye on the life span of scented candles. Although it ultimately depends on the ingredients used, they should be lit within twelve to sixteen months of purchase. This way, you can enjoy the fragrance before it fades.
Conclusion
Most people save their candles for special occasions like dinner parties or self-care nights. With this guide, we hope that you have learned how to preserve your candles for as long as possible. There is nothing worse than wanting to light a candle only to find that it has deteriorated and that the fragrance has already dissipated!