Candle Care Instructions: How To Burn a Candle Evenly

When you buy a new candle, you may be tempted to just light it right away. But if you do a little bit of preparation, it will last longer and burn more evenly, getting the most of your new addition.

• Trim the wick: trim the wick down to ¼ inch before lighting for a more controlled, steady flame and to reduce soot.

• Choose a safe spot: choose a sturdy, flat surface to burn your candle, away from any windows, fans and curtains.

• Create a full melt pool: allow the candle to burn long enough so that the entire surface melts from edge to edge.

• Limit burn time: most candles shouldn’t burn longer than four hours.

• Extinguish safely: use a candle snuffer, like the one found in our candle care kit, to extinguish your candle, reducing smoke, preventing wax splatter and keeping the wick centered.

Burning a candle evenly is key for a steady release of scent and getting the best fragrance throw (how far the fragrance travels through the air). When burning a beautifully scented candle, like our ceramic Teraire candles, you'll want to fill the room with the delicate notes of mandarin, frankincense, saffron, tuberose. Plus, it makes your candle last much longer as tunnelled candles burn very quickly.

The most important step is allowing the candle to burn long enough the first time you light it. The melted wax pool should reach all edges of the container, creating an evenly melted surface. Trimming the wick before burning also keeps the flame steady and keeping the candle away from draughts will prevent one side from burning more than another.

If you’ve noticed your candle is starting to tunnel, don’t panic - there are a few easy solutions you can try.

• The foil method: wrap a strip of aluminium foil around the top of the candle, leaving a hole in the centre for the flame. This will help trap heat to melt the edges.

• The hairdryer method: use a powerful hair dryer or a heat gun to melt the top layer of the candle until the surface is even.

• Remove excess wax: simply scoop out some of the extra wax around the edges, then burn to create a full melt pool.

Why do candles tunnel?

The first time you light a candle it forms a ‘memory ring’ and if you extinguish the candle before the entire surface is melted, it will only melt to that spot in the future. A candle can also tunnel from a wick being too small for the diameter of the candle – a candle with two wicks or more, like our six-wick candle, can help solve this problem.

Whether you’re lighting scented candles, pillar candles or candlesticks, it’s important to trim the wick every time. Regular trimming minimises excess smoke and keeps the flame burning steadily, prolonging the life of your candle.

Before trimming the wick wait until the candle has cooled down completely – at least a few hours after burning. You can use a specialised wick trimmer, like the one found in our candle care kit that catches all the debris, a pair of small, sharp scissors or even a pair of nail clippers for an even cut.

Trim the wick at a slight angle, cutting it down to about ¼ inch (or six millimetres). Finally, remove any clippings or debris from the wick so they don’t catch fire or clog the candle.

Once a candle is lit and you find yourself wrapped up in the atmospheric ambiance – such as our luxe Kelly Hoppen candles – you may not notice how long it’s been burning for. While you don’t want to interrupt a cosy film night, you shouldn’t leave your candle burning for too long as this can be unsafe. After four hours carbon collects on the wick. This makes the flame grow larger and become unstable, leading to heavy flickering, excessive smoke, and black soot. Glass or ceramic jars can also overheat and crack.

Generally, most candles should only burn for about two to four hours, but this may depend on the size of your candle. If in doubt, use the rule of one hour per inch of the candle’s diameter.

Tips to make a candle last longer

The way you store your candles can actually affect how long they last. Cover the candle with a lid when not in use to preserve the fragrance (this also keeps dust out of the candle). Direct sunlight and extreme temperatures can also degrade the essential oils in the candle – an essential component in our Apothecary candles – so store in a cool, dark place. To make the wax burn more slowly, try storing your candle in the freezer for two to three hours before lighting.

While most candles are pretty foolproof, there are a few pitfalls that may be stopping you from getting the most longevity out of yours.

• Blowing your candle out too quickly during the first burn can cause tunnelling and uneven melting in the future.

• An untrimmed wick can produce lots of smoke and soot, which may result in stains on the walls and surrounding areas.

• Burning the candle for too long can overheat the glass vessel and degrade the fragrance.

Candle safety tips

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

• Do not burn candles on or near anything that could catch fire.

• Always read instructions carefully and keep all packaging for future reference.