5 Essential Tips for Safe and Efficient Candle Use
Burning a candle seems pretty easy, but there are a couple tips I want to share to prolong the life of your candle and get you the most scent out of the wax! Burning candles properly is also important for safety.
Trim the wick: Before lighting a candle, be sure to trim the wick to about 1/4 inch in length. This will help the candle burn more evenly and reduce the risk of a too-large flame that could become a fire hazard.
Burn the candle for a sufficient amount of time: To prevent the candle from tunneling, be sure to burn it for a sufficient amount of time. This means allowing the wax pool (the melted wax around the flame) to reach the edges of the jar or container before extinguishing the flame. Depending on the size of the candle, this ranges from 1-2 hours. If you allow it to tunnel, the candle will only be able to burn up to that ring each subsequent lighting and you’ll have a lot of wasted wax!
Use a heat-resistant surface: Always place your candle on a heat-resistant surface, such as a candle plate or tray, to protect your furniture and reduce the risk of a fire.
Keep the wax pool clear of debris: As the candle burns, the wax pool will naturally accumulate small bits of debris, such as wick trimmings. Be sure to remove these bits of debris from the wax pool to ensure that the candle continues to burn smoothly.
Do not burn the candle once there is less than 1/2” of wax left. This is because the flame may come into contact with the sides of the jar, potentially causing the jar to crack or break. In addition, a flame that is too close to the bottom of the jar may create a risk of fire, or burn the surface that the candle is resting on. I know—you don’t want to waste the rest of the wax! I recommend using a candle warmer to safely use the rest of the wax.
And that’s it! I hope your candle is able to bring you a moment of tranquility :)
