How To Care For Candles: 7 Tips

Candles add warmth, fragrance, and ambiance to our homes, but proper care is essential to maximize their lifespan and ensure safe burning. Whether you’re a casual candle user or a dedicated enthusiast, these seven expert tips will help you get the most out of your candles while maintaining safety.

1. Create an Even Melt Pool During First Burn

The first burn is perhaps the most critical moment in your candle’s life. To prevent tunneling (when wax burns down the middle, leaving wax along the edges), allow your candle to burn long enough to create a complete melt pool across the entire surface.

For optimal results:

• Burn your candle approximately 1 hour per inch of container diameter
• For example, a 3-inch diameter candle should burn for at least 3 hours on first use
• This establishes the candle’s “memory” for future burns

Failure to create this initial even melt pool often results in tunneling that wastes wax and shortens your candle’s usable life.

2. Trim Wicks Before Each Burn

One of the most overlooked aspects of candle care is proper wick maintenance. Before lighting your candle:

• Trim the wick to approximately ¼ inch
• Remove any “mushroom” buildup from previous burns
• Use specialized wick trimmers for clean, precise cuts

Trimmed wicks provide several benefits:

• Minimizes black soot production
• Creates a steadier, more controlled flame
• Prevents excessive heat that can crack glass containers
• Extends overall burning time

3. Re-Center Wicks After Each Use

After extinguishing your candle, check the position of the wick. If it’s leaning or off-center:

• Use a wick centering tool while the wax is still soft
• Alternatively, gently reposition with a toothpick or tweezers
• Ensure the wick stands straight and centered before the wax hardens

A properly centered wick ensures even burning in subsequent uses and prevents wax from pooling on one side of the container.

4. Avoid Burning Candles Too Long

While it’s tempting to keep your favorite scented candle burning all day, extended burn times can damage both the candle and potentially your home.

Recommended Maximum Burn Times:

As noted in recent social media discussions, many people “blast their candles WAY too hard,” which significantly reduces their lifespan. Using a candle warmer lamp can help preserve those top layers of wax that still contain fragrance, making your candles last much longer.

5. Store Candles Properly

Proper storage between uses helps maintain fragrance potency and prevent damage:

• Cover candles with their original lids to preserve scent
• Store in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight
• Keep away from extreme temperature fluctuations
• For lidless candles, consider dust covers or storage boxes

Natural soy candles particularly benefit from proper storage as their fragrances can dissipate more quickly than paraffin alternatives.

6. Never Leave Burning Candles Unattended

Safety should always be your top priority when enjoying candles:

• Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep
• Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, and air currents
• Place candles on stable, heat-resistant surfaces
• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable
• Keep out of reach of children and pets

As noted by FRAMA’s candle care guide, quality candles will burn cleanly and safely when used properly, but they should never be left burning unattended.

7. Use Proper Extinguishing Methods

How you put out your candle matters almost as much as how you light it:

• Use a candle snuffer rather than blowing out the flame
• This prevents hot wax splatter and reduces smoke
• For wick-less candles, follow manufacturer guidelines
• Allow the candle to cool completely before covering or moving

Blowing out candles can cause the still-liquid wax to splash and potentially cause burns or damage to surfaces.

Additional Candle Care Tips:

For Soy Candles: Natural soy candles often require special attention. They burn at lower temperatures than paraffin candles and may develop a memory ring if not burned properly the first time.

For Container Candles: Stop burning when approximately ½ inch of wax remains at the bottom to prevent the container from overheating and potentially cracking.

For Pillar Candles: Place on appropriate candle plates or holders to catch any dripping wax and prevent damage to furniture.

Conclusion

Proper candle care not only extends the life of your favorite scented candles but also ensures they burn safely and efficiently. By following these seven essential tips—creating an even first burn, trimming wicks, re-centering wicks, avoiding excessive burn times, storing properly, practicing safety, and using proper extinguishing methods—you’ll enjoy your candles longer while maintaining a safe home environment.

Remember that different candle types (soy, beeswax, paraffin) may have specific care requirements, so always check manufacturer recommendations for your particular candles. With the right care, your candle collection will provide ambiance and fragrance for many cozy evenings to come.