The act of lighting and enjoying a candle is so simple there’s no way you could possibly do it wrong, right? While lighting a candle may only involve putting flame to wick, there are actually a few “dos” and “don’ts” you should keep in mind.
How long a candle lasts depends on the size of the candle and the number of wicks. Other factors like materials and location come into play as well. However, what you do before and after burning the candle can impact longevity.
If you’re tired of wasting money on cheap candles that don’t last more than a few hours, it’s time to upgrade your candles and change the way you use them.
Are You Making These Candle-Burning Mistakes?
Perhaps the worst thing you can do with a fragranced candle is light it for just a few minutes at a time. Sure, that might be long enough to disperse some of the fragrance, but you’ll end up with a small pool of melted wax around the wick that only tunnels deeper and deeper with each short-lived burn. The tunnel will hit the bottom of the vessel long before you burn through the wax around it.
Here are three of the biggest candle-burning mistakes to avoid:
- Not burning it long enough. A candle should be burned until the entire top layer of wax has melted. Any less and you’ll end up with tunneling and uneven wax.
- Placing it in the wrong location. It’s important to place a candle on an even surface away in a ventilated area away from drafts.
- Not extinguishing it correctly. Blowing out a candle can lead to splatter and smoke. It’s best to extinguish a candle with a snuffer or wick dipper.
Any of these mistakes can lead to tunneling and other issues. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to fix the problem if it happens. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch above the wax then light your candle. Create a cone out of aluminum foil and place it on top of the candle – the wide end of the cone should be the same diameter of your candle and there should be a small opening in the tip.
Check the candle every 20 minutes or so. After about an hour, the concentrated heat inside the foil cone should have melted the top layer of wax more evenly. Before touching the foil, give it enough time to cool down so you do not burn yourself.
Tips for Making a Candle Last
The best way to make sure your candles last is to buy better candles. Cheap drugstore candles made with paraffin wax and synthetic wicks may be cheap, but you’ll burn through them quickly and you’ll enjoy a limited fragrance experience. LAFCO candles are made with solid soy wax, 100% cotton wicks, and essential oil-based fragrance to ensure a clean, non-toxic, and long-lasting burn.
Investing in a high-quality candle is the first step, but once you’ve got it there are a few things you can do to make it last. Here are a few tips for burning a candle correctly:
- Choose an appropriately sized candle. The size of the candle determines not only the duration of the burn but also the strength of the fragrance. The larger the space, the bigger the candle you’ll need. If the candle is too small, it won’t fragrance the space effectively but a candle too large can overpower a small space.
- Burn for three to four hours at a time. Let the candle burn long enough to melt the entire top layer of wax the first time you burn it. From there, you can burn the candle for three to four hours at a time to prevent tunneling.
- Trim the wick before lighting. The ideal length for a candle wick is 1/8 inch to ¼ inch. Trim the wick before each burn to ensure a clean and even burn.
- Keep the wax pool free from debris. Chunks of wax, pieces of burned wick, or other debris in the wax pool can cause the candle to burn unevenly. It can also clog the wick, preventing it from drawing up fragrance oil to properly diffuse the scent.
- Let the candle cool completely before lighting. In addition to letting the top layer of wax melt completely each time you burn a candle, you need to let it cool completely before the next use. It takes about two hours for a small candle to cool completely, so be sure to give it time.
Want to enjoy pure, essential oil-based fragrance from LAFCO for as long as possible? Discover our new Luxe 4-wick candle collection. Each 86-ounce candle delivers up to 200 hours of burn time with four wicks of soft, soothing candlelight. Choose from three popular LAFCO fragrances and get free shipping.