Sure, you can just set the jar on a ledge and forget about it. There are, however, best practices and ways to optimize the life of your candle:

The Initial Burn

The first time you burn any candle you should give it time. Enough time, in particular, for the top of the candle wax to melt entirely. Your initial ‘melt pool’ should completely span the top surface as it will prevent tunneling – or craters – in your candles.

Ultimately, burning the entire span of a candle can take up to 4 hours depending on the size of the candle but those few hours will set you up for major success as burning your candle evenly will increase its burn time as a whole. As a general rule of thumb, the first burn should last 1 hour for every 1 inch in candle diameter.

All Burns To Follow

Simultaneously, you should not allow your candles to burn past four hours or past the manufacturer’s recommended burn time if provided. Any longer and this can become a safety hazard, particularly with glass containers. If you’re like me and you like to have a candle burning the better part of a day, let your candle burn for four hours and then allow to cool for two hours before relighting.

Trim Your Wicks

This is the #1 piece of advice I give to my customers and also one of the first things I realized I was doing wrong when I started making candles! In the past, I’d just let my wicks burn and burn, but that can lead to flames that are out of control, wicks that start to curl, specks of soot, the list goes on! A good rule of thumb is to make sure your wicks are always trimmed to approximately a ¼ inch above the surface of the wax before lighting. By doing so, you’ll control the level of the flame which will extend the burn time.

Keep Your Wax Clean

“Clean the wax?” you might be asking yourself in a perplexed state. Stick with me here though. By taking this basic step of making sure the wax is free of wick clippings, matches and debris, you’re better ensuring an even burn and avoiding a potential safety hazard. It’s a win-win.

Dealing with Pesky Soot

Sometimes soot happens. Thankfully, it’s a rather easy fix: You’ll just want to extinguish the candle, let the wax cool completely and then wipe the top with a damp cloth. Easy enough, right?

Steer Clear of Wind

Wind is literally the devil when it comes to candle upkeep. Sure, that vessel might look cute on your patio, but excessive wind will cause uneven burning, decrease the overall burn time of your candle and, perhaps worst of all, diminish the scent throw of your little beauty. Even open windows, air vents and ceiling fans can negatively affect the concentration of your candles.

Extinguishing Your Candle

Shame, shame is the name of the game here because I am notorious for blowing out my candles. There’s a better path forward here for us, my friends, and its (odd) little name is the snuffle. This extinguisher will delicately put out your candles to avoid smoking and wax splatter.

Follow the Half Inch Rule

We all love to get the most out of our candles, don’t we? That said, you should discontinue use when ½ inch of the wax remains at the bottom of the jar. Generally, the metal tabs at the bottom of the wick will help extinguish the candle by this point. Just in case it doesn’t, however, please heed this advice as it will prevent potential heat damage to the counter/surface or the container itself. Take comfort in knowing that if you’ve followed the tips above, you’re already making the most our of your candle’s life.

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