Candle Maintenance 101: Tips on how to get the best out of your candles

Candles are an elegant and classy style of lighting up a room. They provide the perfect finishing touch decoration for homes and restaurants not only because of the relaxing candlelight they throw but also because of their amazing scent.

You might be thinking, “it's just a candle; what’s there to maintain?”. Well, the truth is there’s more to handling a candle than just lighting it up and blowing it out. Here are some proven tips you can implement to ensure that your candle performs maximally and lasts long.

Ensuring your candle wick is the right length is important to achieving a clean and even burn. It also prevents unnecessary soot and controls the size of the flame. The candle wick should not be longer than the recommended 6mm length. If longer, use a scissors or wick trimmer to neatly trim the candle wick. Try to be as accurate as possible. A wick that is too short may fail to light because it mixes with the wax.

 

When lighting the candle for the first time, ensure that it burns until the wax melts evenly across the entire surface. This will prevent tunneling and ensure that the candle burns evenly and lasts longer. This can take up to two hours, so patience is important when you light a new candle.
When you use a candle a few times, you’ll notice an accumulation of soot, dust, and other debris in the container. Clean the dirt out immediately after you notice them. Debris that are present in the candle can get ignited by the flame if not cleaned, creating multiple flames in the candle, which can cause the wax to overheat and melt faster. Use a slightly damp towel to wipe away the soot from your candle.

Wind decreases burn time, causes uneven burning, which leads to tunneling, and causes increased smoking and reduced scenting. Keep your candles away from fans, air vents, and windows.

If you decide to light more than one candle simultaneously, ensure you place them a few inches apart. If you bring them too close, it will cause them to overheat and melt.

Candles can be made up of different mixtures, so it’s a good idea to read and follow the specific instructions for handling your candle. This will ensure that your candle lasts long.

Store your candles in the right conditions to prevent loss of fragrance and colour. Use the candle within 12-16 months of buying them.

In Conclusion
It is important to remember that candles involve a naked flame and needs to be handled with great caution. Read the manufacturer’s guide in order to use the candle safely and get the best out of it.