Elegant and sophisticated, candles are the perfect finishing touch to any home's decor, not only for their glorious scent, but also for the cosy candlelight they throw. To help you make the most of your candles, here are our 13 top candle care tips.
THE FIRST BURN
When lighting for the first time, burn the candle until wax melts across the entire surface up to the sides of vessel as this will prevent tunnelling, and create an even burn for the duration of the candle's 'life'. This may take up to 2-4 hours, but it will make your candle last longer.
TRIM YOUR WICKS
Maintaining a short wick to vitally important to getting the most out of your candle. It's highly recommend to trim your wick before every lighting. The wick only needs to be approximately 6mm in length, keeping it this length will avoid mushrooming which can result in unnecessary soot. This also controls the size of the flame allowing you to get the most time out of your candle.
HOW TO EXTINGUISH A CANDLE
Extinguish candle with a snuffer, or dip the wick into the melted wax and then straighten wick to prevent smoking and also prevent hot wax from splattering. Do not blow out.
HOW TO HANDLE SOOT
If soot forms on the inside of the vessel, extinguish candle, wait for it to cool, then wipe with a clean damp cloth. Trim wick and relight.
KEEP THE WAX CLEAN
Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
KEEP AWAY FROM WINDY SPACES
Draughts decrease burn time, cause uneven burning, smoking and diminished scent throw.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR CANDLE IS BURNING PROPERLY
Efficient burning means flame is not flickering, teardrop shaped and upright. Extinguish a candle if it smokes, flickers, or the flame becomes too high. These signs indicate the candle is not burning properly and the flame isn't controlled. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, then check for drafts before re-lighting.
DON’T BURN ALL THE WAY DOWN
"It is also really important candles are not burnt when there is 10mm of wax or less remaining in the jar," says Claire. "Although it is tempting to continue burning your candle until the wax is gone, we strongly advise against this as the flame needs a solid base of wax to avoid overheating the glass jar."
MAXIMIZE YOUR SCENT THROW
Open windows and doors will disperse scent and lessen the concentration. For maximum fragrance, keep windows and doors closed and burn in desired space for 30 mins before entering.
HOW TO STORE CANDLES
Always store your candles in a cool, dark and dry place. Scented candles also look great stored under a glass cloche, which also protects from dust.
AVOID SUNLIGHT
Avoid placing your candles where they will be directly exposed to sunlight or harsh indoor lighting, such as a spotlights.
HOW TO CLEAN CANDLES
Your can remove dust and fingerprints from a candle by gently rubbing the surface with a piece of nylon or a soft cloth. The cloth can be dry or slightly dampened with water.
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
The most important thing to remember is that candles involve a naked flame and they do need to be treated with caution. Always read and follow the manufacturer's use and safety instructions carefully. Don't burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends.