Candles add something special to every moment, whether it’s an ordinary night in or a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. And when you find a scent you love, you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. The good news: A little candle care goes a long way in extending a candle’s life, maintaining its scent, and burning cleanly and evenly every time.
From how long to let a candle burn the first time to candle storage tips, here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your candles.
A Candle’s First Burn: The Most Important Step
The first time you light a candle determines how evenly and efficiently it will burn for the rest of its life. Wax has a memory — it will continue to burn in the pattern established during its first use — so you want to make sure the entire surface melts before you put it out to encourage even, efficient burns in the future. To prevent tunneling (more on that later!) and create an even wax pool during a candle’s first burn, follow these steps before you light a candle for the first time:
- Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and make sure it’s centered and upright. This helps your candle burn evenly.
- Choose your candle location wisely. Always place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts, vents, or fans, which can also cause uneven burning.
- Make sure the entire surface of the wax melts before putting out the flame. Yes, this can take a while, so plan accordingly! Our 12 oz. MINOT Signature Collection candle would need to burn for about 2 to 3 hours, and our MINOT Mini Collection candle would need to burn for about 1-2 hours to melt the entire surface.
While It’s Burning: How to Make Candles Last Longer
You’ve likely heard the standard candle safety tips before: Never leave a burning candle unattended or near flammable objects (the National Fire Protection Association recommends at least 1 foot between candles and anything that can burn), and always keep candles out of reach of children and pets. But there are a few other things you can do to improve a candle’s performance and longevity while it’s burning:
- Don’t move the candle while it’s burning or even while the wax is still liquid. Not only is this unsafe, but it can create an uneven wax pool and cause tunnelling in the future.
- Put a candle out if the flame gets too high — anything above 1.25 inches, according to the American National Standards Institute — or is flickering a lot. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and consider moving the candle somewhere else away from drafts.
- Leave space — at least 3 inches — between each candle. Putting candles right next to each other can cause them to melt faster and even start their own draft, which leads to uneven burning.
- Don’t burn a candle for more than four hours at a time. Long burns can cause carbon buildup on the wick, which leads to an unstable flame and extra soot.
- If you can’t avoid placing your candle in a drafty area, try to rotate the candle occasionally to help it burn more evenly.
How to Put Out a Candle — The Right Way
Blowing out a candle might seem like the simplest way to put out the flame, but it can cause wax to splatter, produce unnecessary smoke, and lead to an uneven burn. Instead, use a candle snuffer to safely extinguish the flame without disturbing the wick. Another option is a wick dipper, which allows you to dip the wick into the melted wax, putting out the flame with minimal smoke while also priming the wick for the next burn. Regardless of which method you choose, always make sure the candle is truly out (the wick ember shouldn’t be glowing) before you leave the room and don’t touch or move the candle until it’s completely cool.
Trimming Candle Wicks: A Small Step With Big Benefits
Trimming a wick helps control the flame size and reduces soot buildup, which makes for a cleaner and more efficient burn. Before each use:
- Use wick trimmers or scissors to trim the wick to about 1/4 inch.
- Remove any charred bits of wick to prevent soot from falling into the wax.
Keeping up with this small habit can significantly improve the longevity and performance of your candle, and it also minimizes the amount of soot and smoke your candle produces.
How to Store Candles: Keeping Your Candles in Prime Condition
The way you store your candles can affect their quality over time. Follow these three candle storage tips to keep them in good shape:
- Store candles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to prevent discoloration and melting.
- Keep candles covered or in their original packaging to prevent dust accumulation and help preserve their scent.
- Store candles upright to prevent warping, especially for taper and pillar candles.
How to Prevent Candle Tunneling
“Tunneling” is the term used when a candle burns straight down the middle, leaving extra wax along the edges. Preventing tunnelling is pretty simple:
- Always follow the first-burn rule: Let the wax melt across the entire surface before you put out the candle.
- Avoid placing candles in drafty areas, which can cause uneven burning.
- Make sure the wick is centered and upright when you put out the candle to maintain the even wax pool as the candle cools.
How to Fix Candle Tunneling
If tunneling has already happened, there are a few ways to fix it: the foil method, the hairdryer method, and the oven method.
- Foil Method: Wrap aluminum foil around the top of the candle, leaving an opening for the flame. Let it burn for a couple of hours until the wax evens out.
- Hairdryer Method: Gently heat the top layer of wax to smooth it out and reset the burn memory.
- Oven Method (only for glass or metal containers): Place the candle in an oven at 175°F for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the wax to level out.
The Two Most Important Things to Remember About Candle Care
- Always trim your wicks to 1/4 inch and remove any charred bits before you light your candle.
- Always let the candle burn until the entire surface has melted.
Ready to put these tips to good use? Check out MINOT’s Signature Collection for hand-crafted candles designed to burn clean and even every time.