According to the National Candle Association, 7 out of 10 U.S. households use candles. And based on manufacturer studies, 90% of all candles are purchased by women. No matter what type of candles you buy, chances are you have at least one container candle, pillar candle, taper candle, votive or tealight in your home.
And while the candle basics are usually easy (simply light and enjoy!) we’ve compiled a list of tips to ensure you get the best from your candles every time!
THE FIRST BURN
The first time you light and burn your new candle has a big impact on how it will perform throughout its life.
The first time you burn your candle, you need to make sure you let the wax melt to the edge of the container. The wax pool you get the first time you burn your candle will be the wax pool you get every time you burn your candle. So, it’s important to get the first burn right!
A larger wax pool also gives a better scent throw, so you want as large a wax pool as possible to get the best fragrance from your candle.
MAKE THE SCENT MORE NOTICEABLE BY USING DIFFERENT SCENTS IN DIFFERENT ROOMS.
After smelling the same scent for more than 15 minutes, your nose becomes slightly less sensitive, making it seem like think the scent from your candle is gone.
When you stop smelling your candle’s scent you might want to light more candle. But someone new walking into the room is going to be overwhelmed…
For scents that stand out more, use a different smelling candle in different areas of your home, so your nose can be stimulated again when you walk from room to room.
TRIM THE WICK
Always, I repeat, always trim your wick to 1/8 - 1/4 inch before lighting any candle! If the wick gets too tall, the flame will also grow too tall and leave black burn marks on the glass.
This is where a wick trimmer comes in handy: especially with tall, narrow, and deep candles (like pillars). If you don’t have a wick trimmer, don’t worry, you can use scissors! But note that it can become challenging after the candle has burned down.
CHOOSE SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE SCENTS.
You wouldn’t light pumpkin spice candles in the spring, right? Pumpkin is a smell that screams cold weather and cosy cups of coffee.
Match your scented candle to the season, especially when you’re having people over.
Use scents like maple or cinnamon in the kitchen or dining room in the fall, and bayberry or gingerbread in winter. Balsam and pine smells are also good in the family and living rooms during colder times of the year. Opt for light floral scents in the spring and fruit in the summer.
AVOID DRAFTS
Do not put burning candles near heating and air-conditioning vents or open windows. If you notice the flame of the candle flickering in any direction other than straight up... that means there is a draft. A calm, cantered flame distributes heat equally which leads to a clean and even burn. It eliminates excessive smoking, tunnelling and wasted wax around the inside edge of the candle. Plus, it enhances the fragrance, and it extends the lifespan of your candle because it burns slower!
DON’T BURN TOO LONG
Do not burn more than 4 hours at a time. After 4 hours, the candle gets too hot and begins to evaporate fragrance oil and burn off quicker. We recommend burning for about 2-to-3-hours.
If the candle gets too hot, depending on the candle, the wax can completely liquefy. And if that happens, the glue holding the wick can release and move across the bottom of the container. Caution: if that happens, the flame can directly touch the glass and crack it. Therefore, you should stop burning a candle once 1/2 inch of wax remains!
Burning candles can be hard. It might not seem like it, but they really can be tough to get juuuuuust right! We hope these tips help you become a candle pro!
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