The Complete Guide to Candle Care: Maximizing Burn Time and Scent

Candle care isn’t complicated—but a few small habits can dramatically improve burn quality, extend total burn time, and enhance scent throw. Use this guide as your go-to checklist for every burn.

Why Candle Care Matters

• Longer life: proper first burn prevents tunneling and wasted wax.
• Cleaner burn: trimmed wicks reduce soot and smoking.
• Stronger scent: a full melt pool releases fragrance evenly.
• Safer experience: stable flames and correct burn times protect jars and surfaces.

Before the First Burn

1. Trim the wick to 1/4 in (6–7 mm). This keeps the flame controlled and reduces soot.
2. Plan enough time: burn long enough to reach a full melt pool (wax liquefies edge-to-edge). As a rule, allow about 1 hour per inch of candle diameter (e.g., 3 in ≈ 3 hours).
3. Place away from drafts (vents, fans, open windows). Drafts create tunneling and sooting.

During Each Burn

• Keep the wick at ~1/4 in (6–7 mm). Snip “mushrooming” carbon build-up between sessions.
• Burn 2–4 hours at a time (max 4). Extinguish once the melt pool is complete.
• Keep wax free of matches and debris; foreign material can overheat the wax.
• Never leave unattended. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

After You Extinguish

• Use a snuffer or dipper (less smoke than blowing out).
• Recentre the wick while wax is warm to keep future burns even.
• Let the candle cool and solidify on a heat-safe surface before moving.

Quick Reference

Troubleshooting

• Tunneling: let the candle burn long enough to reach a full melt pool; foil-tent once to level surface if needed.
• Soot / smoking: trim wick shorter; move away from drafts; avoid burning over 4 hours.
• Mushrooming: trim to 1/4 in before relighting; indicates too much fuel to the flame.
• Weak scent throw: allow full melt pool; try a smaller room; avoid drafts; check candle isn’t under-wicked.

Storage Tips

• Store candles cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight to preserve fragrance and color.
• Keep lids on to protect from dust and scent loss.
• Use within 12–18 months for best aroma (especially soy and natural waxes).