How to burn a candle effectively

From trimming the wick to the importance of the first burn and everything in between, read this to get the best from your candle.

Safety first

It might seem obvious but a few safety tips:

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended or around children and pets.
  • Make sure there is a safe space around the candle, away from curtains for example.
  • Trim the wick to approximately 5 mm in length to control the flame height.
  • Keep the wax pool free of any contaminants or bits of stuff.
  • Avoid burning candles in draughty areas to encourage an even burn.

Getting the best from your candle

Burn candles for three to four hours at a time to achieve optimum burn and longevity. This may sound like we’re trying to get you to burn your candle up quicker, but in the long term it makes sense.

The first time…

Candle wax has a memory, and it will remember the first time it is burnt.

The first time you light a candle, let it burn long enough so that the wax melts all the way to the edge of the container. This first burn sets how the candle will burn in subsequent lighting; don’t let it melt all the way to the edge and on subsequent burns, the candle will melt down inside. This creates a hole and wastes the outer wax, an effect referred to as “tunnelling”.

So this first burn, which could take three to four hours, means that in the longer term, you’ll get to use all the wax in the candle with less wastage.