Your favourite candles are pretty, and they smell good. Since they bring a smile to your face every single time you light them, it makes sense to want to be able to enjoy them for as long as possible.
Did you know that the way you burn your candles, as well as where you place them in your home, can have an impact on how long you will be able to enjoy their fragrance and their soft glow?
These eight tips will show you how to make candles last longer:
1. Allow for the top layer of wax to fully melt
Have you just bought a brand new candle? Many natural candles come with wax. You should allow the top layer of wax to completely melt the first time you light the candle. This should take a few hours, depending on the size of your candle.
If you don’t do this, the wax of your candle will melt unevenly, as only the wax surrounding the wick will burn. This will eventually dig a tunnel in the middle of your candle, making it less appealing and wasting a lot of wax.
2. Trim the candle wick to keep it short
When the wick of a candle is too long, it tends to burn down much faster. It could also burn unevenly, which is not what you want. This is why it’s important to trim the wicks of your candles so they are never more than ¼” long.
You can use scissors to trim the wick before lighting a candle. If you prefer, you can do it after extinguishing a candle. Just wait for the wax to cool down to ensure you won’t burn your fingers.
3. Keep the wick at the center of the candle
In addition to regularly trimming your candles’ wicks, you should keep them at the center so the wax will always burn evenly.
When you notice a wick has left the middle of a candle, extinguish it. You should then wait for the wax to cool down a bit, so you can gently reposition the wick. Don’t wait too long, or the wax will not be malleable anymore.
4. Don’t burn your candles for too long
You should not burn your candles for more than 3 to 4 hours. Burning them for too long is another thing that can result in uneven burning and wax tunnelling. Plus, letting your candle become too hot could make it less fragrant if your candle has a fragrance.
Remember to never leave a burning candle unattended. If you have to leave the room for a few minutes, it’s best to first extinguish the candle, just to be safe.
5. Don’t burn candles in drafty areas
As you can see by now, the key to making candles last longer is to allow them to burn evenly. To prevent uneven burning, never burn candles in drafty areas.
This means you should never place a candle next to an open window, near a vent or a fan, or in a corridor where there is a lot of traffic. And if you want to burn a candle outdoors, ensure you can protect it from the wind.
6. Mix a bit of table salt with the wax
Adding some table salt to your candle will not exactly allow it to burn for a longer time, but it will make its wax melt more slowly.
To try this tip, simply light a candle, and let it burn until there is a small puddle of wax around the wick. Extinguish it, then sprinkle a small salt on the melted wax. You can then use a toothpick to mix the salt with the wax before it hardens.
7. Put the lid back when the wax has cooled down
If your candle is in a container with a lid, remember to always put the lid back on after the wax has completely cooled down. This prevents dust and dirt from settling down on your candle and potentially decreases its burning performance.
If your candle doesn’t have a lid, you could use something else to cover it or store it inside a plastic bag after it cools down.
8. Store your candles away from heat sources
Finally, if you want to make your candles last longer, be sure to store them properly, away from heat sources. If you let your candles sit in the sun for too long, or if you place them near a kitchen stove or on a fireplace mantle, they will eventually melt.
Instead, store your candles in a cool and dark place, like inside a cabinet. This will keep them away from heat sources that could damage them, so you can enjoy them for a longer time.