How to Extend the Life of Your Candles
If you’ve ever stepped foot into my home there’s about a 90% chance I had at least one candle burning at any given moment. I have been an avid candle lover for as long as I can remember. Not only do they make your space smell great, but they are inviting & cozy! With the winter months upon us I know most of us will be spending more time indoors so I thought this would be the perfect time to share some tips to ensure you get the best life out of your candles.
Choose your candle wisely. Candles burn approximately 5-7 hours per ounce. So the larger the candle, the longer the burn time. However, something new I learned is that a 3 wick candle in the same vessel as a 1 wick candle will actually burn slower, not faster! 3 wicks will extend the life of a candle because instead of tunneling straight down the center of the candle when lit, the wax gets hot enough from the 3 flames to actually pool across the entire candle. This way, every bit of wax is being used while the candle is burning.
Trimming the wick. Not only should you trim the wick before the first use, you should trim it before EVERY use. It is recommended to trim the wick to 1/4 inch. If you don’t have a wick trimmer you can use scissors or even nail clippers, however, a wick trimmer does have great benefits and can be found quite cheaply (I’ll link the one I use below). The wick trimmer provides a surface for the piece of old wick to sit on while trimming, which prevents little soot specks from getting stuck in your candle. Remember to always trim the wick when the wax is fully dry.
Make sure to burn your candle long enough the first time! If you want your candle to burn evenly and last as long as possible (which of course we all do) you have to light it for about 3-4 hours the first time you burn it. Why you ask? Well, wax actually has a muscle memory, so if you light it long enough the first time it will ensure your candle pools completely across all of the wax, setting it up to do so with each subsequent burn.
DO NOT blow out your candles! When you blow out the flame it actually creates and spreads those little annoying black ash particles that get stuck in the wax. A snuffer isn’t necessary, you can just buy a candle with a lid, but I love this one from Amazon. A candle with a lid is also great though because it helps to keep dust and dirt out. One more pro tip; ensure that your candle cools completely before moving it.
I hope that you all found this post helpful. I’ll link some of my favorite candles & accessories below. Also, don’t forget to follow me on LIKEtoKNOW.it for more home décor inspiration!
