Candle Burning Tips

Keeping Your Candles Burning Longer

Keep the Wick Trimmed

The best thing you can do for your candles is to keep the wick trimmed to ¼ of an inch. Wicks that are allowed to get longer than ¼” tend to burn faster and produce smoke. If you notice black soot accumulating inside your container candles, the wick is too long. Nail clippers can be used to trim wicks that aren’t accessible with scissors.

Avoid Drafts

Burning a candle in a drafty area will cause them to burn unevenly and produce excessive smoke, not to mention cause your candle to burn faster. If you notice the flame of your candle flickering in any direction other than straight up, there is a draft. Prevent drafts by keeping burning candles away from heating and air-conditioning vents, open windows, and ceiling fans.

Refrigerate Them

Candles that are cold will burn slower. To cool your candle, wrap it in foil or plastic wrap to prevent the wick from absorbing any moisture. Put them in the fridge for an hour or so and light. Be sure not to put them in the freezer or they will break!

Burn Them Long Enough

Have you ever seen a three-wick candle that resembled Mickey Mouse? When using pillar candles, make sure to burn them for at least an hour for every inch in diameter. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up burning a tunnel right through your candle.

To Extinguish a Candle

To put out a candle, a candle snuffer is the best tool. If you don’t have one, you can blow out the candle by placing your index finger in front of the flame and blowing gently. This will cause the air to surround the flame and minimizes splattering of hot wax from the wax pool.

Extinguish a Candle by Pushing It Into Melted Wax

Or you can extinguish a candle by pushing the wick into melted wax. This method results in no residual smoke like you get by blowing out a candle. Use a paper clip which has been bent half way open. Using the clip, pull the wick toward you and dip it into the melted wax. Then straighten it up again. No smoke!

Safety First!

Keep all lit candles out of the reach of children and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Remember that glass containers can break when the candle gets low and the glass becomes hot.

Extinguish candles before leaving or going to sleep.

Do not burn a candle on or near flammable objects.

Do not carry a lit candle during power outages – use a flashlight instead.

For your respiratory health, burn candles in a well ventilated room.

Read more about candle safety.

Get more candle information from the National Candle Association.