Making the Most of Your Candles

As a self-confessed candle addict I have an ever-growing (out of control) collection of candles in my house. Whilst it’s never an easy feat choosing favourites, my top two at the moment would have to be the Ecoya Vanilla Bean soy candle and the MOR Emporium Belladonna candle – two warm, classic scents that ooze sophistication and charm. They are however, decidedly my ‘winter’ favourites, so with the impending change in season ahead I can definitely foresee splashes of citrus and bright floral bouquets to light up my summer nights. Whatever the season, there’s nothing quite like creating an atmosphere in your home with the aromas of a beautifully scented candle.

If your addiction is anything like mine, you’ll want to know how to prolong the life of your candles so that you can gain maximum enjoyment before their flames burn out. There are in fact, several steps you can take in order to achieve this and boost the longevity of your candles.

Setting your candle memory

Setting the ‘memory’ of your candle is a crucial step when burning your candle for the first time. To set the memory of your candle, simply ensure that you allow it to burn for as long as it takes to melt the wax to its edges (usually around one hour). This prevents a dip from forming in the centre and allows the wax to melt evenly each time you use it. If you don’t allow the wax to melt to the edges initially, the dip in the centre will deepen each time, eventually preventing oxygen from reaching the flame and thereby shortening the life of your candle.

Maximum session burning times and wick trimming

Each candle is different depending on its size and shape, however as a general rule, never allow your candle to burn for longer than 3-4 hours. Before each use, trim the wick to approximately 1/4 of an inch to reduce smoke and chances of the flame coming into contact with the candle container. If your candle starts to smoke or blacken the edges of its container, snuff the flame and allow it to cool entirely. Always ensure that you never leave a candle burning unattended and take care when lighting and extinguishing – the wax and container may get very hot.

Simply following these steps will allow your candles to burn more beautifully and efficiently, making sure you get the most out of each candle in your collection!