How to Care for a Candle

Candles: the ultimate self-care. But are you caring for them? Here are some bright ideas to make sure you're showing your candle some love.

• Trim your wick
  • Before you burn, trim your wick. We recommend trimming down to 1/4 inch.
  •  Keeping the candle wick trimmed helps control the amount of melted wax that the candle has access to. If the wick is too long, the wax is drawn into the flame faster than it can be burned, causing soot. That nasty black smoke can affect the fragrance if debris falls into the candle, or even leave residual marks on your burning space. Do yourself (and your walls) a favor and trim your wick.

• Set the stage
  • Burning candles in drafty areas can cause uneven burning and excessive smoking. Not to mention that your candle will burn faster. If you notice the flame of the 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 and open windows.
  • Temperature and light can affect the appearance of candles due to the natural wax and fragrance oils. Be sure to store in a cool, dry place away from any direct sunlight.
  • Your mom's antique armoire, although a kindred heirloom, may not be the most responsible place to burn your candle. If you can't resist, make sure to put a coaster underneath to mitigate any drippage mishaps.

• Timing is everything
  • When Beyoncé said, "If you like it then you should put a ring on it," she wasn't talking about candles. If you want to prevent the ring effect in your candle, also known as tunneling, make sure to burn your candle for the right amount of time.
  • Your first burn should be long enough to evenly pool your wax. A good rule of thumb is 1 hour for every 1 inch in diameter. This will leave a good burn memory and ensure subsequent burns also burn from edge to edge.

• Keep your eyes peeled
  • While burning a candle is the perfect way to unwind, if you have small children or animals in your home, it can be a rather stressful experience. Minimize the risk of a fire hazard by placing your candles out of reach, and closely monitoring them throughout the burn. If you're still experiencing burning anxiety, we might recommend opting for a flameless fragrance option such as a reed diffuser.
  • Clean, non-toxic fragrances shouldn't pose any major threats to you or your family's safety. However, like all concentrated essential oils, humans can be prone to scent sensitives. Pay special mind to the reactions of you and your loved ones when indulging in a candle burning.

• Safely say 'au revoir'
  • We know candles can transport you to dreamland, but after a few hours, you will need to come back to reality. We recommend against burning your candle for more than 4-5 hours at a time. Any longer can cause that elongated, bulbous wick with a dirty burn.
  • We recommend using a wick snuffer to safely extinguish the flame. It coats the wick with melted wax to help it stay upright, and by doing so, helps the candle relight easier. Bonus: it helps prevent the smoke cloud that traditionally accompanies blowing out a candle.
  • Stop burning after only 1/2" of your candle is remaining. Continuing to burn beyond this point poses a serious fire risk and can lead to the glass exploding if it overheats.

• Until next time
  • Wait an additional 2 hours before you begin to burn again as this gives the wax time to fully cool.
  • Once your candle is fully burned, we recommend repurposing your candle vessel to limit glass waste. Some options include: a planter, q-tip holder, or cocktail glass.
    • Alternatively, opt for a candle refill system like NOTES® that aims to eliminate single use waste. If your NOTES® vessel has burned to this point, go ahead, and return to tip one.