You've picked a scent you love, you light it, and an hour later there's a deep hole down the middle of the wax and a black mark creeping up the glass. It's one of the most common candle complaints, and it's almost always fixable.
The good news is that burning a candle well comes down to a few simple habits. Here is how we look after our own candles, what the wider candle industry recommends, and the safety basics every Australian home should follow.
1. Give it a proper first burn
The first time you light a candle matters more than any other burn. Wax has a "memory": if the first burn stops before the melted wax reaches the edge of the container, the candle can keep tunnelling down the middle for the rest of its life. Candle makers call the unmelted ring a memory ring.
The National Candle Association's burning guide gives a handy rule of thumb: burn the candle for about one hour for every inch of its diameter on that first burn, so a 2-inch candle needs around 2 hours. In practice, keep an eye on the wax pool and let it reach the edge of the jar before you blow it out.
That's easy with a standard jar like our Rainstorm soy candle, which is made to burn for 40+ hours. Set aside an evening when you'll be home, light it, and let it do its first full melt.
2. Trim the wick before every burn
A long wick makes a big, flickering flame. That flame burns hotter, produces more smoke and can leave soot on your jar.
The same guide recommends trimming the wick to about ¼ inch (around 6 mm) before each lighting and clearing any wick trimmings or debris out of the wax pool. It also notes that regular trimming can help a candle burn longer.
Use a wick trimmer or small scissors, trim when the candle is cool and solid, and tip out any trimmings.
3. Keep each burn session reasonable
It's tempting to leave a candle going all evening, but long sessions can cause the wick to build up carbon (sometimes called "mushrooming"), which leads to smoking and soot. The National Candle Association suggests keeping burns to a maximum of four hours, and letting the candle cool for at least two hours before relighting.
With a 40+ hour candle, short and regular burns are also what let you enjoy it for weeks.
4. Stop the draughts
A candle burning in a draught can flicker, burn unevenly and melt wax down one side. Keep it away from open windows, fans, air-conditioning vents and busy doorways. South Australia's Metropolitan Fire Service also notes that draughts can melt wax unevenly and make a candle unstable.
5. Fixing the most common problems
A tunnelled candle. Burn it a little longer on the next session so the melt pool reaches the sides. Remember that how well this works depends on how deep the tunnel already is, so don't expect a perfect reset.
Black soot on the jar. This almost always points to a long wick, a draught or a burn that has gone on too long. Let the candle cool, trim the wick and move it somewhere calmer.
A weak scent. Give the wax a full melt pool, as scent throw depends on warm, liquid wax. Also try placing the candle in a smaller room, where fragrance concentrates more easily.
6. Travel tins have their own rhythm
Our travel candle tins are 70g with a 15+ hour burn, so the same rules apply on a smaller scale: trim the wick, melt the wax edge to edge, and put the lid on once it has cooled to keep the scent fresh. They're a great way to try a new fragrance before committing to a full jar, and the Build Your Own Candle Tin Trio lets you pick any three for $39.99.
7. Candle safety basics
A beautiful candle is only enjoyable if it's burned safely. The Australian emergency services and product safety regulators give consistent advice:
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and blow it out when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Use a sturdy, heat-resistant holder on a secure, flat surface that can't tip over.
- Keep flammable items well clear, including curtains, blinds and decorations. The Fire and Rescue NSW candle safety page also recommends keeping candles away from open windows.
- Keep candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children and pets.
- Check your smoke alarms. Fire and Rescue NSW recommends testing them monthly.
The Metropolitan Fire Service fact sheet above also notes that, based on data from July 2003 to June 2017, more than 40 preventable fire deaths a year in Australian homes involved candles, lamps or similar, so these habits are worth making automatic.
The short version
- First burn: melt the wax to the edge.
- Trim the wick to about 6 mm each time.
- Burn for no more than four hours at a time.
- Keep it out of draughts.
- Never leave it unattended, and blow it out before bed.
Ready to try these habits on a new scent? Start with our best-loved Rainstorm, explore the full Original Range, or read our guide to layering candle scents once you've mastered the basics.
Always follow the care instructions that came with your candle.
