Luxury candles are more than just a way to light up a room—they’re about creating an experience, setting the perfect mood, and filling your space with uncommon scents. Whether you’re unwinding after a long day or enhancing your home’s ambiance for guests, it’s important to get the most out of your candles.
But here’s the thing: many people don’t know how to care for their candles properly, which can lead to a shorter lifespan, uneven burns, and wasted wax. To help you get the most out of your luxury candles, we’ve put together the ultimate candle care guide. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can enjoy your candles longer and ensure that every burn is perfect.
Candle care isn’t just about aesthetics—it directly impacts how long your candle lasts and how well it burns. When a candle is treated right, it burns evenly, smells stronger, and fills your space with its scent for hours on end. Plus, by taking care of your candles, you can avoid common issues like tunneling (when a candle burns straight down the middle and wastes the wax on the sides), excessive smoke, or blackened candle containers.
Here’s everything you need to know about candle care to ensure your Control & Chaos candles burn as bright and long as possible.
Trim the Wick Before Every Burn
It might seem like a small detail, but trimming the wick before every burn is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your candle. We recommend trimming the wick to about 1/4 inch each time you light your candle.
Why does this matter? A long wick can cause the flame to flicker excessively, which leads to soot, smoke, and uneven burning. It can also leave those unattractive black marks on the inside of your candle jar which is sacrilege when it comes to our hand sprayed glasses!
A properly trimmed wick ensures a steady, even burn, which helps the candle last longer and keeps the scent flowing freely throughout your space. You don’t need any fancy tools—a simple pair of scissors or a wick trimmer will do the trick.
Burn for the Right Amount of Time
The first time you burn your candle is actually the most important. You want to burn it long enough so that the entire top layer of wax melts and reaches the edges of the glass—this typically takes 2 to 3 hours.
Why is this crucial? If you don’t let the wax melt evenly on the first burn, your candle may start to tunnel. Tunneling is when only the center of the candle melts, leaving wasted wax around the sides. Once this happens, it’s hard to fix, and you end up getting fewer hours out of your candle. And it really is hours you will lose, we're not being dramatic.
For subsequent burns, aim to burn your candle for 2 to 4 hours at a time. Burning it for too short a time can lead to tunneling, and burning it for too long can cause the wick to become unstable.
Bonus tip: Always let the wax cool and harden before relighting the candle. This allows the candle to reset and helps maintain an even burn for future use.
Keep the Wax Clean
It’s important to keep your candle’s wax clean and free from debris. Pieces of burnt wick, matches, or dust can fall into the wax and affect the quality of the burn. When debris is in the wax, it can cause uneven burning, popping, or even small flares.
To keep the wax clean, you can use a paper towel or tweezers to remove any unwanted particles before you light your candle. Keeping your wax clean helps preserve the integrity of your candle and ensures you get the full burn time. (Another top tip, if you're parents with wet wipes galore, these clean the candles brilliantly)
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Use a Snuffer, Don't Blow
Blowing out your candle might seem like the easiest way to extinguish the flame, but it’s actually better to use a candle snuffer. Why? Blowing out your candle can cause the wick to move out of place, or worse, it can send bits of soot flying into the air or onto your wax or a coloured wax to splatter all over the walls if you have a strong pair of lungs!
Using a snuffer, on the other hand, is a much cleaner and more effective way to put out your candle. It preserves the wick and keeps the candle glass clean, ensuring your next burn is as smooth as possible. If you don’t have a snuffer, you can also dip the wick into the melted wax to extinguish it—just be careful not to damage the wick.
Avoid Drafts
Candles are sensitive to air movement, and burning your candle in a drafty area can cause the flame to flicker. This not only affects the burn time but can also lead to uneven melting, smoke, and soot.
To ensure the best burn, place your candle in a stable area away from windows, vents, or fans. The goal is to let the candle burn in a calm environment where the flame can remain steady. This also helps the candle scent disperse more evenly throughout your room.
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Don’t Burn for More Than 4 Hours at a Time
While it’s tempting to keep your candle burning all day long, it's best to limit the burn time to 3-4 hours. Burning your candle for too long can cause the wick to “mushroom,” leading to an oversized flame, soot, and smoke.
Allowing your candle to cool between burns not only helps preserve the wick but also extends the overall life of the candle. Plus, shorter burns keep your candle smelling fresh and clean for longer periods.
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Consider Candle Care Accessories
If you’re a candle enthusiast (and if you’re reading this, we bet you are!), you might want to invest in some candle care accessories. Tools like wick trimmers, candle snuffers, and wax covers can help you maintain your candles and ensure they burn beautifully every time.
Now you are a pro candle carer, head to the shop to fill your basket and put our tips into effect!