Is there anything more guaranteed to boost your amount of Instagram likes than to stick a couple candles into the frame of your perfectly curated photo? The atmosphere that pretty little flame provides is undeniable, which is why it's key to avoid any candle mistakes you could be making.
Yep, I know. Candles seem pretty straightforward (light the wick and leave it) but there are a couple sneaky tricks you could likely be doing to optimize your flame time. We will answer some of your frequently asked questions along the way!
Of course, the quality of ingredients in the candle you're buying is important to note — something from the pound store won't burn the same way as a piece you snag from a specialty retailer. However, there are few mistakes to avoid that will guarantee you're getting the most out of your candle, no matter how much cash you dropped on it.
1. Not Maintaining The Wick
This is the most crucial step in getting your candle off to a good start? "Trim that wick!". "When you first light your candle, the wick needs to be trimmed per most instructions (we recommend 5mm), If you forget to do this your candle will smoke and soot for some-time. When the wick burns it get sooty by nature, but if you trim the wick before use you are removing this soon, and helping to maintain a calm flame.
2. Not Burning the Candle for long enough...
The way a candle performs for its entire life can depend on that very first burn. After you have trimmed the wick, you'll need to keep the flame going for at least an hour "in order to make sure the wax always melts evenly without tunneling,". "If the wax at the edge of the candle doesn’t heat up and liquify this first time, then it will often stay hard for all subsequent burns." This means you'll get that not-so-cute tunneling effect we all detest!
3. ...Then Burning For Too Long In The Future
This one doesn't exactly affect how well your candle works, but it will be good news for anyone who's become addicted to candles that cost more than a fancy dinner (guilty). In order to keep your home smelling great, there's no need to keep the candle lit all day long. A quality candle will release a scent that will easily diffuse and richly fill your room after just an hour or two, An average candle's burn time is up to 35 hours, That means your candle should last for several months if you stick to this method!
4. Keeping It Close To The Wall
A pro safety tip; You want to keep your candles away from the walls. Although our candle wicks are designed to prevent high-rising flames, the heat or soot could still leave a mark.
5. Using The Same Scent In Every Room
Although the scent is a personal choice, if you want to get really advanced with your "candle-ing", We recommend giving each room in your house a different candle. Certain scents fit the bedroom better than others, and the same can be said for the living area, and even bathroom, We recommend "sexier, woodier candles" in the bedroom and scents like "Gingerbread, Vanilla and Coffee Bean" to cozy up a living room. If you do opt to mix it up, avoid mingling scents by lighting them at different times or pick candles that blend together, in the Autumn its lovely to mix the fruity scents with the heavy spiced candles.
Now that your candle woes are properly sorted, don't be surprised if your friends start begging you to come over and relax more often.
