How to Make Candles Last Longer (And Why I've Become Quite Particular About Them)
I've decided autumn might be the most glamorous season of all. Not traditionally, obviously. There are fewer opportunities for bare legs and the weather has developed an alarming interest in horizontal rain. But autumn offers something summer doesn't.
Permission to stay in. No frantic attempts to make the most of the sunshine. No feeling that one ought to be outdoors doing something improving. Just the glorious prospect of an evening at home.
I've also stopped swapping my reed diffusers for candles when autumn arrives. Why choose between two lovely things? Nobody asks you to choose between cake and cream.
The diffuser does the quiet work throughout the day, making the house smell as though somebody extremely competent lives there. Somebody who remembers birthdays and keeps matching pillowcases in pairs. The candle takes over in the evening, adding that lovely golden glow. I'm particularly fond of layering our Rose Garden diffuser with something warmer like Eventide. A bit like wearing beautiful perfume with a cashmere jumper. Different pleasures, infinitely better together.
Now, I have rather strong opinions about candles. Once you've fallen in love with a scent, the last thing you want is half the wax wasted because you've been burning it incorrectly. And yes, apparently there are ways of burning candles incorrectly.
The trick is simple. Let the wax melt to the edges on its first outing, keep the wick trimmed to around 5mm and spare it the indignity of sitting in a draught. Never exceed the recommended burning time and extinguish it gently. A little attention, a comfortable spot and the occasional trim. Come to think of it, that sounds rather like my perfect weekend.
Here are six little tricks worth knowing.
1. How Long Should You Burn a Candle for the First Time?
Here's something genuinely fascinating. Candle wax has what people call a memory. A memory!
I can barely remember why I've walked upstairs and apparently a candle can remember what happened to it last Thursday.
Not literally, of course. But its first burn influences how it melts afterwards. Ideally, allow the wax to melt right to the edges of the container before extinguishing it, provided this happens within the recommended burning time. For many candles that's approximately two to four hours.
Extinguish it too soon and the wax may begin tunnelling down the middle, leaving perfectly good wax around the edges. The solution? Give your candle a proper first evening. Light it, get comfortable, find something excellent to watch and ignore your phone. You're conducting an important scientific experiment.. On the sofa.
2. How Do You Stop a Candle from Tunnelling?
Tunnelling is the irritating phenomenon in which your candle develops a great hole down the middle while the surrounding wax remains untouched.
It looks rather as though someone's taken a melon baller to it.
The best prevention is a proper first burn, allowing the wax to melt evenly across the surface without exceeding the recommended burning time. Our natural soy wax candles have two wicks to encourage an even distribution of heat. I love a double wick candle. Two flames somehow feel infinitely more generous than one.
Just remember to light both together. If tunnelling has already begun, allowing a longer subsequent burn may help the surrounding wax melt, provided you stay within the recommended time.
Patience is key. Not my greatest strength when there's something delicious in the oven, but I'm working on it.
3. How Do You Remove Black Soot from Candle Glass?
There's something disappointing about a beautiful candle acquiring a black smudge around the glass. It's the candle equivalent of getting mascara on a freshly washed pillowcase.
Fortunately, soot is usually easy to remove. Wait until the candle has cooled completely, then gently wipe the accessible glass with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Keep moisture away from the wax and wick and dry thoroughly before relighting. Soot is often caused by a wick that's too long or a draught.
I recommend lighting candles with long matches. They're enormously satisfying and make you feel like the sort of person who owns proper napkin rings and never discovers a rogue potato sprouting in the vegetable drawer. hey're practical too, keeping your fingers away from the flame.
And avoid draughty windows. A gently flickering flame is romantic. One behaving like an inflatable man outside a car dealership is rather less so.
4. How Do You Clean and Reuse an Empty Candle Jar?
I have a problem with beautiful glass jars. I cannot throw them away.
There's always the possibility that one might be useful for something terribly specific. Cotton pads. Hairpins. Buttons. A tiny bunch of flowers. Some as yet unidentified object requiring a container of precisely that size.
This is how cupboards become museums of good intentions. Fortunately, our candle jars really are worth keeping. Made with 100% soy wax and poured into glass, our candles leave behind beautiful containers ready for another life.
To clean an empty candle jar, allow it to cool completely before carefully removing the remaining wax and wick fittings using a method suitable for the glass. Avoid sharp tools and boiling water, which can crack the container. Wash gently with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly.
You could now fill it with any number of useful things. Or do something better. Turn it back into a candle.
Our candle refills let you enjoy your favourite jar again without replacing the glass. Just make sure it's undamaged and compatible with the refill and follow the instructions.
Deeply satisfying. Like discovering that a dress you thought you'd finished with looks fabulous with different shoes. Only considerably less expensive. You can watch my little Instagram video here to see how it works.
5. How Short Should You Trim a Candle Wick?
A tiny job that makes a surprisingly big difference. Trim your candle wick to approximately 5mm before each burn. This keeps the flame steady, reduces soot and helps prevent the wax burning too quickly.
If a little black mushroom has formed at the top, it's time for a trim.
Wait until the candle is completely cool, then use a wick trimmer or small scissors. Remember to trim both wicks on a double wick candle. I rather enjoy this task. There's something deeply satisfying about a job that takes four seconds and produces an immediate improvement.
Unlike answering emails, which somehow creates more emails.
6. What Is the Best Way to Extinguish a Candle?
I've become quite attached to candle snuffers. They're such pleasingly unnecessary objects. Strictly speaking, one could manage without them, but that's true of silk pillowcases, champagne coupes and those tiny silver spoons people use for salt. Life would be considerably duller if we only owned essentials.
A candle snuffer extinguishes the flame neatly without splashing hot wax and helps minimise that little cloud of smoke that overwhelms the fragrance. There's something wonderfully ceremonial about it. Very Downton Abbey, except you're probably wearing slippers and wondering whether there's any chocolate left.
Use a proper snuffer rather than an ordinary glass or unsuitable lid. Make sure both wicks are out and allow the wax to cool before moving the candle.
And of course, never leave a burning candle unattended.
Can You Layer Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles?
Absolutely. In fact, I'd encourage it. A reed diffuser provides a gentle background fragrance throughout the day while a candle adds warmth and another layer of scent in the evening. You can use the same fragrance in both or combine complementary scents.
I particularly love fresh florals with something warmer and softer. Our Rose Garden diffuser with an Eventide candle is a lovely example. Think of it like getting dressed. A beautiful dress is wonderful on its own, but add fabulous earrings and excellent shoes and suddenly the whole thing becomes rather more interesting.
The trick is knowing when to stop. We want a beautifully scented home, not every fragrance in the building introducing itself at once.
Always keep reed diffusers away from candle flames and other heat sources, as diffuser oils can be flammable.
A Few More Things Worth Knowing
Why Does My Scented Candle Stop Smelling?
Often your nose has simply become accustomed to the fragrance. It's called olfactory adaptation. Essentially, your brain decides it has smelled something long enough and can now concentrate on more important matters. Leave the room for a while and return. You may find the scent is suddenly noticeable again.
Are Soy Wax Candles Longer Lasting Than Paraffin Candles?
Sometimes, although it depends on the formulation, wick, fragrance and container. There's no universal rule that one wax lasts longer than another. How well the candle is made and cared for matters enormously. Our Norfolk Natural Living candles are made with 100% soy wax.
How Can I Make My Scented Candle Smell Stronger?
Allow an even melt pool to form, keep the wick trimmed and avoid strong draughts. Room size matters too. A candle that's glorious in a bedroom may struggle in an enormous sitting room. Personally, I prefer fragrance that makes someone walk in and say, "Oh, it smells lovely in here." Rather than immediately announcing every single fragrance note, whether anyone asked or not.
How Long Should You Burn a Scented Candle?
Many scented container candles have a recommended maximum burn time of around three to four hours, although always follow the instructions for yours. On the first burn, allow the wax to melt towards the edges without exceeding that time. Never leave a candle unattended and stop using it when the wax reaches the manufacturer's minimum level.
The Very Serious Business of Enjoying Yourself
One of the loveliest things about getting older is realising that pleasure doesn't require an elaborate plan. Sometimes all it takes is a beautifully scented house, a hot bath and the knowledge that nobody is expecting you anywhere.
A candle makes the whole thing feel rather special. And if a few simple tricks make it last longer, all the better. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a bath to run, a candle to light and a book I've been meaning to finish. I may even read it this time.
Talk soon,
Bella x
