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How to burn a candle correctly Trim the wick. Every. Let the wax melt all the way across. Once your candle’s lit, DON’T blow it out until the top layer of wax has melted all the way across. Buy multi-wick candles. Keep the flame away from moving air. Dip your wicks to extinguish the flame.
Is there a wrong way to light candles?
Yes, there IS a wrong way to burn a candle! If you’re not doing it right, you could be cheating yourself out of hours of burn time, while also creating too much smoke and decreasing your enjoyment of the fragrance.
How do you stop candles from tunneling?
To prevent tunneling, all you need to do is burn your candle long enough each time so that the entire top surface of wax is melted. This is especially important the first time you burn your candle! How long that takes depends mostly on the size of the candle.
How long should you light a candle for the first time?
Solution: Particularly for their first burn, candles are supposed to burn for at least one hour per inch of container diameter. So, if you bought a new candle that is 3 inches in diameter, you should burn your candle for at least 3 hours (though not more than 4 at a time).
How do you make a candle burn evenly?
Place on a Level Surface. It’s very important to place a candle on a flat and stable surface when you light it. Trim the Wick. This is a very important tip. Use Multi-Wick Candles. Use Long Matches or a Lighter. Melt the Wax Fully Across. Cover With Foil to Melt Tunnelling. Avoid Drafts. Burn 4 Hours Maximum.
Can you burn candles all the way down?
The National Candle Association (www.candles.org) states that the reason to not burn the wax (in a container or just a candle itself) all the way down is SAFETY. A glass jar or container can become too hot, causing it to break or shatter and possibly causing a fire as well as other damage.
Why is my wick drowning?
The best way to ensure a wick never gets too short is to burn the candle long enough to form a uniform pool of melted wax (but no longer than four hours). This prevents “tunneling,” or excess wax buildup on the side of the jar, which could melt during future burns and potentially drown the wick.
Why do my candles have sinkholes?
Sinkholes occur naturally from the process of the wax setting up. As wax is heated to melt it into liquid form, the wax expands literally taking up more space as it changes form from solid to liquid. This is the reasoning as to why sink holes can appear in your candles.
Why do my candles sink in the middle?
Wax sinks when it sets because as the wax cools, it slowly contracts and can leave what I refer to as ‘sink holes’ in the middle of your candles, but can also present as sunken dips around the wick. The spots are caused by shrinkage and air bubbles that occur as the wax is cooling inside the container.
Why do candles burn down the middle?
Candle tunneling occurs when only the center of the wax right around the wick melts and burns down. Sometimes, candle tunneling is caused by a wick that isn’t large enough for the size of the candle, but more often it’s caused by the timing of the first burn.
Should I put the lid on my candle after blowing it out?
Simply blow out the candle gently and then cover immediately with the lid to prevent dust and dirt from getting on the wax and wick. It also helps trap the smoke. “There’s nothing worse than blowing out your candle before you go to sleep to find that your entire room suddenly smells like smoke,” Raza said.
When should you stop burning a candle?
As with most things, knowing when to stop burning your candle is important. This keeps you, and your furniture, safe. When there is approximately 1/2” of wax left in the bottom of your candle it’s time to stop burning. It’s okay for there to be some wax left over, candles are created with this little buffer of wax.
Should you open a window when burning a candle?
When burning a candle, avoid proximity to fans, air conditioners, open windows, or crowded areas with people walking back and forth. Moving air can disturb the flame, resulting in those pesky black marks on the glass.
Why do you have to cut the wick of a candle?
Keeping the candle wick trimmed helps control the amount of melted wax (i.e., fuel) that the candle has access to, which helps limit the amount of soot it creates. The trimmed wick also helps the candle burn more evenly, controlling the soot and prolonging the life of the candle.
How far down should you burn a jar candle?
While you might want to burn your candle all the way down to the very last speck of soy wax, you should only safely melt the wax to the last ½ inch.
What happens if you burn a candle too low?
Even if a fire doesn’t ignite, the low-level of wax in the jar increases the likelihood of the flame brushing against the sides and the bottom. If the glass gets hot enough, it could shatter. In any case, if you let the wax burn lower than half an inch, you are putting your home at risk.
What do you do with the bottom of a candle?
When you can no longer light your candle, retrieve the wax at the bottom of the jar by pouring hot water into the jar. The heat will melt the wax, allowing it to collect at the top. Once it sets you can simply remove that nice layer of wax and use it in an oil burner to get the most out of your fancy candle.
