WHY YOU SHOULD BE TRIMMING YOUR WICK EVERY TIME YOU LIGHT UP
Do you trim the wick every time you light your candle? This simple rule of thumb that, let’s be honest, you’re probably not following, is essential for getting more burn for your buck.
In fact, there are a few very easy tweaks you can make when you light your favourite scent to ensure you’re getting the most efficient burn possible. If you’re investing in the best and displaying your stunning votives proudly around your home, then do them the honour of applying a little tender love and candle care when you next light up.
TRIM YOUR WICK EVERY TIME
A candle plucked fresh from the box is almost always going to have a long wick standing to attention. For the first burn, and every burn thereafter, it’s really important to trim your wick to around 6mm, say the experts at Ecoya. Trimming your wick helps to control the size of the flame, keeping it smaller and in turn making your candle last longer. A little snip will also help to prevent that black soot from forming around the inside of the glass.
A dedicated wick trimmer, such as this sleek stainless steel version is a great tool for ensuring you cut it to the perfect length every time, but if you have a pair of small, sharp scissors or nail clippers, they will also do the trick. Make sure you wait until the candle is completely cool and the wax has solidified before trimming.
“A little snip will also help to prevent that black soot from forming around the inside of the glass.”
THE FIRST BURN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
Speaking of cooled wax, do your candles always end up looking like a small creature has burrowed its way through the middle? Well, there’s an easy fix for that and it’s all in that first time you light your fresh new fragrance. Soy wax tends to have a bit of muscle memory to it, so however you burn it the first time is going to affect every burn from there on out. Depending on how big your candle is, you want to burn it for at least an hour initially – or until the wax has liquified across the entire surface – to prevent future tunnelling.
BURN TIME IS KEY
Leave your candle to burn for a maximum of three hours at a time to further extend longevity. This will allow enough time for the fragrance to throw around the room without the risk of the entire candle turning to liquid or the wick floating away from the middle. Once you have approximately 10mm of wax left at the bottom of your candle, you should consider it finished. Lighting a candle with too little wax left can be a safety hazard.
OPT FOR A SOY WAX
Soy candles emit less smoke than paraffin candles, plus they burn with 30 percent less heat so they burn slower and last longer. What’s more, the natural origin of soy wax makes it a cleaner choice where air quality is concerned while the candle is burning.
“Soy candles burn with 30% less heat so they burn slower & last longer.”
INVEST IN A SNUFFER
A candle snuffer might just be the chicest accessory for any candle connoisseur, but it’s also the safest way to extinguish your flame and preserve the beauty of your wax and jar. Blowing out your candle with too much force can cause soot to float into your wax or stick to the sides of the jar, so snuffing is certainly best practice.
REUSE YOUR JAR
And last but not least, get joy from your beautiful glass jar far beyond the life of your candle by gently washing it with soapy water once it’s finished and using it to store makeup brushes, cotton buds, pens, metal straws – you name it!
We hope you picked up some useful tips and feel compelled to enjoy the romantic flicker of soft light at your place tonight, and every night.
Our carefully curated selection of luxurious candles include Tatine’s Dream Within A Dream, Opal+ Sage’s Rose Quartz Crystal candle, and a range from Ecoya.
