Candle Burning and Safety Guidelines
1. Trim the Wick
Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to approximately 1/4 inch (about 0.6 cm) in length. This helps prevent excessive flickering, smoking, and uneven burning.
2. Burn in Intervals
For the first burn, allow the candle to burn until the wax melts evenly across the surface. This helps prevent tunneling, where wax accumulates around the wick and creates a hole in the center. Subsequently, burn the candle for no more than 3-4 hours at a time to prevent overheating.
3. Keep Away from Drafts
Place your candle on a stable surface away from drafts, open windows, fans, or air vents. Drafts can cause uneven burning and may lead to soot buildup.
4. Use a Candle Snuffer
Extinguish your candle using a candle snuffer rather than blowing it out. Blowing can create smoke and cause hot wax to splatter, while a snuffer gently extinguishes the flame.
5. Rotate the Candle
To ensure even burning, periodically rotate the candle while it's burning, especially for larger candles. This helps distribute heat and prevent tunneling.
6. Avoid Overburning
Never leave a burning candle unattended and extinguish it before leaving the room or going to sleep. Overburning can lead to overheating, potential fire hazards, and shorter burn times.
7. Keep the Wax Pool Clean
After extinguishing the candle, allow the wax pool to cool and solidify before relighting. Remove any debris or wick trimmings from the wax to maintain a clean burn.
8. Use a Candle Jar Holder
If you're burning a jar candle, use a heat-resistant candle holder to catch any drips or spills and protect surfaces from heat damage.
9. Store Candles Properly
Store candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Exposure to heat can cause candles to soften or warp, affecting their performance.
10. Discontinue Use at 1/2 Inch Wax Depth
To prevent overheating the container and for safety reasons, discontinue use of container candles when only 1/2 inch (about 1.3 cm) of wax remains.