Candle Burning 101

01. 

SAFETY FIRST

Always place candles on non-flammable, heat resistant surfaces, while burning. More importantly, never leave a burning candle unattended. 

True Story: In college, I left a candle unattended on a dresser. My roommate noticed the smell of the fire, went into my room, saw a hat fell from the mirror above my dresser. Yes, it was on fire. Thankfully, she put out the fire ASAP. Needless to say, I was on "flame watch" for a year after the incident.  

02. 

TRIM THE WICK

Trimming the candle wick 1/4" of an inch before the first burn will prevent candle wax from tunneling,  ensuring an overall even first burn. 

Continue to trim the wick 1/4" of an inch before you light the candle up, this will help limit sooting (black residue) and will prevent the wick from mushrooming. 

Claire Burke Gold Wick Trimmer

03. 

FIRST BURN

If a candle doesn't burn long enough the wax will create a memory ring and continue to tunnel every time its lit. After you light up a candle for the first time, let it burn for 2-3 hours until the wax pool reaches the edge of the glass vessel.

Never burn a candle more than 4 hrs at a time, to prevent the candle wick from mushrooming. Burning a candle for more than 4+ hrs will more than likely generate smoke and release soot into the air.

04. 

LIQUEFY

Always allow your candle to completely liquefy across the top of the candle before blowing it out. By doing this, it prevents the wax from tunneling. Candles have a memory pool. Wherever the wax stops after burning the candle for the first time, it will continue to stop there every time you burn it, causing the candle to tunnel if it hasn't liquefied all the way across.

05. 

RECENTER WICK

Candle wicks tend to wiggle around while the burning. Worst case scenario, the wick gets close to the glass vessel and causes it to heat up and crack. Make sure to check the condition of the wick after blowing it out.

TIP: If the wick is off-centered, move wick back in place, towards the center - away from the glass. 

06. 

LET IT GO

It's hard to say goodbye to your favorite scent, but you don't want to risk the bottom of the candle vessel heating up and burning the surface wherever it is. 

Most people assume it's time to throw away a candle when there's only a thin layer of wax remaining. And yes, that's true in theory. It's crucial to discontinue a candle when 1/2" of an inch of wax remains in the bottom of the candle vessel. 

07.

 STORAGE

If you've recently stocked up on your favorite candles or plan to give as a future gift, store the candle in a cool dry place and cover the candle lid to protect the wax from dust. Dust can also dull the scent, which defeats the entire purpose.

HELPFUL STORAGE TIP: Cover candle lid with plastic wrap and secure with rubber band. Shop my favorite candle storage container from the Container Store. 

08.

 REPURPOSE

Candles can't be recycled. Recycling plans don't accept wax and can only recycle the vessel tins or jars they come in. Claire Burke candle vessels are designed for reuse, so don’t let it go to waste! Next time you go to light your favorite candle remember these simple tips and let the Claire Burke Candle do the rest.