Get the Most Out of Your Candles with These Simple Tips
There's nothing quite like the warm glow and beautiful fragrance of a quality candle. But if you've ever felt like your candles burn too quickly, you're not alone. The good news? With a few simple techniques, you can significantly extend the life of your candles and get the most value from every purchase.
At Lulubell Candle Co., we handcraft our triple scented soy candles to deliver up to 60-65 hours of burn time. Here are our top 10 expert tips to help you maximise that burn time and enjoy your candles for longer.
1. Always Trim Your Wick Before Each Burn
This is the golden rule of candle care! Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to approximately 5mm (1/4 inch). A longer wick creates a larger flame that burns through wax faster and can cause smoking or uneven burning.
Pro tip: Use proper wick trimmers or scissors, and always remove the trimmed wick debris from the wax pool.
2. Let Your Candle Create a Full Melt Pool
The first burn is crucial. Allow your candle to burn long enough for the wax to melt completely across the entire surface—this usually takes 1-4 hours depending on candle size. This prevents tunneling (when wax burns down the middle, leaving unused wax on the sides).
Why it matters: Soy wax has memory. If you don't create a full melt pool on the first burn, your candle will continue to tunnel for its entire life, wasting wax and reducing burn time.
3. Don't Burn for More Than 4 Hours at a Time
While it's tempting to let your candle burn all day, limiting burn time to 4 hours maximum helps maintain the integrity of the wax and wick. Longer burns can cause the wick to mushroom and the jar to overheat.
4. Keep Your Candle Away from Drafts
Drafts from windows, fans, or air conditioning can cause uneven burning, smoking, and rapid wax consumption. Place your candle in a stable location away from air currents for the most even, efficient burn.
5. Store Candles Properly
When not in use, store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Heat and UV light can cause discolouration and affect the fragrance quality. Always keep the lid on when not burning to preserve the scent.
6. Use a Candle Snuffer Instead of Blowing Out
Blowing out candles can cause wax to splatter and create smoke. Using a candle snuffer or simply dipping the wick into the melted wax (then straightening it) creates a cleaner extinguish and prevents wick damage.
7. Keep the Wax Pool Clean
Remove any wick trimmings, matches, or debris from the wax pool before and after burning. Foreign objects can act as secondary wicks, causing your candle to burn faster and unevenly.
8. Center Your Wick
If you notice your wick leaning to one side while the wax is still soft, gently straighten it to the center. An off-center wick causes uneven burning and can overheat one side of the jar.
9. Know When to Stop Burning
Never burn your candle all the way to the bottom. Leave approximately 10mm (1/2 inch) of wax at the base to protect the jar from overheating and potentially cracking. This also prevents the wick holder from getting too hot.
10. Choose Quality Candles
Not all candles are created equal! Quality matters when it comes to burn time. Look for candles made with:
- Soy wax or soy blends - Burns slower and cleaner than paraffin
- Cotton or wood wicks - Provide consistent, even burns
- High fragrance loads - Triple scented candles maintain their scent throughout the entire burn
- Proper wick sizing - Ensures optimal burn performance
Bonus Tip: Repurpose Your Candle Jars
Once you've enjoyed every last hour of your candle, don't throw away that beautiful jar! Clean it out with hot soapy water and reuse it for storage, plants, or decor.
How Long Should Your Candle Last?
With proper care, a quality 350g soy candle should provide approximately 60 hours of burn time, while a 460g candle can last up to 65 hours. Our reed diffusers offer an even longer-lasting option, providing 6-9 months of continuous fragrance without any flame.
Final Thoughts
By following these simple candle care tips, you'll not only extend the life of your candles but also enjoy a better, safer burning experience. Your candles will burn more evenly, smell stronger, and last significantly longer—giving you more value and enjoyment from every purchase.
Ready to put these tips into practice? Explore our range of triple scented soy candles, minimalist Bare Collection, and long-lasting reed diffusers. Each one is handcrafted in Australia with premium ingredients for maximum scent throw and burn time.
Have questions about candle care? Feel free to reach out to our team—we're always happy to help you get the most from your Lulubell candles!