Candle Burning and Storage Tips

Candle Burning and Storage Tips for your new Candle

Armed with these tips below, burning a hand poured candle will be straightforward! Follow these recommendations and your candle will last longer, burn more evenly, smell stronger and you can avoid unsightly soot and ‘tunnelling.’

7 Candle Burning and Storage Tips

1. First burn of your candle

The first time you burn you candle you should always burn it for at least a couple of hours. A good rule of thumb is to burn your candle for one hour for every inch (2.5 cms) of the diameter of the candle. So, for a round candle that is two inches from side to side (diameter), the first burn should be for two hours. The aim is to get the top layer of wax to melt completely across the whole candle. This will ensure your candle burns evenly next time you light it.

Please do make sure that you do melt the wax completely. This is an important step to get the most even burning out of your candle.

2. Candle Wick Trimmers and Snuffers

How Long Should a Candle Wick be in Centimetres or Inches?

Every time you burn your candle, start by trimming the wick. Trimming your candle wick is important as the longer the wick, the quicker your candle will burn. On average, your candles should burn for up to 25% longer with a properly trimmed wick!

So, you should always trim the wick to a quarter of an inch or about 5 millimetres (half a centimetre) and remove any debris left in the wax pool such as wick trimmings or matches.     

3. Safely Extinguish your Candle

As well as trimming your wick, you should re-centre it and prop it up right after putting your candle out. Whilst the wax is still liquid, extinguish your candle, preferably with a candle snuffer to completely stop the wick from burning. Propping the wick up will make it easier to relight next time. Never use water to put out a candle.

4. Don’t Place your candle in a draughty place

Place your candle is a part of your home or room away from open windows and door and also fans. This will allow your candle to burn more evenly, and this will also extend the life you your candle.

5. Four-hour candle burn

Burning a candle for too long can cause carbon to collect on the wick, and it may start to smoke and release soot. In general, you should not burn your candle for longer than four hours. After the candle is extinguished, let it cool for at least two hours before relighting.

6. Candle storage

If your candle came with a lid, use it! You should store your candle in a cool, dark and dry place with the lid on to keep them clean of dust and debris, and to help protect the wax and fragrance. Your candle should have a usable lifespan with the full fragrance of about six to twelve months when stored with the lid on the candle. If dust has settled, you can use a humid cotton pad to remove the dust from the top of the wax.

7. Candle Container Care

Our candle containers are intended to be used for life and they can be refilled with the same or different scents from our website. They also have many uses around the home. If they have become a little smokey, once extinguished use a slightly damp cloth to wipe away any marks.

FelinFach Candles, Diffusers and Accessories

Modern-Day Candle Chandler

A Candle Chandler? - "a maker and seller of tallow, wax candles, and also usually soap". 

We are a modern-day candle chandler, hand pouring soy wax candles using traditional methods and skills but also other fragrance items such as reed diffusers and wax melts. Our eco-friendly candles are made from sustainable and renewable plant-based candle waxes.

Candles and Soapery - Knowledge Base and Customer Support Portal

Extensive Candle-Care Resources all in One Place

If you need the full low-down on our chandlery, candle and soapery products, we’ve got all the details and information you’ll need in our Knowledge Base. Browse through these articles and experience all your candle-care resources in one place, click here... 

About FelinFach

     

Located in Pembrokeshire Wales, our ethos is defined in the three words...

NATURAL TRADITIONAL HANDMADE.

• Hand woven iconic Welsh blankets and Welsh tapestry blankets.
• Handmade candles, candle accessories, Candle Making Workshops and soapery.
• Natural Dyeing Craft courses.
• Yarn shop, hand dyed yarn, yarn bowls, project bags, tools and accessories for knitters and crafters.
• Welsh Gifts, souvenirs, made in Wales, handmade in Wales.

We are a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool, Global Welsh and Red Dragon America.

Last updated 11th July 2024