Savor Your Candles For As Long As Possible!

Isn't it so sad when your favorite candle finally burns itself out? There's nothing better than the lovely aroma of your favorite candle wafting through your home or workspace. It can really take your mood and productivity to the next level.

There's more to enjoying candles than just lighting it up and leaving it alone. Doing a few simple things can help to prolong the life of your candle exponentially! Here are a few quick tips to keep your candles burning on and on!

Burn For The Correct Amount of Time

Have you ever had a candle suffer from candle tunneling? It's when a hard ring of wax forms around the sides of the candle, and the candle burns in a cylindrical "tunnel" down the middle of the candle. You're left with a bunch of borderline-unusable wax, which probably could have kept your candle burning bright for hours and hours.

To avoid candle tunneling, be sure to light your candle for at least long enough to melt the entire top layer of wax. Keeping this top layer liquified will help the candle burn as evenly as possible, all the way down to the bottom of the jar. 

Be sure to limit your candle burning time to four (4) hours maximum. By that time, your environment should be filled with lovely fragrance, and you will avoid "superheating" the wax.

Wick Trimming

The first burn of a candle is vital to its overall lifespan. In order to accomplish the best possible first burn, you'll probably want to trim the wick of your candle before you light it up.

Jackpot candles use wooden wicks - they're good for the environment and produce a lovely crackling sound when lit. But if there is an excessive amount of wood between the flame and the candle wax, the "fuel" may not be able to actually reach the flame. If you've been wondering why your wooden wick isn't lighting properly - that is probably the reason!

You won’t need special tools to trimming the wick (although dedicated trimming tools do exist). Try scissors or nail clippers.

Before you trim, try quickly wiping the wooden wick down with a paper towel. Then, trim your wick to between 1/8" - 3/16" (or 3.2mm – 4.8mm) for best results. It's important to mention that, compared to cotton wicks, wooden wicks have more surface area to light. Make sure the flame spreads across the entire wick when you light your candle.

Keep a Steady Flame

No drafts! Any sort of moving air, whether it be the wind, a fan, or a vent, will cause an uneven flame. Although this may seem trivial, a flame burning erratically can start the process of candle tunneling and may even extinguish your candle before it's ready (setting the process of tunneling in motion).

Pay attention to your candle while the top layer of wax is melting. If at any point you notice a wiggly, dancing flame, try to diagnose the source of the moving air. If you can't figure it out, it's time to move the candle!

It's ok to have an open window or air movement - ventilation is good for the distribution of a candle's soot output. Just make sure your candle isn't being affected detrimentally by its placement in the room.

Keep Your Candle Clean

You may not think that you have to clean a candle... But it's actually very important to the life of your waxy friend.

Be sure to store your candles properly. When not in use, keep your candles covered or in a closed cupboard - this will keep the candle free of dust or debris. Any foreign objects/substances in the candle can contribute to an uneven burn.

When you're done burning your candle after a session, be sure to keep the tip of the wick clean as well. When you're pinching off the gnarled part of a burnt candle wick, be sure not to knock it into the molten wax.