How to Burn a Candle Like a Pro

Most of us don’t think twice about lighting a candle. All you have to do is strike a match and let it burn for as long as you like. Simple, right? As it turns out, there’s a right way to do it. Proper candle care ensures the brightest flame, the longest burn time, and the easiest relighting.

Since many people strive to buy high-quality and beneficial candles, they also expect to enjoy them for as long as possible. A simple change of habit or a small addition of knowledge can help you get the most out of your favorite candles. So, please accept our invitation to consider the most effective way to light a candle and tips for candle care.

How to light a candle like a pro?

To prevent the appearance of unsightly soot and the formation of memory rings, follow these professional candle burning tips:

  • Trimming the wick Every time you want to light a candle, trim a bit of the wick. You can use scissors, nail clippers, or a special wick trimmer, the tool doesn’t matter. Trimming the wick will make the flame cleaner and brighter. Leaving the wick untrimmed can result in an odd, mushroom-like shape that can dull and smother the flame. Allowing the wick to grow too long can lead to unattractive soot stains that are commonly found on glass jar candles. But, by trimming the wick, you keep the flame under control and prevent soot stains. In addition, a wick that is allowed to grow long or become crooked can cause dripping, flaring, uneven burning, and soot. So, by trimming the wick every time, you are actually extending the life of your candle. In fact, you will find that your candles typically burn 25 percent longer if you follow this tip.

  • Flame duration Everyone knows this scene: the electricity is out, there's no emergency lighting, you light a couple of candles. When the lights come back on, you blow out the flame. Seems like a normal process, right? Unfortunately, this can damage the structure of the candle. How exactly? Prematurely extinguishing the flame without fully melting the wax across the entire diameter on one level of the candle or melting from one end to the other will cause a tunnel to form in the center of the candle. The candle will continue tunneling throughout its life. The wick will begin to sink deeper and deeper, like a tunnel slowly moving through the center of the candle. Soon, the tunnel will become so deep that it will be virtually impossible to light the wick, as it will be covered in liquid wax. When tunneling occurs, you shorten the life of your candle, which results in a waste of all the wax. Unused wax reduces the hours of enjoyment of a beautiful candle scent and light and the time, effort, and money you spent in the process of choosing. However, there is a simple solution for you. Once the candle is lit, it should not be extinguished until the first layer of wax has completely melted.

Proper candle burning may take several hours, especially if it has a large diameter, so don’t light a candle if you don’t have time to let it melt completely. Yes, it requires a lot of patience; but if you do everything right, the surface of all the candles will remain flat.