Candle Burning Tips

Here are some tips on how to get the most of your candles for clean burning, long lasting enjoyment.

Trim the wick to 1/4″ every time before you light your candle. This will help prevent soot and smoke and extend the life of the candle. Wick trimmers are handy for this.
Trim the wick anytime the candle flickers, smokes, or you see soot forming on the container. Even if you trimmed the wick before you lit the candle, the wick may need to be trimmed more or may need to be trimmed again after a few hours of burning.
Use a wick dipper to extinguish a candle without any soot or smoke.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Some candles need to be extinguished when only a 1/4″ of wax remains to keep the candle from igniting. Other candles need to be extinguished after a few hours of burning to keep the candle from igniting. Always read the warning label before lighting a candle.
Use candle plates to protect surfaces. Never put a candle directly on a surface that is flammable or could be damaged by heat.
Never put a candle in a tin container on a surface that is flammable or could be damaged by heat. Candle tins get extremely hot while the candle is burning so use caution when selecting a surface.
Never move a burning candle. Allow the candle to cool and solidify before moving. The candle, container and/or wax can become extremely hot when in use.
Never allow children to play with candles or matches.
Always keep candles in sight when in use. Battery operated candles are useful for when you want to provide ambiance in a room that you can’t keep an eye on. Diffusers are usefully for places where you want to provide fragrance but can’t keep an eye on a candle.
Keep candles away from pets especially when in use.
Keep candles away from curtains or anything around the candle that could ignite. Keep in mind that curtains and some other objects can move and become in contact with a burning flame.
Never burn a candle under anything that is flammable, such as a kitchen cabinet.