Make Your Candles Last Longer: A Complete Guide
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There’s nothing quite like lighting a candle and letting its soft glow and soothing scent fill the room. Whether you’re winding down after a long day, setting a cozy atmosphere, or simply enjoying a moment of self-care, candles make everything feel a little more special.
But if you’ve ever noticed your candles burning unevenly, tunneling, or not lasting as long as you’d hoped, you’re not alone! Many people unknowingly shorten the lifespan of their candles simply by not following a few key care tips.
As someone who hand-pours high-quality soy candles here at Amber Bath Co., I want to help you get the most out of every candle you light. Let’s dive into the best ways to extend the life of your candles and enjoy them to the fullest!
1. Trim the Wick Before Every Burn
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not trimming the wick before lighting their candle. A long wick creates a larger flame, which leads to faster wax consumption, excess soot, and uneven burning.
Best practice:
✂️ Trim your wick to 1/4 inch before every burn. A wick trimmer works best, but scissors or nail clippers also do the trick!
This simple step helps control the flame size, prevent black soot, and ensure a cleaner, longer burn.
2. Burn Your Candle Long Enough Each Time
Have you ever lit a candle, blown it out too soon, and ended up with a tunnel of wax around the wick? That’s called tunneling, and it’s one of the biggest culprits of wasted wax.
The fix? Always burn your candle until the melted wax reaches the edges of the container. This is called a full melt pool, and it prevents wax from sticking to the sides.
⏳ Ideal burn time:
- For smaller candles: 1–2 hours per burn
- For larger candles: 3–4 hours per burn
The first burn is the most important, as it sets the "memory" of the wax. If you only let it melt halfway across the top, that’s as far as it will melt the next time, leading to wasted wax and a shorter candle lifespan.
3. Keep Your Candle Away from Drafts
Candles and breezy areas don’t mix! Air movement causes uneven burning by making the flame flicker and shift. This can lead to tunneling, wasted wax, and excess soot buildup.
🛋 Avoid placing candles near:
- Open windows or vents
- Fans or air conditioning units
- High-traffic areas where people pass frequently
Instead, choose a stable, draft-free surface where the flame stays steady.
4. Store Your Candles Properly
Did you know that how you store your candles affects their performance?
🌡️ Keep them in a cool, dry place – Heat can soften the wax and cause fragrance oils to fade.
🕯️ Cover them when not in use – Dust and debris can collect on the wax, affecting the burn quality.
For soy candles like ours, it’s best to use them within a year for optimal scent throw. Natural waxes don’t have the same shelf life as paraffin, but they burn cleaner and are much better for your home’s air quality!
5. Extinguish Your Candle the Right Way
Blowing out a candle seems like the easiest way to put it out, but did you know that it can cause soot and even splatter hot wax?
🔥 Better ways to extinguish your candle:
✔️ Use a candle snuffer – This prevents smoke and keeps the wick in good shape.
✔️ Dip the wick into the wax – Using a wick dipper (or a clean tool), gently push the wick into the melted wax and lift it back up. This eliminates smoke and preps the wick for the next burn.
6. Stop Burning Your Candle at the Right Time
It’s tempting to burn a candle until every last bit of wax is gone, but this can actually be dangerous. Once a candle burns down to 1/2 inch of wax, the heat from the flame can overheat the jar, increasing the risk of glass breaking.
Final rule: Once you’ve reached the last bit of wax, it’s time to say goodbye. But don’t toss the jar! You can easily clean and reuse it for storing small items, planting succulents, or even making a DIY candle refill.
Enjoy Longer-Lasting Candles with These Simple Tips
By following these easy steps—trimming the wick, burning long enough, avoiding drafts, storing properly, extinguishing safely, and knowing when to stop—you’ll get the most out of every candle while enjoying a cleaner, longer burn.
And remember, not all candles are created equal! At Amber Bath Co., I hand-pour every soy candle with care, using phthalate-free, non-toxic fragrances and 100% soy wax for a safe, clean burn in your home.
Want to try one for yourself? Browse our collection and find your new favorite scent!
👉 Shop Our Handcrafted Soy Candles
👉 Looking for the perfect self-care pairing? Learn why Goat’s Milk Soap is a game-changer for your skin!
👉 Complete your relaxation routine with our ultra-moisturizing Goat’s Milk Body Butter.
About the Author
Mandilee is the owner of Amber Bath Co., where she handcrafts luxurious soaps, body butters, and soy candles in small batches in her Michigan studio. With a passion for self-care and high-quality ingredients, she loves creating products that turn everyday moments into something special.
💛 Explore her creations at AmberBathCo.com