We’re big candle fans here at Frenshe in case you couldn’t tell–was it our products or our posts that gave us away? Jokes aside, lighting a candle can be a great part of some of our daily rituals, and a fantastic tool for aromatherapy. But if you’re new to using them, or want to make sure you get the best, cleanest burn you can get, we’ve got you covered!
Wick Trimming and Candle Care
If you’ve been doing it a while, you probably know this already but trimming your wick to ¼” before you light your candle (every time!) will help ensure an even burn, and avoid sooting. Doing it every couple of hours can help your candles last up to 25% longer, and removing any debris from the wax will give you a cleaner burn.
It’s also important to check the maker’s recommendation for how long to burn it and avoid going over the suggested time. This will keep your candle longer, and ensure it still looks good as a display piece when it isn’t lit, as well as avoid an unstable wick that smokes and releases soot.
If you’re not sure, a good rule of thumb is not burning it longer than four hours and waiting at least half that before relighting. Once you are done using your candle, make sure to cover it up or put it away to avoid dust, hair and other bits from settling into the wax!
The Best Trick: Candle Warmers
The first lighting will set the tone for your candle after, so making sure you’re doing it correctly is how you keep them looking nice and burning evenly. Candles should burn one hour for every 1” in diameter, but if you can’t be bothered working out that measurement, just make sure you burn it long enough on the first go for the wax to completely melt all the way to the edge of the container.
Putting out your new candle before it has had a chance to do that will create a “memory ring”, and once that exists, it will just continue to tunnel until you’re finished with it. If you want a guaranteed way to keep that from happening, however, we highly recommend candle warmers!
Not only do they guarantee an even burn for your candle, but there are also other advantages to using them–for one, you don’t have to worry about an open flame in your home, which is great if you have kids, pets, or let’s be honest, ADHD. And for two, melting your wax like this creates a more intense smell, so you can get more out of your candles every time.
Reusing Your Containers
Lastly, if you’re someone that feels bad throwing out the beautiful containers your candles come in, we have a few tips on how to reuse them. For painted-on labels, placing the container into a layer of apple cider vinegar for half an hour will make it easy to wipe off the ink later. If it’s a sticker, heat and rubbing alcohol are your best bets to remove all the adhesive.
Get rid of all the leftover wax by pouring boiling water into the container–it should just float up, and you can reuse those bits as wax warmers if you feel like it–or popping the (cooled down) container into the freezer for a few hours.
Pinterest has tons of ideas on how to upcycle your jars, but a few suggestions include trinket holders, plant pots and flower vases, storage organizers, cups, and even a way to make your own candles if you feel like trying out a new hobby.