Scented candles can instantly lift the ambiance of any space, filling your home with relaxing, uplifting, or cozy scents. To make the most of your candles, proper care is essential. With a few easy practices, you can extend the life of your favorite candles and enjoy their fragrance to the fullest.

Trim the Wick Before Each Burn

A long or uneven wick can cause your candle to burn faster and produce soot. Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) in length. Use a pair of scissors or, ideally, a wick trimmer for a precise cut. Regularly trimming the wick keeps the flame at a manageable height, helping your candle burn more evenly and last longer. Plus, it reduces the amount of smoke, so you get a cleaner burn and a purer scent.

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Let the Wax Melt Evenly

On your candle’s first burn, be patient! Allow the candle to burn long enough for the wax to melt all the way to the edges of the container. This process, known as creating a "full melt pool," helps prevent tunneling—when wax burns down the middle and leaves unused wax around the sides. Generally, for every inch of candle diameter, you should let the candle burn for one hour. A full melt pool ensures even use of wax on future burns and prevents waste.

Avoid Drafts

Candles burn best in calm conditions. A drafty area can cause the flame to flicker or bend, leading to an uneven burn and more wax wasted. When lighting a candle, make sure it’s placed away from open windows, fans, and air conditioners. By minimizing drafts, your candle will burn slower and more consistently, helping to prolong its life.

Keep the Wax Clean

Dust and debris can accumulate on the surface of your candle, which might affect its burn quality. To prevent this, cover your candles with a lid when they’re not in use or store them in a closed cabinet. If you see debris like wick trimmings or dust, carefully remove it with a pair of tweezers before lighting the candle. A clean wax pool promotes an even burn and keeps the fragrance pure.

 

Avoid Burning for Too Long

It might be tempting to keep your candle lit for hours, but overextending burn time can lead to overheating and wasted wax. Most candles are best burned for three to four hours at a time. Extending beyond that can cause the wick to “mushroom,” where a carbon buildup occurs, affecting both the appearance and the quality of the burn. Taking breaks between burns also helps your candle last longer.

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Store Candles Properly

To preserve the fragrance and structure of your candle, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to heat and light can cause the candle’s wax and fragrance oils to degrade. For best results, keep your candles in a closed cabinet or drawer to prevent dust and sunlight from dulling the scent or color.

 

Bonus Tip: 

Freeze Your Candle

A little trick to slow down the burn rate is to place your candle in the freezer for a few hours before lighting it. The colder wax takes longer to melt, allowing the candle to last slightly longer. Be sure to check the candle for cracks before lighting, as the cold temperature could sometimes affect the glass container.

Chic and Raw candles use premium ingredients like natural waxes (soy) and high-quality fragrance oils, which is why they last longer and give off a cleaner, richer scent. To get more out of each one, these candle care tips really help maximize their life.