Buying candles is easy, but taking care of them requires skill. As a pre-modern technology, you have to look after them.
Proper candle care breaks down into two parts:
- Care related to burning
- Care related to storage
Burning
Before you burn your candle, trim the wick to about a ¼ inch from the wax. Longer wicks can lead candles to burn too hot or create excessive soot.
If burning a candle for the first time, let it burn for one to two hours uninterrupted. This tactic ensures that the wax burns evenly around the wick, preventing imbalance later.
When extinguishing the candle, use a snuffer. Don’t use any liquids that could damage the wick (including in your spit!)
Finally, burn soy wax candles for less than four hours (unless the manufacturer states you can go longer). If you leave candles burning too long, it can make the wick unstable or cause supports to overheat, changing the candle’s qualities.
Storage
When storing candles, ensure that you avoid extreme temperatures. Keeping candles in a hot car or exposed to the sun can cause changes to their chemical and fragrance properties, giving you a substandard experience.
The best policy is to keep them in a cool, dark place. If you have ceramic candles in a box, store them with the lid on.
Finally, use scented candles within 12 to 16 months. Longer than this can cause sensitive fragrance molecules to degrade.
