🔥 Candle Care 101: How to Get the Most Out of Your Candle

Want to make your candles last longer, burn evenly, and smell amazing? With the right care techniques, you can maximize scent throw, prevent tunneling, and extend burn time.

At Willis Candle Shop, we want you to enjoy every burn to the fullest—so here’s how to properly care for your candles for the best results.

1️⃣ Wick Trimming for a Cleaner Burn

✔ Trim your wick before every burn to 1/4 inch for cotton wicks or 1/8 inch for wooden wicks.
✔ Prevents excessive soot and keeps the flame steady without flickering.
✔ Use a wick trimmer or scissors for a precise cut before lighting.

💡 Why It Matters: Long wicks cause uneven burning, wasted wax, and black soot on the glass.

2️⃣ Burn Time: How Long Is Too Long?

✔ Burn for 2-4 hours max to prevent wax from overheating.
✔ Let the wax fully cool before relighting to maintain fragrance quality.

❌ What to Avoid:

Burning for too long can weaken scent throw and cause the vessel to overheat.
Short burns can cause tunneling, wasting wax around the edges.

💡 Why It Matters: Sticking to the ideal burn time ensures a longer-lasting candle and better scent diffusion.

3️⃣ Keep Wax Pools Clean for Optimal Performance

✔ Before relighting, check the wax pool.
✔ Remove wick trimmings and dust to prevent them from getting trapped in the wax.

💡 Why It Matters: A clean wax pool = a cleaner, smoother burn with no interruptions in fragrance throw.

4️⃣ The Right Way to Extinguish Your Candle

✔ Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame without smoke or wax splatter.
✔ Let the wax fully solidify before covering the candle with a lid.

❌ What to Avoid:

Blowing out the flame aggressively—this can push wax around and create an uneven surface.
Covering the candle too soon—trapped heat can affect fragrance quality.

💡 Why It Matters: Proper extinguishing preserves wax quality and reduces smoke buildup in your space.

Final Thoughts: The Secret to a Perfect Burn

By following these simple care tips, you’ll:
✅ Extend your candle’s lifespan
✅ Enhance scent throw
✅ Ensure a clean, even burn
✅ Keep your space soot-free