5 Mistakes You Are Making With Your Candles (and How to Fix Them)
Candles have the power to transform a space, filling it with warmth, ambience, and delightful fragrances. At Simon James Home, we pride ourselves on crafting luxury, eco-friendly candles designed to elevate your home environment. However, to truly make the most of your candles, it’s essential to use them correctly. Here are five common mistakes people make with their candles and how you can fix them to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
1. Not Trimming the Wick Before Each Use
The Mistake: Lighting your candle without trimming the wick can lead to excessive soot, uneven burning, and a larger flame than intended.
The Fix: Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to approximately 5mm. This simple step promotes a cleaner burn and prolongs the life of your candle.
2. Extinguishing the Candle Incorrectly
The Mistake: Blowing out your candle can produce smoke and may cause the wick to drift off-centre, leading to uneven burning in future uses.
The Fix: Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame. This method minimises smoke and helps maintain the wick’s position, ensuring an even burn next time.
3. Not Allowing the Candle to Form a Full Melt Pool
The Mistake: Extinguishing your candle before the wax has melted across the entire surface can result in tunnelling, where wax builds up along the sides of the container.
The Fix: On the first burn, allow your candle to create a full melt pool, reaching the edges of the container. This process can take 1-2 hours, depending on the candle’s size, and prevents tunnelling, ensuring an even burn throughout the candle’s life.
4. Burning the Candle for Too Long
The Mistake: Letting your candle burn for extended periods (typically over four hours) can cause the wick to form a mushroom shape, leading to soot and an unstable flame.
The Fix: Limit each burning session to 3-4 hours. This practice helps maintain the candle’s integrity and ensures a cleaner, safer burn.
5. Ignoring Safety Precautions
The Mistake: Placing candles near flammable materials, leaving them unattended, or burning them in draughty areas increases the risk of accidents.
The Fix: Always place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from flammable objects. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Avoid placing candles in areas with draughts to prevent uneven burning and potential hazards.
By addressing these common mistakes, you can enhance your candle-burning experience, ensuring safety and maximising the enjoyment of your luxury, hand-crafted candles from Simon James Home. For more tips and to explore our range of award-winning, eco-friendly candles, visit our Candle Care and FAQ’s page.