Top Tips for Candle Care

Make your candles last longer, burn cleaner, and fill your home with calm.

There’s something truly special about lighting a candle; that gentle flicker, the soft scent filling the room, and the instant sense of calm it brings. At Holistic Kitchen, My candles are hand-poured in small batches using natural wax and pure essential oils, designed to create a meaningful moment of stillness in your day.

To help you make the most of your candle (and keep it looking and smelling beautiful), here are my top candle care tips.

1. Let It Burn Properly the First Time

When you light your candle for the very first time, let it burn until the wax melts all the way to the edge of the jar. This usually takes around 2–3 hours, depending on the candle size.

Why?

Wax has a “memory.” If you extinguish your candle too soon, it can tunnel down the centre, wasting wax and reducing burn time.

2. Trim the Wick Every Time

Before you relight your candle, trim the wick to around 5mm.

Why?

A shorter wick helps your candle burn cleanly and evenly. It prevents black smoke, flickering, and those little mushroom-shaped carbon tips that can drop into the wax.

3. Keep the Burn Time Balanced

Try to burn your candle for 2–4 hours at a time - no more, no less.

Why?

Too short, and it may not melt evenly; too long, and the wick can shift or the wax can overheat. Gentle, consistent burns help your candle live a long and happy life.

4. Avoid Drafts and Direct Sunlight

Where you place your candle really matters.

Why?

Drafts can cause uneven burning, flickering and soot, while sunlight may fade the natural essential oils. Choose a calm, stable spot where the flame can burn evenly.

5. Extinguish with Care

Blowing out a candle can create smoke and disturb the wick.

Better ways:

1. Use a snuffer to gently extinguish the flame, or

2. Dip the wick into the melted wax with a wick dipper or even a metal spoon, then straighten it again.

This method seals the wick and helps it light more easily next time.

6. Keep the Wax Pool Clean

If dust, wick trimmings or matches fall into the wax, scoop them out once cooled.

Why?

Debris can affect the scent and make your candle burn unevenly.

7. Reuse or Refill Your Jar

When only 1cm of wax remains, it’s time to stop burning your candle.

Why?

Burning lower risks overheating the container.

Clean out the jar with warm water and mild soap, then reuse it for something new - cotton pads, plant cuttings, or a refill from your next Holistic Kitchen candle.

8. Mind the Mood

Lighting your candle isn’t just about scent: It’s a ritual.

Take a deep breath, slow down, and make that small moment of lighting it part of your daily self-care.

Candle care is simple, but it makes all the difference. A little attention helps your candle burn brighter, last longer, and bring more calm into your space.

Whether you’re lighting one of my aromatherapy candles or gifting a little calm to someone else, remember: your candle is more than wax and wick - it’s a moment of stillness, poured with intention.