Extending The Life Of A Candle

6/25/2018 (Permalink)

Tips to extend the life of your candle for smell or survival.

We burn candles for a variety of reasons, whether for the aroma or to light the home due to a power outage. Did you know that you could actually assist them in burning longer? 

Tip 1: Freeze your candle. Yes, put it in the freezer! By doing so, you are hardening the wax, which makes it melt more slowly and therefore last longer. It may not be feasible to store all of your candles in your freezer, so simply slip your next-up-to-burn candle into the freezer on the morning or night before you’re planning to light it.

Tip 2: After letting the candle burn long enough for a pool of wax to collect around the wick, blow out the flame. Then, quickly sprinkle table salt into the liquid wax. If necessary, use a toothpick to ensure that the salt actually mixes into the wax and doesn’t just sit on the surface.  Then re-light the candle.  Adding salt serves the same purpose as putting the candle in the freezer—it slows down the rate at which the wax melts, giving you a longer, more economical burn.  What matters most is how long you let the candle burn the first time you light it. Try not to extinguish it until the pool of wax has extended across the diameter of the candle. Blow it out too soon, and you may cause the candle to leave excess wax; if it doesn’t melt on the first lighting, the dry, hard wax around the outside edge will almost never burn.

Tip 3: It can also be helpful to keep the candle wick trimmed to about a quarter inch in length, because longer wicks tend to burn faster.  Leftover wax is a sign that the candle didn’t burn to its full potential. To get the most bang for your buck, make sure that the candle burns both evenly and completely. Finally, remember not to leave the candle near a door or window or in any similarly drafty spot; not only is such a location unsafe, but it can also result in uneven burning.