How To Make A Candle Last Longer

We all want to get the most for our money and candles are no different. If you want to know how to make a candle last longer, read on. These are our 9 top tips to make a candle last longer in your home and make the most of your candle. At Candles by Luma, we are dedicated to improving our impact on the environment and extending the life of a household item is just one way you can do your bit to reduce waste.

Tips to Make A Candle Burn Longer

These tips can be applied to almost all candle types but always check with the manufacturer who can provide their own guidance on how to make a candle last longer. We've split our tips into three areas; burning tips, caring for wicks and extra tricks you may not have thought of.

The Burning Questions of Candle Care

Here are our top tips when it comes to caring for your candle by burning correctly.

Burn For At Least 1 Hour

This is especially important when you first get a candle but you should do this every time, burn a candle for at least 1 hour. Burning for at least an hour will ensure an even melt across the wax and get your candle off to a good start. If you don't burn it for long enough, you are more likely to experience candle tunnelling where the outer portion of the candle is still solid. By burning for a little longer you can extend the life further than if you had only burnt it for half an hour. You can also go by the guide of the wax melting all the way to the edge which may be quicker or longer than an hour depending on the size of the candle.

Don't Burn For Longer Than 4 Hours

Avoid burning the candle for more than 4 hours at a time. They usually are fully melted by this point and at the highest temperature they can get to. This means they are burning the wax at its fastest rate by this point and will mean a candle won't last as long when burned excessively. But you should also not burn a candle for too long from a safety standpoint. If it's a filled candle. the container will be very hot and there have been instances where candles have ignited, causing fires.

Allow a cooling off period

Once you have put out the candle, allow it to completely cool before lighting again. This will stop candle tunneling and will produce an even melt the next time you light the candle. Lighting a candle once a day should provide enough time in between lights to cool the wax completely.

Care For The Wick

Looking after your candle wick is as important as the wax for a longer candle life.

Snuff The Wick

NEVER EVER use water to put out a candle. It is incredibly dangerous as your candle will likely spit hot wax on to neighbouring surfaces and your skin. Pouring wax on a candle could also cause the flame to leap from the candle and cause a fire hazard. But it should also be noted that you can damage the candle by not extinguishing the flame correctly. If you add water into the mix, it may combine with the melted wax and create pockets of unevenness. This will reduce the longevity of your candle so always put out your candle using a candle snuffer or a wick dipper.

Trim the Wick

Before burning your candle, make sure there is no mushrooming on the wick. If there is, trim this off before lighting to avoid the wick spitting and burning unevenly. You can trim your wick with wick trimmers or pinching the burnt wick away. This will ensure that the wick doesn't curl into the wax, give off any black smoke, and give your candle a longer lifespan.

Dip the wick and straighten

When you are finished burning a candle, always dip the wick into the wax. A Wick Dipper can be used to extinguish a candle whilst coating itself in a layer of wax. This ensures the wick is ready for its next use and will increase the burn time. A wick dipper also allows you to straighten the wick into its correct position, properly maintaining your candle and achieving the most even burn.

Extra Tips

Here are a few extra tips to make the most of your candle.

Avoid Drafts

This may seem like a basic tip but by moving your candle away from a drafty window or doorway, you will extend the life. Wind will make the flame flap around which causes uneven burning and will reduce the lifespan of your candle. Always light your candles in a draft-free and safe location in your home.

Use Aluminum Foil

If you've committed the cardinal sin of burning your candle for too little time causing tunnelling, you can fix it. Use some aluminium foil and wrap it around the container while the candle is lit. This will draw heat to the edges and melt the wax that is creating the tunnel. It's best to catch tunnelling early, as the longer you leave it the harder it will be to melt the extra wax. If you end up with the wick completely submerged by wax, tip excess melted wax into a heatproof container and dispose of it safely. Remember that cheaper paraffin wax candles have a tendency to tunnel if poorly made, so don't blame yourself if this is the case.

Use leftover wax

If you have got to the bottom of your scented candle, you can still get more life out of it. Melt the excess wax and make mini wax melts to use in a wax melt burner. This is a great way to use the last of a candle, reducing waste. Don't forget to reuse the container once you've got rid of the wax and cleaned it.

Buy Better Candles To Make Them Last Longer

If you want to extend the life of your candles further, invest in better quality candles. Quality candles will burn for longer and will burn more evenly, saving you money in the long run. Choosing soy wax over paraffin is also a good option, as soy wax burns for roughly 3 hours more per 100 grams compared to paraffin. Shop our range of soy wax candles and wax melts.