How to care for your scented candle: clean, even and longer-lasting

A scented candle is a small ritual, and the quality is in the details. A few simple habits make your candle burn cleaner, more evenly and longer, and give you more scent from every burn hour. Here is everything you need to know, from the very first light to the last layer of wax.

Start with a good first burn

The most important step happens the very first time. On that first burn, let the candle burn until the whole top layer is liquid, all the way to the edge of the glass. Wax has a memory: if the first melt stops halfway, the candle keeps burning in that same smaller circle afterwards. That is called tunnelling, and it leaves a thick rim of wax unused. So give it a little time. With an Insphirea candle, that first layer is usually fully liquid after two to three hours.

Trim the wick before every burn

Trim the wick back to about half a centimetre before each burn. A short wick gives a calm, steady flame and far less soot. A wick that is too long gives a large, flickering flame that leaves soot on the rim of the glass and burns through the wax faster. Do this when the candle is cold and the wax is hard, so the charred tip breaks off cleanly without crumbling. Small scissors work, a proper wick trimmer works even better.

Burn it away from draughts

Keep the candle away from open windows, doors and vents. A draught pushes the flame in every direction, which makes the candle burn unevenly and give off more soot. In a still spot it burns down nice and evenly. Keep an eye on the burn time too: three to four hours in a row is fine, after that it is better to put the candle out and let it cool.

Snuff it out, do not blow

Put the flame out with a candle snuffer rather than blowing on it. Blowing sends hot wax and smoke into the air and disturbs the scent. A snuffer lays the flame down gently, without spatters and without a trail of smoke. If you want everything to hand, you will find a snuffer and a wick trimmer together in the Candle Care Kit. Our article on using your candle care kit explains exactly how to put both to work.

Stop in time and store the candle well

Do not burn the candle all the way to the bottom. Stop when there is about a centimetre of wax left, which protects the glass from overheating. Store your candle cool, dry and out of direct sunlight between burns, with the lid on if it came with one. That keeps the scent full and the wax from discolouring.

Why it pays off with this candle

Every Insphirea candle is hand-poured in our own atelier from 100% sunflower wax, with no paraffin. That wax burns clean and even, and is good for around 50 burn hours. With the steps above you really do get those full fifty hours, burn after burn. Want to know more about why we chose this wax? Read why our candles are made from sunflower wax.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I burn a scented candle the first time? Let it burn until the whole top layer is liquid, right to the edge. With an Insphirea candle that is usually after two to three hours.

How short should the wick be? About half a centimetre, before every burn. Trim it when the wax is cold and hard.

Why should I not blow the candle out? Blowing gives smoke and can make hot wax spatter. A candle snuffer puts the flame out gently and keeps the scent clean.

When should I stop burning? When there is about a centimetre of wax left. That stops the glass from getting too hot.

Ready to pick a new favourite? Discover the warm scents of the Reposea collection, the fresh side of the Harmonea collection, or browse all our scented candles.