Yankee Candles are my fave but I'm drawn to any that smell good enough to eat.
Good candles aren't cheap however I think they're worth every single penny. If you're going to part with your hard earned cash on a candle there are some very simple things to do to get the absolute most out of your purchase.
Yes, you can just light it and leave it, but if you want your candle to last longer, to throw off more scent and not to smoke follow these easy steps!
Trim the wick
When you buy a candle the visible wick is often too long and needs trimming. You want the wick to be about 1/4 inch. Why? Well, a too long wick causes the candle to smoke.
It's a myth that cheap candles smoke and expensive ones don't. It's not about the candle itself but the wick length.
Don't forgot to trim it throughout its use as well. Keep it short to stop the smoke and to extend the life of the candle. It will also stop the black 'mushroom' build up you get on a wick too.
How to trim the wick:
You can use sharp scissors which is easy when the candle is brand new but as you burn it the easiest and best thing to use is a purpose made wick trimmer.
This might seem a bit extravagant but it really isn't. My wick trimmer was only £4.99 from Yankee Candle. The good thing about a wick trimmer as it cuts the wick in one easy snip and then easily lifts out the bit you've cut off.
Burn time
Don't you hate it when a large candle tunnels? You know what I mean - when it just burns down in the middle leaving most of the unmelted wax in a thick ring around the edge. This is a total waste if candle and it's really easy to stop.
If your candle tunnels it simply means that each time you light it you're not leaving it to burn for long enough. A large jar candle takes around 3 hours for the surface to melt, and this is what you want.
If you light a large jar candle and blow it out after an hour it will tunnel. Each and everytime you want the top of the candle to completely melt so you need to leave it burning for a good 3 hours.
If you want to light a candle but you know you're only going to let it burn for an hour don't light a large jar, go for a votive or scented tea light instead.
Put it out, don't blow it out
Blowing out your candle will also cause it to smoke. You need to put it out, using something like a candle snuffer.
I use a metal butter knife. Just push the wick into the melted wax and immediately lift it out again. This will stop the smoke and the jar/holder turning black.
Rotate your candles
You know after you've worn the same perfume for a while you just stop smelling it on yourself? Well the exact same thing applies to scented candles.
If you burn the same smell continuously the chances are your nose will just get used to the scent and you'll stop noticing it. Rotate your candles and you'll enjoy the scent for the entire candle's life.
Votives
Votives are the short and chubby candles. To get the most scent, burn them in a purpose made votive holder or tight fitting candle container.
A votive holder allows the candle to melt evenly, stops wax wastage and therefore gives you the maximum scent throw. If you don't put a votive in a holder the wax will just pour over the edge and make a great big waxy mess.
Other important candle-ly stuff
Never ever leave a lit candle unattended & keep them well out of reach from children & pets.
Always protect the surface the candle is sitting on, they can get pretty hot.
And finally don't stand directly over a lit candle, especially if you're wearing a lot of hairspray!!
So there you go, how to give your candles some lovin' in just a few easy steps.
What's your favourite candle brand? What candle scent do you enjoy the most?
To find out how to easily turn your dead candle jars into some seriously good storage click here.
I'm off to light a Yankee!
Love Emma
XOXO
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