You buy a lovely new candle. You light it, the room smells amazing, and life is good. Then two weeks later the wick is drowning in wax, the smell is weaker, and there's a deep hole burning straight down the middle.
Sounds familiar? Good news — it's easy to avoid.
1. The First Burn Matters Most
This is the one thing most people get wrong — and it makes the biggest difference.
Soy wax remembers.The first time you light it, the wax melts outwards from the wick in a circle. Whatever that circle reaches is as far as the candle will ever melt next time. So if you blow it out after 30 minutes — when the melted wax has only reached halfway — it'll keep burning just a narrow hole down the middle and leave thick walls of wasted wax around the sides.
What to do:On the first burn, leave it lit until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar. For most of our candles that's about 2–3 hours. Don't rush it.
2. Trim the Wick Every Time
A long wick is the main reason for black soot, uneven burning, and a weaker smell.
Before you light it each time, trim the wick to about 5–6mm — roughly the length of your thumbnail. Nail scissors work fine, or you can just snap off the burnt bit with your fingers once the wax is cool.
A short wick gives a smaller, calmer flame that burns evenly with almost no soot. A long wick makes a big flickery flame, blackens the jar, and eats through the wax too fast.
3. Don't Burn It for More Than 4 Hours
Burn it too long and two things happen: the wick gets too long, and the pool of melted wax gets too hot. When the wax overheats, the scent burns off quickly instead of slowly drifting out — so you actually lose fragrance.
Stick to 2–4 hours at a time. After that, put it out, let the wax cool fully, trim the wick, and light it again later.
4. Keep It Away From Drafts
A breezy spot makes the flame flicker. That flickering isn't just annoying to look at — it makes the flame pull up more wax than it can burn cleanly, which means soot and uneven melting.
Put your candle somewhere calm — away from fans, AC vents, and open windows. You want a steady flame that barely moves.
5. Snuff It, Don't Blow It
Blowing out a candle sprays tiny bits of hot wax around and can push the wick off to one side. A crooked wick then burns unevenly next time.
A snuffer — that little bell-shaped tool — puts the flame out neatly and keeps the wick in place. They cost under ₹150 online and help all your candles last longer.
No snuffer? Just pop the jar lid on top for a second to put it out.
6. Store Them Well
Candles are more delicate than they look. Heat, sunlight, and dust can all spoil the wax and the scent.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight — it fades the colour and weakens the smell over time.
- Store at room temperature — heat (like a parked car in summer) softens the wax and dries out the scent.
- Put the lid back on — it keeps dust off the wax.
- Stand them upright — lying them on their side can shift the wick.
7. Stop When About 1cm of Wax is Left
Once there's roughly 1cm of wax left at the bottom, stop burning it. By then the jar gets quite hot, which can mark the surface it's sitting on and, in rare cases, even crack the glass.
The nice part: the jar is yours to reuse. Pop it in the freezer for an hour and the last bit of wax lifts right out, then wash it with warm soapy water. Use it as a pen holder, a tiny plant pot, a place for your rings — whatever you like.
Quick Candle Care Checklist
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don't |
|---|---|
| Let it reach full melt pool on first burn | Never blow out early on first burn |
| Trim wick to 5–6mm before each use | Don't burn with a long untrimmed wick |
| Burn for 2–4 hours maximum | Don't burn more than 4 hours at a time |
| Use a snuffer to extinguish | Don't blow out with breath |
| Store with lid on, away from sunlight | Don't store in direct heat or sunlight |
| Stop at 1cm of remaining wax | Don't burn to the very bottom |
How Long Should a Candle Last?
Looked after well, most of our soy candles burn for around 35–45 hours. The bigger jars last longer, while small tealights and mini candles are meant to be shorter burns.
The short version:
- First burn: at least 2–3 hours
- After that: 2–4 hours each time
- Always trim the wick before lighting
Take care of it and your candle gives you every hour it was meant to.
Got Questions?
If something's not right with your candle — a hole down the middle, weak smell, a wick that keeps going out — just message us on WhatsApp at +91 88991 72088. We make every candle ourselves and we're always happy to help.
