Candle Burning

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a proper form in candle burning. Here at Bee Inspired, we have created a list of tried and true (and simple!) methods to get the most out of your candle from our collection of unique nostalgic fragrances. By following the steps listed below, you can ensure maximum freshness, a longer burn life, and optimal burn time, plus a safer household! Additionally, using the right candle holder is crucial for safety, as it is designed to collect molten wax and prevent potential fire hazards. We’ll answer questions such as how to make a candle burn evenly and when to stop burning a candle below.

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Getting Started

Choosing the Right Candle Jar

Selecting the perfect candle jar is more than just a matter of aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in how your candle burns. A jar that’s too small can lead to uneven burning, while one that’s too large might result in a weak flame. For the best results, we choose jars designed explicitly for candle burning. Look for features like a wide mouth, which allows the melted wax to pool evenly, and a stable base to prevent tipping. This ensures a safe, steady burn and helps your candle perform at its best.

The Importance of a Wick When Burning Candles

Proper candle burning begins with the wick. The heat from the flame melts the wax, creating liquid wax essential for the candle's flame to function effectively, as it is drawn up the wick to be vaporized and combusted. Wicks function the best when they are a ¼ inch in height. Here at our honey store, we hand-cut each cotton wick at the perfect height, so there is no need to worry when you first receive your candle. Following the first burn (which I’ll get to soon), make sure the wick is trimmed to ensure the candle burns evenly and to prevent smoke stains that are prevalent with candles made in glass jars.

Trimming the Candle Wick

Trimming the wick is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to ensure your candle burns beautifully. A wick that’s too long can cause the flame to flicker and produce soot, while a wick that’s too short may result in a weak flame. Aim to trim the wick to about ¼ inch before each burn. This can be quickly done with a wick trimmer or scissors. Keeping the wick at this length helps maintain a clean, even burn and prolongs the life of your candle.

How to get Candles to Burn Evenly: First Burn

The first burn is always exciting! The candle’s first burn is an important step in learning how to get candles to burn evenly, and to avoid tunneling. Your goal on a first burn is to fully melt the top layer of wax evenly to create a full melt pool. If you do not, a “tunnel” will form in the center of the candle, creating a memory ring.

Tunneling happens when the first burn is not a long enough period of time. A short first burn creates a candle memory ring of wax in the center of the candle. It’s wasteful. It not only leaves precious wax left over in the candle, but it also often leads to an extinguished flame and a candle that cannot be burned. Ensuring the melted wax spreads all the way to the edge of the container to create a melt pool is crucial for proper candle burning. Additionally, using candle holders that are adequately sized to collect molten wax is important to prevent accidents and burns.

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Following the proper first-burn procedure will also help prevent the wick from mushrooming. A mushroom wick is a wick that has not been burned properly, where carbon deposits on the wick make it top-heavy. The wick appears to be a mushroom in shape, hence the name. Keeping the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch will afford a cleaner burn and the proper-sized flame.

If you’re wondering when to stop burning a candle, please note that at Bee Inspired, we recommend burning our candles for at least an hour and a half. This will fully melt the top layer and ensure even melting for future burns on all of our candles.

Creating a Stable Candle Flame

Achieving a stable candle flame is key to enjoying your candle safely and effectively. Start by ensuring the wick is centered and stands upright. This helps prevent flickering and soot production. To avoid accidents, place your candle on a heat-resistant surface away from any flammable materials. By taking these precautions, you can enjoy a steady, beautiful flame that enhances the ambiance of your space.

Extinguishing Burning Candles

Gently blow out the flame to prevent hot wax from splattering. A candle snuffer is a practical tool for extinguishing candle flames safely and efficiently. Long-burning candles can become very hot to the touch. For safety reasons, we recommend burning our candles for only up to two hours at a time.

Do not extinguish a candle by topping it with a lid. Although it does extinguish the flame, it will cause smoke to penetrate the wax, smothering the fragrance with a smoky odor.

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How to Make a Candle Burn Every Time

For each future burn, start with a trimmed wick and ensure the top layer is fully melted before extinguishing the flame. This helps ensure that the candle burns evenly for the expected time. When the wax has cooled and before you light the wick again, be sure to trim the wick to the ¼ inch size, as mentioned previously.

In the interest of safety:

• Practice common sense in everything you do in life.

• Never leave a burning candle near anything that can catch fire.

• Always keep a burning candle in sight, and away from children or pets.

• Extinguish a burning candle upon leaving a room.

• Burning candles should be kept a few inches apart to ensure even melting.

• Do NOT burn a candle all the way down.

• Never leave a burning candle on all night, extinguish before going to sleep.

You can find a few candle safety rules of thumb to follow to determine how to make a candle burn evenly, when to extinguish a candle, and more from the National Candle Association.

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Why is the first-burn in candle burning so important?

When first burning a candle, burn it for at least an hour to ensure the wax pool liquefies evenly to the edge of the glass to avoid tunneling. Remember that tunneling happens when the first burn is not long enough. A tunnel is a “memory ring” of wax in the center of the candle. Leaving precious wasted wax in the vessel also often leads to an extinguished flame.

When should you stop burning a candle?

It depends on the size of the candle. If you are burning a lit candle that is 4-6 ounces, the safest time to burn the candle is no more than 2 hours. Larger candles may burn four hours at a time.

Are you interested in learning how to get candles to burn evenly the next time you use them? After burning for the recommended period, extinguish, allow to cool for at least a few hours, and trim the wick to 1/4 inch before burning again for the best results.

Is candle burning bad for the environment?

Different wax and fragrance combinations yield different results. For instance, candles made with certain fragrance oils are sensitive to temperature and light, affecting their burning quality. Paraffin wax is petroleum-based and is known to release toxic compounds into your home. Some of these compounds are known carcinogens. They may also contribute to upper respiratory issues such as asthma and impact allergies.

What happens if you burn a candle too long?

If you burn a candle in glass for longer than the recommended time, you risk breaking hot candle glass. Candle wax is the fuel pulled up the wick to feed the flame. If you burn a candle for too long, carbon collects on the wick and makes the wick unstable. An unstable wick may burn unevenly, hotter, and smoke. When a candle smokes, it releases soot into the environment and deposits on the candle glass and the area surrounding the candle.

Why is my candle flame burning so high?

There are a few reasons why a candle flame burns too high. Different types of candles, such as soy wax candles, have unique burning times, and the wick may be the wrong size for the selected vessel and wax. It could be that the fragrance load is too high for the wax and vessel size. It could be the kind of fragrance that is used in candle making. If all else is perfect, check for a draft where you burned the candle. Drafty rooms can impact the size of the flame.

Can I just let my candles burn and put themselves out?

Please use common sense when burning any candle. We hope you enjoy your candle as much as we enjoyed making it. Candles are safe products and must be used safely and observed to avoid accidental fires. We urge our customers to be careful when burning candles. Please burn candles safely. Do not let a candle burn long enough to extinguish all wax in the container; leave at least 1/2 inch of wax on the bottom.

How do you store candles?

When cold, trim, wick, and store candles in a cool, dark, and dry place. If dirt and dust accumulate on top of the candle, you can easily clean the surface with a damp paper towel.

Follow these simple steps to burn candles correctly and stay safe. Check out Bee Inspired's newest candle, After Dark, which artfully combines the warmth of mahogany with a hint of coconut to create an inviting, warm, masculine fragrance.

Happy candle burning!

Additional Tips

Maximizing Burn Time and Performance

To get the most out of your candle, follow a few simple tips. First, burn your candle for the recommended duration, typically 2-3 hours. This prevents the wax from overheating and the flame from becoming unstable. Keep your candle away from drafts and air currents, as these can cause flickering and soot. Using a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame is also a good practice; it helps prevent discoloration of the wax and damage to the wick. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a longer, cleaner burn and enjoy your candle to the fullest.