Candles are an essential piece of decoration in many homes. They decorate from a purely aesthetic point, but they are also very pleasant when lit, providing a very warm and welcoming air with their flame. Likewise, in the case of scented candles, they fill the room with smells that are each more special.
Although lighting and burning a candle seems like a very simple and straightforward task, the truth is that there is a trick. There are certain considerations that you must take into account if you want to get the most out of the candle itself, as well as burn it safely and effectively. Keep reading and maybe you'll discover some mistakes you were making and, without realizing it, you were wasting your scented candles.
First of all, before lighting a candle – whether aromatic or not – it is advisable to trim the wick until it only rises half a centimeter above the surface of the wax. With this you will be able to reduce the size of the flame itself, so that the wax will burn more slowly and uniformly, lasting longer. Likewise, a controlled flame will prevent the edges of the candle container from burning and darkening, it is safer and will not produce smoke that could stain your walls, furniture or ceiling.
Once the candle is lit, it is important that you let the entire first layer of wax burn completely. That is, it melts to the edges of the container. This is because candles have memory and the next time you light it, the wax will only melt up to the point where it melted previously. Therefore, if you do not let it melt completely on the first use, a wax tunnel will begin to create that will waste the potential of your candle.
Also, make sure that the lit candle is placed on a coaster or tray, so that it does not damage your furniture. When you blow out the candle, you should cover it with a lid to prevent it from accumulating dust, which will cause it to lose the intensity of its aroma.
When it has cooled down again or before lighting it the next time, cut the most “scorched” part of the wick again. This way, as we have mentioned, you will have a controlled flame and a candle that burns more slowly and lasts longer. But you will also be saving your furniture from possible charred wick remains that pop out when burned and leave stains that are very difficult to remove.
Finally, if you want your candle to last as long as possible, you should wait until it has cooled completely before lighting it again, as cold wax will take longer to melt. It also helps to put it in the refrigerator for a while before turning it on or to add salt to the melted wax the first time you use it, after turning it off and before it solidifies again.
