21/07/2016
Candles are luxurious decorative accents and knowing how to make candles burn longer can help you enjoy a flickering flame or gentle scent for many hours safely and easily. While candle burn times do vary, different tricks can keep your candles burning efficiently so none of their beauty is wasted.
About Burn Time
Different sizes and shapes of candles have different burn times - the estimated time a candle can burn before the wax has entirely vanished. Factors that affect burn time include:
How frequently the candle is burned
The duration of different burnings
The shape of the candle
Candle size including diameter and amount of wax
Type of candle wax
Wax additives, such as scents, colors, or preservatives
The environment around the burning candle
How a candle is burned can directly impact how long it will last. By burning candles safely and efficiently, it is possible to extend their total burning time for significant periods.
Tips for How to Make Candles Burn Longer
There are several ways to ensure candles burn as long as possible without any wax going to waste.
1. Trim Wicks Regularly: Trimming the wick is one of the most effective ways to lengthen a candle's life. The wick should be no more than 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch long and should be trimmed each time before the candle is lit. Longer wicks will smoke, shed debris, and may not provide a steady oxygen flow to the flame which can lead to excessive flickering and uneven heating.
2. Limit Burn Time: To burn a candle most efficiently, it should be burned until the pool of melted wax covers the top of the candle, or in the case of pillar candles, until the pool is close to the edge of the pillar without breaking through. For most candles, this can be achieved with burn times of 2-4 hours, though smaller candles may melt much more quickly.
3. Limit Drafts: Candles should not be burned near drafty windows, fans, or vents. Drafts will cause the flame to flicker, which results in uneven heating and melting rather than a smooth, even melt pool.
4. Choose Multi-Wick Candles: Candles with several evenly spaced wicks will burn more evenly than large candles with a single wick. This is particular true for jar candles, and contrary to popular belief, multi-wick candles will not burn down more quickly - just more evenly so no wax is wasted.
5. Choose Efficient Candle Shapes: Circular candles burn more effectively than irregular shapes because all the wax is an even distance from the wick. Square candles and other shapes may melt unevenly and leave much wax for waste.
5. Reading Burning Instructions: Many candles come with recommendations for how to make candles burn longer. Follow those instructions to help the candles burn safely and efficiently.