There is just something about the crackling sound from a wooden wick candle that gives the candle more character and makes one (at least for me) feel like I am cosying by a fireplace. I love lighting my wooden wick when I am reading my book or doing my work on the computer, especially when it rains at home. A lit scented organic candle + the rain atmosphere is such a great combination!
I have discovered ways throughout my candle loving journey (P.S. I make my own candles too!) to ensure that my wooden wick candle always burns properly, so I can make the most out of the candle. It is indeed frustrating and money wasting whenever a candle can no longer be burned properly, even when there is still substantial candle wax left. Sometimes, the issue may be a human issue and not the fault of the candle company! Eg a flame that is too large could mean that the wick is likely too long, or smoke coming out of the candle could mean that your candle has been burning for way too long.
Fret not! There are ways and measures you can take to ensure that your candle burns the way it should, every time.
Here are 7 tips on how you can burn your wooden wick candles more effectively.
If none of these tips work, it means that the issue is the candle and not you!
1. Ensure the wooden wick to the effective length
The wooden wick should be trimmed at the proper length before you light the candle. Do use a wick trimmer or even your nail clipper to trim the wick at around 0.25 to 0.5mm before you light your candle. This ensures that the flame flickers at a good size and does not get too large or too small.
Usually the wooden wick of a new candle should be pre-trimmed to the correct length. However, you can still measure the length, just to make sure.
Once the wax is fully melted across the surface, extinguish and allow to cool before trimming the wooden wick (with a wick trimmer or nail cutter) to 5mm. Your candle is now ready to relight.
2. Make sure the melt pool always reaches the edge of the container before you stop the flame
The first time you light and burn your new candle really sets the stage for how well the candle will perform throughout its life.
It is advised to burn for at least 2 hours (and less than 4 hours) the first time you burn your candle, so the wax can melt all the way to the edges of your candle. The wax pool should also be about 1cm deep at the edges before you put it out.
Note that if your wax melts all the way to the end of the jar within 30 minutes, this may mean that there is some issue with the formulation of the candle and your candle will likely get way too hot within an hour.
The time taken for the wax to fully melt across the candle depends on the diameter of the candle. The rule of thumb is that if your candle is 1 inch in diameter, it should take 1 hour to reach full melt pool. If your candle is 2 inch in diameter, it should take 2 hours. 3 inch = 3 hours and 4 inch = 4 hours.
What will happen if you stop your flame before the wax reaches the full melt pool? Candle tunneling may occur. Candle tunnelling happens when a candle burns down its centre, leaving hard wax around the outside. The next time you light the candle, the flame will burrow further down the middle and the wax will likely not melt all the way until the end of the tin, even if you leave it there for a few hours. In fact, due to candle tunnelling, there will be less oxygen that surrounds the flame. Due to the lack of oxygen, the flame may just fizzle out, even if you repeatedly try to relight it. This wasted wax means your candle won’t achieve it’s maximum burn-time, which is a real waste if you love your scented candles as much as me.
3. Do not burn for more than 4 hours!
Burning a candle for too long is a dangerous thing to do. It can lead to a fire hazard as well, especially if you keep the candle on a wooden surface or tray. Burning your candle for more than 4 hours will likely cause carbon to collect on the wick of the candle, which will ultimately cause the candle to mushroom. Then, the wick will become unstable as it continues to burn, and eventually produce a flame that is difficult to control. These dangerously large flames could cause a serious problem, especially if there is a strong wind or a flammable gas in the air.
4. Do not use candles under a moving fan or near objects that can catch fire
Avoid placing the candle in drafty areas as this will decrease burn time, cause uneven burning, smoking and diminished scent throw. A strong wind will cause the candle flame to flicker wildly and may also increase its height. This is dangerous as there is the chance objects nearby (eg pieces of loose paper, drapes) could catch fire. Sometimes it may suddenly get windier than usual and the flame of your candle may get too high. If the flame becomes too high, starts to produce smoke or has excessive flickering, extinguish the candle and allow the candle to cool. Once cooled, trim the wick to 5mm and relight when the air is less drafty or windy.
5. Take measures to retain the smell for longer
If you leave your candle exposed under the sun, the scent of your candle will eventually evaporate. In order to retain your candle’s scent as much as possible, you should store your candle in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. In addition, when you are not using your candle, you should also keep the candle lid on. This helps prevent oxidation and evaporation that may take place if you leave your candle exposed to air.
6. Never allow direct flame to touch the bottom of the vessel.
For safety reasons, never burn a candle all the way to the bottom. The National Candle Association (www.candles.org) states that the reason to not burn the wax (in a container or just a candle itself) all the way down is SAFETY. A glass jar or container can become too hot, causing it to break or shatter and possibly can cause a fire. I recommend that you leave 5mm of unmelted wax at the bottom of the container and discontinue use. If you want to reuse the candle tin, you can either light the candle to let the remaining wax melt. Alternatively, if you have a double boiler, you can simply place the candle on top of it and heat it up. Once the wax has melted, you can easily pour the melted wax into a bin.
7. Take additional safety precautions
If you want to be extra safe, you can place a candle cover over a candle as it burns. In addition to ensuring utmost safety, a candle cover can be a great display piece in your home. Also, never leave a burning candle unattended, even if you are placing a candle cover over it. It is also important to keep the candle out of reach of children and animals.
I hope that the tips shared in this article are useful in helping you get the most out of your wooden wick candle. Feel free to let me know down below if these tips have helped you out or if you have more wood wick candle tips to share!