Candle Care

The first burn matters most

Your first burn sets the rhythm for every burn after. Let the candle burn until the entire surface has melted into a full wax pool — usually around 2 to 3 hours. This prevents "tunneling," where wax only melts down the middle and leaves a hollow ring of wasted candle around the edge.

✦ Plan to be home and present for the first burn. Treat it like a small ritual.

Trim the wick. Always.

Before every burn, trim the wick to about ¼ inch. A long or curled wick burns too hot, creates soot, blackens the glass, and shortens your candle's life. Nail clippers, scissors, or a proper wick trimmer all work.

✦ If you forget and notice a tall flame or smoke, blow it out, trim it, and relight.

Don't burn for more than 4 hours

Long burns overheat the wax, weaken the scent throw, and can damage the vessel. After about 4 hours, blow it out, let it cool completely, trim the wick, and relight when you're ready for more.

Where you burn it matters

Place the candle on a heat-safe, stable, level surface — away from drafts, vents, fans, curtains, books, and anything flammable. A drafty spot causes the flame to flicker, smoke, and burn unevenly.

✦ Never leave a burning candle unattended. Never burn near pets or children unsupervised.

Know when to stop

When there's about ½ inch of wax left in the vessel, stop burning. The glass can get dangerously hot at that point and the flame loses its room to breathe. The candle has done its work — let it rest.

Give the vessel a second life

When the candle's finished, don't throw the jar out. Pop any remaining wax in the freezer for an hour and it'll lift right out. Wash with warm soapy water, peel off the label, and you've got a beautiful little vessel for matches, jewelry, dried flowers, or a small succulent.

✦ Tag us @gloomscents if you give yours a second life — we love seeing it.