How to Care for Your Candle (And Get Every Last Burn)

A premium handcrafted candle deserves a little care. Follow these simple guidelines and you'll enjoy a cleaner burn, a longer life, and a better scent throw every single time.

Trim Your Wick Before Every Burn

Always trim your wick to about 5 mm (¼ inch) before lighting. A longer wick creates a larger, unsteady flame that produces excess soot and can cause the candle to burn unevenly. A simple wick trimmer or nail scissors works perfectly.

Let the Wax Pool Reach the Edges on the First Burn

The first burn is the most important. Allow the wax to melt all the way to the edge of the jar before extinguishing — this typically takes 2–3 hours depending on candle size. Skipping this step creates a "memory ring," and your candle will tunnel down the centre for its entire life.

Burn Time Guidelines

As a general rule:

• Small candles (4 oz): 20–30 hours of burn time. Burn in 1–2 hour sessions.
• Medium candles (8 oz): 40–50 hours. Ideal for 2–3 hour sessions.
• Large candles (12–16 oz): 60–80 hours. Burn 3–4 hours at a time, maximum.

Burning a candle longer than 4 hours at a time can cause the wick to "mushroom," the jar to overheat, and the fragrance to dissipate too quickly.

Keep the Flame Away From Drafts

Wind from open windows, fans, or air vents causes uneven burning, flickering, and soot marks on your jar. Place your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from drafts for the cleanest experience.

Know When to Stop

Stop burning your candle when approximately 1 cm (½ inch) of wax remains. Burning past this point can cause the jar to overheat and may damage the surface underneath. The good news: the jar makes a beautiful vessel for storing small items once the candle is done.

Store Candles Properly

Keep your candles away from direct sunlight and heat sources, which can cause the wax to soften, shift, or fade in colour. Store them with the lid on to protect the scent and keep dust off the wax surface.

Burn With Purpose

Every Rustic Embers candle is handcrafted with intention — and lit with a mission. Our Flames for Futures collection supports animal rescue, while our Healing Embers collection contributes to medical research. When you care for your candle, you extend the life of something that gives back.

Explore our full collection and find your perfect burn.