The Only Candle Care Guide You Need
April 23 | 3 minute read
Words by The MECCA Memo
They are the luxe default present worthy of every occasion, from birthdays to housewarming parties, not to mention those ‘oops, I totally forgot to buy a present’ moments (we've all been there). Regardless of the occasion, you want to make your candle worthwhile and last for as long as possible.
If you’re in search of strategies for doing just that, we tapped Estelle Omnes from luxe French fragrance brand Diptyque for her personal candle care tips, so you’ll know exactly how to look after your luxury candle.
Burn properly from the beginning
Most candles list an approximate burn time. For example, “a 190g Diptyque candle is promised to last for 60 hours when used properly,” says Omnes, but your best chance at achieving maximum burn time depends on whether you start burning the right way from the beginning. “When you first light a candle, burn it for at least two to three hours,” she advises. This is to ensure that the wax melts evenly and to the edge and bottom of the candle, or else tunnelling may occur. This happens when a candle doesn’t burn evenly, so each subsequent burn creates a deeper hole in the candle, and also greatly reduces the lifespan of a candle.
But the good news is that you can fix candle tunnelling. Next time you light up the candle, “you have to burn it for a really long period of time, so that the candle catches up with the hole,” she notes.
Don't blow it
As tempting as it is, you shouldn’t blow out candles for three very good reasons: it can spread the sparks in the air, cause the hot wax to splatter (dangerous) and brings out the smell of smoke (not ideal). Instead, use a candle snuffer (our preferred method), the lid of the candle if it comes with one or use a spoon to safely snuff out a candle.
Watch the wick
If you leave your candle burning for more than three hours, Omnes recommends putting out the candle and trimming the wick before re-lighting it, or else the candle will begin to burn the cotton of the wick “which is what creates the black smoke and blackens the candle holder.” We recommend investing in a (very chic) wick trimmer.
Re-use the candle vessel
They’re too beautiful to even consider throwing away, after all. Like Omnes, you could use smaller empty vessels to store cotton pads or makeup, and turn larger ones into planters or luxe kitchen utensil holders.
But first, you’ll need to remove the remnants of your last burn. Omnes likes to put the candle in the freezer overnight, which shrinks the wax so it can be easily removed by hand (remove any remnants with alcohol and hot water). Other methods include pouring hot water into the vessel and waiting for the wax to solidify and settle, or putting the vessel in the microwave, which works well but is restrictive for some of the limited-edition candles that may have metallic finishes. Just remember to dispose of the wax safely in the rubbish bin rather than the sink.
