Candle Care: How to Get the Best Burn

A well-cared-for candle burns longer, cleaner, and more beautifully. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of your Heaven Candle.

First burn matters most. The first time you light your candle, let it burn long enough for the wax to melt all the way to the edges. This prevents 'tunnelling' — where the candle burns down the centre, wasting wax around the sides. For most of our candles, this takes about 1-2 hours.

Trim your wick before every use. Use scissors or a wick trimmer to cut the wick to about 5mm before lighting. A longer wick creates a larger flame that produces soot and causes the candle to burn faster than it should.

Never blow out your candle. Blowing creates smoke and can push the wick off-centre. Instead, use a snuffer or dip the wick into the melted wax using a wick dipper — this also coats the wick for easier relighting next time.

Keep your candle away from drafts. Windows, fans, and air vents can cause uneven burning, dripping, and excessive smoke. A still flame burns cleanest.

Store candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin, so leaving candles in hot cars or near windows can cause them to soften or discolour.

Finally, stop burning when about 1cm of wax remains at the bottom. Burning past this point can overheat the container. Once your candle is finished, clean the vessel with warm water — our crystal jars make beautiful storage pieces.