By Olivēa — hand-poured in Belgium
A well-cared-for candle burns cleaner, smells fuller, and lasts longer. Here’s the good stuff—no fluff.
Before the very first burn (the “memory” burn)
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Let it reach a full melt pool. Keep the candle lit until the melted wax reaches the glass edge (usually 2–3 hours on a new candle).
This “teaches” the candle to burn evenly and helps prevent tunneling. - Start trimmed. Wick at ~5 mm (cotton) or ~3 mm (wood). Short wick = steadier flame, less soot.
Every time you light it
- Trim the wick to ~5 mm (cotton) / ~3 mm (wood). Remove any “mushroom” at the tip.
- Clear the surface. No match heads, dust, or botanicals in the wax pool.
- Level is love. Place on a heat-safe, level surface away from drafts (vents, fans, open windows).
- Set a session. Ideal burn window is 2–4 hours. Longer sessions can overheat the jar and shorten total life.
While it’s burning
- Watch the flame. A calm, teardrop flame is right. Tall, sooty flames mean the wick is too long or the candle is in a draft.
- Keep space. If burning more than one, leave ≥10 cm between candles.
- Pets & little hands. Keep out of reach and never leave the candle unattended.
How to extinguish (without the smoke)
- Best: A snuffer or wick dipper (dip the wick into the wax, then lift it up to re-center).
- Okay: A gentle blow near the side of the glass, not directly onto the wick.
- Skip: Snapping a lid on to “choke” the flame—this can cause soot and jar discoloration.
After the burn
- Re-center the wick while the wax is soft so the next melt pool stays even.
- Let it cool fully before moving.
- Store smart. Cool, dry place, lid on or dust cover to protect the surface.
End-of-candle & jar reuse
- Stop burning when ~1 cm of wax remains—to protect the vessel.
- To clean: warm water + mild soap, or soften residue with a short hot-water bath; discard wax in the bin (don’t pour down the drain).
- Reuse the jar for cotton pads, spices, paper clips, or tealights.
Safety essentials (always)
- Keep within sight; extinguish before leaving a room or going to sleep.
- Keep away from flammables (curtains, books, dried flowers).
- Use on a heat-resistant, stable surface.
- Don’t burn for more than 4 hours at a time.
- Keep away from children and pets.
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