How to make your candles last longer
Tips from the founder of Glasshouse Fragrances
Something we’ll always stand by is the undeniable universal appreciation for candles.
It goes without saying; we love candles, you love candles. Everyone loves candles.
The one thing that’s still blowing our minds, however, is just how quickly we’re able to burn our way through the suckers.
And given that we (brace yourself for this humble brag) have put in the hours to cultivate the palettes of perfume connoisseurs – we’re a bit miffed that we’re routinely forking out a handful of cash for a few hours of heavenly-scented bliss. We need more. We deserve more.
Thankfully, founder of Glasshouse Fragrances Nicole Eckels has recognised our need and subsequently offered to teach us how to make our candles last longer.
So get your notes app at the ready, because a legitimate candle genius is about to relay their wisdom…
1/
Trim your candle wick
First things first, “to get the best performance out of your candle, always ensure your wicks are trimmed to 7mm everytime you go to light your candle,” Eckels advises.
From burning “it for the very first time, and in between every single burn, make sure the wicks are trimmed” with a [Glasshouse Fragrances] wick trimmer ($29.95 at Glasshouse Fragrances).
2/
Burn time is super important
“Burn time is super important,” says Eckels. “After 15 years we have it down to an art.”
“My first rule is do not burn a candle for less than one hour or more than four hours at a time,” she recommends.
Why is burn time so important though?
“Simple - if you burn for less than the recommended time, the wax may not be melted all the way to the outside of the candle,” Eckels explains. “Once this happens the candle can form a pattern of tunnelling which leaves unmelted wax around the edges.”
“It may reduce the overall fragrance throw, and eventually may drown the wicks so the candle will not stay alight,” she warns.
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How to avoid tunneling
And then leads us to our next question – how do we avoid tunneling?
According to Eckels, when you light a new candle for the first time, you need to “allow the wax to burn so that it melts across the entire surface to the edges,” in order to prevent tunneling.
This will “ensure you set your candle up for the best possible performance,” says Eckels.
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Avoid using it in drafty areas
Eckels’ next tip is a bit of a no-brainer; if you want to get the best scent possible from your candle “avoid using it in drafty areas.”
Lighting a candle “near an open window, air duct or fan” is just not a good idea if you’re after the strongest scent possible. Instead, “keep doors and windows closed in the room you have your candle lit,” the Glasshouse Fragrances founder advises.
5/
Know when to stop
“Lastly, know when to stop,” says Eckels. “You should stop burning your candle when 10mm of un-melted wax remains in the bottom of the glass of your candle's vessel.”
“This is to prevent the glass from overheating and cracking,” she explains.
Now that your candles are burning longer, let’s focus on personal scent. This is how to make perfume last longer.
Image credits: @glasshousefragrances
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
