L'Art d'Entretenir Vos Bougies - MIYA’s Boutiques

The Art of Maintaining Your Candles

Tips for Optimal Use

Candles, whether scented or decorative, create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. To extend their lifespan and ensure a pleasant experience, it's essential to take good care of them. Here are some simple but effective tips for maintaining your candles and enjoying their benefits for longer.

1. Straighten, center and cut the wick

Before lighting your candle, make sure the wick is straight and centered.

A leaning, off-center wick can cause uneven burning, reducing the candle's effectiveness and even creating an unstable fire. Simply gently reposition it in the center of the container.

Also remember to trim the wick to about 1 cm before each use to ensure a stable flame, not too high. This is to avoid:

excessive smoke,
but also that the tip does not form a crust and fall into the wax.

2. Burn the candle for at least 2 hours

Let your candle burn long enough to avoid the "tunnel effect".

Tunneling occurs when a candle's wax doesn't melt evenly during combustion. Instead of melting over the entire surface of the container, only a small portion around the wick liquefies, forming a "tunnel" of wax around the wick. This phenomenon is often caused by a burn time that is too short or a wick that is too long, resulting in an unstable and uneven flame.

When this happens, the wick becomes submerged in a hollow of wax. Once the wax solidifies, the candle will be difficult to relight or keep burning because the wick will be submerged.

To avoid this effect, it is important to melt the wax evenly over the entire surface at the beginning of use and to let the candle burn long enough for the wax to reach the edges of the container. This ensures an even burn and maximizes the life of the candle.

3. Respect combustion limits

Never leave a candle burning for more than 4 hours at a time. Beyond this time, excessive heat can damage the container, affect the quality of the wax, and even cause danger. Additionally, excessively long burning periods can result in an unstable flame, increasing the risk of black smoke.

4. Avoid drafts

To ensure an even burn, place your candles in a draft-free area. Constant wind can move the flame and cause the wax to melt unevenly, resulting in rapid and uneven burning of the candle.

5. Gentle extinction

When extinguishing your candle, avoid blowing out the flame. This can cause unpleasant smoke and may cause melted wax to scatter. Instead, use a candle snuffer or MIYA candles with lids.

In Conclusion

Taking care of your candles ensures a pleasant and long-lasting experience. By following these simple practices, you not only maximize the lifespan of your candles, but also preserve their beauty and effectiveness. Every candle deserves special attention, so light them, enjoy their light and fragrance, while following these tips to get the most out of them.