Candle Care 101: Making Your Candle Last as Long as Your Book

You’ve curled up with a hot drink, a new novel, and one of our soy wax candle, maybe The Antique Bookshop or The Reading Room, and it’s casting that perfect, flickering light over the pages. And then… your candle tunnels. Burns out too fast. Starts behaving like it never even read the instructions.

We get it. It’s frustrating.

But the truth is, candles are a little like book; they’re best enjoyed slowly, with intention. And just like dog-earing pages or cracking spines can shorten the life of a book, skipping a few candle-care basics can cut your burn time in half.

So let’s fix that.

Here’s how to make your candle last as long as your book, and smell amazing the whole way through.

First Burn = Most Important Burn (Seriously)

Here’s the thing: the first time you light a candle sets the tone for every burn after.

Soy wax has a bit of a memory. If you only melt a small circle of wax the first time (that dreaded “tunnel”), your candle will keep burning that way. Forever. No redemption arc.

The fix? Let the candle melt all the way to the edges the first time you light it. Depending on the size, that’s usually about 2–3 hours. (More if your book’s really good!) but no more than 4 hours at a time.

Trim Your Wick—Like, Always

Yes, even brand new ones.

A long or mushroomed wick can cause all kinds of drama: soot on the jar, smoke, uneven burn, too-big flames. It’s the candle version of skipping your skincare routine, bad things follow.

Trim to about 5mm (¼ inch) before each burn. Nail clippers work in a pinch, but wick trimmers make you feel like you’ve got your life together.

Don't Blow It—Literally

Blowing out candles can cause the wick to shift, splatter wax, or release smoke that messes with the scent. It’s dramatic, sure, but not the good kind.

Use a snuffer, you’ll feel super fancy! Plus you’ll avoid smoke and keep that beautiful, clean scent profile.

Let It Cool, Then Cover

When you're done burning, let the wax fully cool and solidify before moving your candle or putting the lid back on. Moving it hot? That’s how you get uneven wax, stuck lids, or worse, splashy wax injuries. (Don’t ask.)

And always keep the lid on between uses. Nobody wants their candle collecting mystery fluff.

Burn in Safe, Draft-Free Zones

Yes, candles are for ambience. But burning near open windows or fans will cause your flame to dance too much, burn unevenly, and eat through wax faster than it should.

Flat, stable surfaces only—preferably somewhere quiet where the scent can do its thing without competition.

Bonus Tips (Because We’re Candle Nerds)

• Stop burning once there’s 1cm of wax left at the bottom. That’s the safety buffer to prevent overheating the glass. Let it go, friend.

• Reuse your jars! Our candle vessels clean up beautifully with hot water and a little soap. Turn them into planters, pen holders, or spell jars. (We won’t tell.)

• Rotate your candles. If you burn the same one for hours a day, it can go ‘nose blind’ fast. Swapping scents keeps them fresh and enjoyable
  

A Candle That Lasts Is a Candle You’ll Love Longer

Taking a few extra seconds before and after each burn doesn’t just extend your candle’s life; it makes every lighting feel like a ritual. A pause. A moment.

Which, honestly, is kind of the point.

And if you ever need more candles to love for longer? You know where to find us.