How to make your scented candles last

Keep the flame - and the scent - alive for longer with these tips.

It seems pretty simple: you buy a candle with a delicious scent. You put it in the perfect spot. You light it when you want some ambience, or when you just want a nice smell wafting through your space. You blow it out when you’re done. Simple, right? Well, sort of. Because even though this is technically how you burn a candle, there’s a lot more to scented candles than simply lighting and leaving. If you really want to get the most of of them (and your money!) there’s a few simple tricks you can use to make them last longer.

Pay attention to the first burn:

The first time you light your candle is one of the most important burns of its shelf life. Make sure it melts to the outer edges of the scented candle - that is all the way across the top layer of the wax - before you extinguish it. This will set the scene for future use, making sure it always has an consistent burn.

Keep it even:

For every burn thereafter, a similar rule of thumb applies. To prevent the layered “tunnelling” that can happen (and ruin the look of your scented candle) try and burn an even layer across each time.

Look after your wick:

Continuing the even-burning theme, you’ll get a slower, smoother burn each time if you trim your wick before your light it. Simply put: the longer your wick is, the quicker it will burn, and the more likely it will be to create black sooty smoke. Keep your wick around the same length as it was when new (around 4-6mm) and re-centre it after every burn (while the wax is still soft) which will prevent it from creating soot on the glass. If you light the wick and it starts to smoke, it needs a trim so wait for it to cool, then trim and try again.

Placement is everything:

Treat your scented candles just like a fragrance, and keep them in a cool, darker area rather that in direct light as heat can damage the delicate scent. Also, when burning keep away from draughty areas as this will cause it to burn more quickly.

Clean it:

If you do happen to get soot on the glass you can clean it with a simple cotton ball and soapy water to make sure your luxury candle is kept in pristine shape. If it came with a lid, replace it after each use and if dust pools you can use a damp cotton pad to wipe it away.

Now that you’re schooled in how to get the most from your scented candle, here’s some inspiration for your next shop!

Urban Apothecary Candle Snuffer and Wick Trimmer Duo, $49

Urban Apothecary Fig Tree Small Boxed Candle, $29

Lollia Poetic License Another Quiet Day Candle, $49.95

Skeem Cedar and Citron Candle Tin, $12.48