THE RIGHT WAY TO BURN YOUR CANDLES

The simple act of lighting a candle and watching the flame flicker is a reminder to breathe, pause, and unwind. Hypnotic and uplifting, while any flame is mesmerising, all candles are not made equal. Mainstream candles are often made using paraffin wax, derived from a petroleum by-product. The most well-known alternative is soy wax, derived from soy bean, which is biodegradable and non-toxic. 

One of the first homegrown luxury candle brands in India, Niana uses 100% natural soy wax and cotton wicks for its candles, and sources the finest ingredients globally. Niana’s philosophy focuses on its key ingredient - soy - which is eco-friendly, and burns cleaner, emits less soot, and lasts longer than paraffin. 

Did you know that there is a right way to burn a candle? Here are our tips to get the most out of your candle:

Choosing the right candle – Choose candles that are eco-friendly and use cotton or wooden wicks. Soy or other vegetable wax candles are more eco-friendly and burn cleaner than paraffin candles. Spend a little more on quality candles, cheap candles usually use the cheapest wax and their wicks often contain led. Quality candles for your home are essential as you, your kids and pets are breathing anything that is burnt in your house. If you’re choosing candles for your home, clear, black or white glass are options that fit with any décor and can instantly elevate your space.

Choose a candle based on your mood – . Do you want to create a peaceful atmosphere? Try relaxing scents like Lavender. Do you want to feel refreshed? Try citrus scents like Mandarin Lime or Lemon Verbena.

Burning your candle for the first time – The first burn of your candle is the most important. Allow all the wax on the surface to melt and become a liquid pool. The liquid pool should reach the edges of the container. As a general rule, candles should burn one hour for every 1 inch in diameter of the candle, so for example if your diameter is 3 inches, the first burn of your candle should be approximately 3 hours. When you don’t allow the top layer to melt fully, your candle will begin to tunnel. Tunneling occurs when the wick starts to sink lower and wax rises, forming a tunnel through the center of the candle. Being patient and allowing the wax to melt all the way across the top will help your container stay clean and the candle will burn all the way down. Letting the whole top layer melt each time also helps you get the best scent throw out of your candle.

Relighting your candle – Trim the wick to ¼ inch before relighting to minimise mushrooming and soot. Trimming your candle’s wick will give you a brighter and cleaner burn. Long wicks can lead to smoke stains on your glass jar. Trimming the wick keeps the flame in control and helps to prevent the formation of soot. You can use scissors or a special wick trimmer or even your hands, but make sure you always trim the wick before you burn the candle.

Safety and care – It’s important to remember safety when you’re burning candles.

• Always burn your candle within sight. Never leave your lit candle unattended.
• Always burn your candle on a heat resistant surface, away from curtains and fabric.
• Never burn your candle on or anything that can catch fire.
• Make sure your lit candle is out of reach for children and pets.
• Keep all objects including matches and wick trimmings out of the candle.
• Keep candle out of drafts and air vents in order to maximise the scent.
• Store the candles in a cool, dry and dark place as the wax and fragrance oil can be sensitive to temperature and light.
• Get rid of your candle when there’s ½ inch of wax left. You can clean out the wax and repurpose the jar by using it to store your make up brushes, cotton, flowers or just about anything!

Burning your candles the right way will help you get the most out of your candle, and help you save money to buy some more!