Happy Chinese New Year! Hope you already had a good ‘goat’ year. I sure did and I hope you do too 🙂

How time flies isn’t it? At first I was counting down to Chinese New Year and by a blink of an eye, today is the 4th day of Chinese New Year already. *sob* *sob* And no, I’m not going to talk about anything that relates to Chinese New Year at all because I’m rebel like that keke!

Interestingly, while being at home for the past few days, I discovered something about my candles that I never know about. After doing some reading online, I got to know about candles even more than before. Before this it was just burning and burning and buying and continue burning. So here’s 4 basic candle care that you, the candle lover should know 🙂

Candle Care #1: Trim the wick to 1/8 inch each time before relighting

This is a trick I learnt sometime ago. I notice that when the wick is not trim, the light somehow burns wilder, burns on a faster rate than usual and some even gave slight black smoke. Usually candle store will recommend a wick trimmer and since I can do it the manual way and that I don’t want to spend a fortune on a wick trimmer, a good ol’ scissor works the same. How much is 1/8 of an inch you ask? Beats me! What I do is to tilt the scissors in such way (refer above) with the tip touching the candle and snip. Then I’ll tilt the glass over a dustbin to get rid of the excess wick 😀 . Easy peasy.

Candle Care #2: Keep candle burning not more than four hours at a time

I’ve heard a lot about blowing off the candle when the area smells nice but I never done it myself. I don’t know why. However I always keep my candle burning time at a maximum of four hours only. Last time I never knew about the four hours rule so I always blow it off by the 2nd hour. It is said that the top of the candle will be fully melted within four hours so if you let it burn say two hours, the candle is only partially melted and when the same process is repeated, you may risk having a “memory ring” forming on top of the candle. I’ll explain more on this at tip #4. It is also when the candle became a pool of liquid wax on top of the jar that you get the most scent of all. So keep track of the time and blow it off when you’ve burn for four hours 😀

Candle Care #3: Allow to cool for two hours before relighting

When I first started the whole candling thingamajig, I was paranoid with leaving the candle burning whenever I leave the room more than 10 minutes. So I like to blow it off and relight it again whenever I wanted to. This is actually not good for the candle itself. Candles should be allowed to cool for at least two hours, trim the wick first before relighting otherwise you will risk having a memory ring or tunneling.

Candle Care #4: Preventing memory ring or tunneling

Memory ring aka tunneling is the most frustrating for candle. If left unattended, the candle will continue to burn on the center only, making a tunnel right to the bottom of the jar. I had the same issue with my Copenhagen candle and my M&M candle but because those two candle wax are softer, I just place the jar tilted on one side and the memory ring will be melted off in no time. Things are different with Yankee Candle because the wax are harder and takes a longer time to melt. I found a noticeable memory ring forming two days ago and Yankee Candle actually have this thing called the Illuma-Lid that sits on top of the jar rim that works by bouncing back the heat to the candle with its metal surface. That thing does look expensive so I made my own ‘lid’ with aluminium foil. It’s absolutely hideous I know but it works. It works painstakingly slow. Usually memory ring happens to larger candle jar such as the Yankee Candle ones. I have no problem with the smaller jar from the same brand or any other candle that are with 3-wicks. So if you have large jars of candle at home, take notice on how it burn and take necessary precaution steps if the candle doesn’t burn all the way to the side.

Hope you gain some info or insight from the above basic candle care and mishap prevention tips. Burning fragrance candles are not as simple as lighting the candle and voila but also how to get the most of your money spent (it ain’t cheap yo!). With these simple and easy to remember tips, you will definitely have a lovely, soothing living space for many hours to come 🙂