The easiest way to think about this is to remember that wax has a 'memory' and it's also quite lazy, so however your candle has burned on its first burn is how it will continue to burn for the rest of its lifespan. Get that first burn all the way to the edge of your candle glass and your candle will burn the same way every time, voila!
- Always light your candle for long enough on the first burn to ensure the melted wax has reached the edge of the glass.
- This will prevent ‘tunnelling’ (or wasted wax which doesn’t melt and remains around the edge of the glass).
- You’ll experience best burn results when your candle remains lit for 3-4 hours on its first burn.
- It’s really important to note that with wooden wicks the flame height might vary at times, and occasionally appear to self-extinguish - this is totally normal. Even if you are experiencing a ‘low’ flame, it should continue to heat the wax and if left to burn the flame height should return.
Looking after your wooden crackle wick and giving it a little TLC will pay dividends in keeping your candle burning beautifully.
- Always light your wooden wick from the base, closest to the wax, and ensure the full width of the wick is alight. Lighting your wooden wick from the top could result in the wood burning itself out before reaching the wax.
- Trim your wooden wick before each burn. The best thing about wooden wicks compared to cotton wicks? No need for fancy wick trimmers! The burnt wood that needs removing before each burn will just snap off with your fingertips, revealing a fresher piece of wood below for lighting. We always recommend trimming your wick before each burn, but definitely if your wicks are getting long enough for the top of the wick to 'curl'.
- Always place your candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface, away from draughts which can reduce burn time and cause uneven burning.
- Only ever move your candle once the flame is extinguished and the wax has cooled.
If ever you're having trouble with your wooden wick candle it can be easy to think that removing some of the wax around the wick will help solve the problem, but this can have the opposite effect.
Pouring or removing liquid wax from the vessel usually causes the wick to extinguish or “drown” in the wax and affect the future burn quality of the candle.
Instead, try trimming your wick and ensuring you're burning your candle on a flat surface, leave your candle to burn for as long as you can (even if the flame height is low) and you should find your flame height increasing as the wick is given enough time to melt the surrounding wax.
