While you may not think much about the safety of your scented candles, it is important to consider that these items can be fire hazards. Here are some tips to keep in mind so that your home not only smells nice but is safe as well.

Cut the Wick Before Usage

If a wick is too long on your candle, it can become crooked and cause uneven burning and dripping from the candle wax. This uneven wear not only makes your candle look bad with debris, it can cause the flames to flicker too high, which can lead to soot and accidental fires.

In fact, a very common problem people face with untrimmed candle wicks is carbon buildup—where the fire consumes more wax than it can burn. This carbon buildup can cause “mushrooming,” where the wick forms a frayed ball shape on the tip. This mushrooming can cause black, sooty smoke which can eliminate good scents and be dangerous to inhale. To take care of uneven burning and mushrooming, clip your wick down before lighting the candle. You only need a wick that’s about a quarter of an inch.
The good news is that many scented candles use cored wicks, verses square wicks or flat wicks. While each wick has its pros and cons, cored wicks are great because they stay very upright during burning, since they have zinc or tin cores. The sturdiness of cored wicks is better for symmetrical burning and less mushrooming.

Be Mindful of Where You Place the Candle

The candle should be well away from flammable objects, such as drapes, books, furniture, other scented candles, etc. It should also be well away from drafty windows or HVAC vents. If you have a room that is too hot or too cold, that can also be dangerous, as the temperature can cause uneven burning.

Keep an Eye on the Candle

Some people light a candle in one room and then leave it to go to another room. Keep your candle in whatever room you are working in or lounging in. If a scented candle is unattended, then the flame could easily catch on something without you noticing. By the time you do notice, the fire may be out of hand.

Plus, if you don’t keep an eye on the candle, then young children and pets could easily knock it over without you knowing. Keep your candle on a high, stable countertop away from pets and children.