Let’s be honest: when most of us buy candles, we often chuck the instructions and light the wick right away. However, there’s a lot to be said for these instructions. Candles that aren’t taking care of can burn unevenly, causing a carbon buildup and drowning out good scents. If you want to make your scented candle last longer, consider these tips.

Burn the Candle for About an Hour

Before lighting the candle, make sure the wick is trimmed to about ¼”. A wick that is too long or short can cause uneven wear and debris. When you first light your candle, let it burn for at least one hour before extinguishing it. This extended period of burning will make sure that the wax melts evenly in its container.

Correct Problems with the Wick

While most scented candles have sturdy wicks that are centered, some do not. This is an easy problem to fix. Once you’ve burned the candle for an hour and let it cool a little, use tweezers to pull the wick back to the center. Because the wax will be soft after cooling, it should not be difficult to re-center the wick.

Is the wick still not burning well after re-centering it? Blow out the candle. Consider removing some of the wax that has collected at the base of the wick. You may need to retrim the wick again to get the ¼” length.

Extinguish the Flame Properly

When people are done with their scented candles, they may just blow the flame out. However, this can cause smoke to linger that can be irritating and smell bad. Instead, purchase a wick dipper. These tools let you dip the wick into the melted wax enough to extinguish the fire with little smoke.

Don’t Worry About Cracks, “Sweating,” or Seeping Dye

Your candle will change slightly depending on the room temperature. For instance, colder rooms may cause your candle wax to crack slightly. When candles heat up, you may notice “sweating,” where the scented oils collect on top of the candle wax. These scented oils can also seep and darken the wax candle.

All of these issues should not be cause for concern. What you do need to worry about is uneven wear. Uneven wear is mainly caused by problems with the wick. As your candle cools, the wax will typically return to a uniform appearance and the oils will seep back into the wax. However, if you are unhappy with deepening cracks, take the candle to a warmer room so that the wax can settle.

Clean the Candle After Each Use

Cleaning the candle is definitely a step many people skip. However, it’s a good idea to wipe off any wax residue on the container. Make sure the candle is completely cool before doing this step. Clean candle tins look nicer and will burn more evenly, letting you get the most out of your scented candle.