Candles have been around for over 5,000 years, yet their popularity continues to grow. Whether for relaxation, ambiance, or marking special occasions, candles play a beautiful role in our lives. However, it’s essential to use them safely. 
In this blog, we’ll share 5 candle safety tips to ensure you enjoy your candles responsibly. 

Trim the Wick Before Each & Every Burn

If you’re an avid user of candles then you may already know or have heard this one many times - nevertheless it is important. On your first burn and every burn that follows you should always trim your wick. 

We always recommend using wick trimmers to cut your wick to ¼ inch but if you don't have these to hand then a pair of scissors will do fine. Make sure you cut vertically and parallel to the wax.

Keeping your wicks trimmed ensures an even burn, prolongs the life of your candle, and prevents excessive smoke from entering the room. 

Where Not To Place Your Candles

Candles add warmth and ambiance to any room, but placement is also key to safety. Here are some essential guidelines for candle safety:

• Keep candles out of reach: Ensure candles are always out of reach or children and pets. Never place candles in children’s bedrooms or play areas. 

• Avoid flammable surroundings: Ensure candles are positioned away from curtains, upholstered furniture, or other materials that could catch fire. 

• Choose stable surfaces: Use a sturdy, heat-resistant surface to place your candle and avoid areas with drafts. 

• Extinguish responsibly: Always fully extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.

Store Scented Candles With Lid On!

Scented candles are crafted with fragrance oils that unfortunately when exposed to air, can dissipate over time. If your candle comes with a lid, make sure you pop it back on after every use. 
Using the lid creates a seal that will help to lock in your favourite fragrance for longer and ensures that any external odours aren’t absorbed. Keeping the lid on your candle will help to preserve the fragrance and keep it potent as well as, preventing any pesky dust from settling on the surface of the wax. 

Allow Candles to Cool Before Relighting

Once you have used a snuffer or spoon to extinguish your candle - this is much safer than blowing! When blowing out a candle there is a risk of splashing hot wax and sparking of the wick - make sure you let the candle cool fully before lighting it again. 
Blowing on a candle’s wick can increase soot production and disturb the flame’s stability. 
You will know your candle has cooled when the surface wax is fully hardened again, however we also recommend waiting at least 1-2 hours after extinguishing the flame to allow the candle container to return to room temperature.
Bonus Tip: Once the candle has cooled you can use this time to inspect your wick to make sure there is no mushrooming (a small ball forming at the tip of the wick, usually shaped like a mushroom), and trim the wick to ensure a clean and controlled flame when you next relight.

 

Ensure Full Melt Pool on First Burn & Don’t Burn for Too Long

Picture the scene: it’s a grey, rainy, winter day, and you’ve just received your new Lantana Candle Co. scented candle today. It’s time to snuggle up on the couch with your favourite book, your fluffy blanket, and the latest cheesy Christmas film on Netflix. You’ve trimmed your wick and you’re about to light your candle for the night - but how long should you burn the candle for? Can you just burn a candle for any length of time, does it really matter?
YES, yes it does. On the first burn, let your candle achieve a full melt pool to prevent tunnelling and to ensure an even burn. This will prolong the life of your candle, ensuring an even burn for the remainder of the candle and preventing any ‘tunnelling’ from occurring. When the candle has reached a full melt pool, the wax will be touching the edges of the container. 
It’s always tempting to keep a candle burning all night long and with these long, dark nights in the U.K, it’s far too easy for the night to pass us by and suddenly our candles have been burning for hours and hours on end!
It is recommended that you do not burn any candles for more than 4 hours at a time as this will prevent the wick from mushrooming and leading to any soot or uneven burning 
We hope these tips help you enjoy your candles safely and beautifully. Discover our hand-poured Lantana Candle Co. candles, designed for safe and lasting enjoyment. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive discounts, candle care tips, and early access to new collections. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more inspiration!

Quick Candle Safety Checklist

For a quick recap, here’s a handy checklist to help you enjoy your Lantana Candle Co. candles safely:

• Trim the Wick: Always trim the wick to ¼ inch before every burn for a controlled flame and even burn.

• Think Placement: Keep candles away from your children, pets, drafts, and any flammable materials. 

• Store Properly: Use the lid provided to preserve the fragrance and keep dust away from the wax when your candle isn’t in use. 

• Cool Before Relighting: Allow the candle to fully cool and the wax to harden before lighting it again. 

• Full Melt Pool: On the first burn, let the wax melt to the edges of the container to prevent tunnelling. 

• Limit Burn Time: Don’t burn candles for more than 4 hours at a time, to avoid wick mushrooming and excessive soot.