How to Make Your Candle Last Longer
July 2026
A well-made candle is only half the story — how you burn it does the rest. Soy wax rewards a bit of care with a cleaner burn, a stronger scent throw, and a lot more hours per jar. Here's how to get the most out of every Bramwell & Rowe candle you own.
1. Let It Cure Before You Light It
Fresh candles benefit from a short rest. Give yours at least 24–48 hours after arrival before the first burn — it lets the fragrance oil settle properly into the wax, so you get a fuller scent throw from the very first light.
2. Trim the Wick Every Time
Before every burn, trim the wick down to about 5mm (roughly a fingernail's length). A long wick burns hotter and faster, causing soot, uneven flames, and a wax pool that disappears far quicker than it should. This one habit alone adds real hours to a candle's life.
3. Get the First Burn Right
The first burn matters more than any other. Let the candle burn until the melted wax pool reaches the edges of the jar — this can take a couple of hours depending on size. Soy wax has "memory," so if you blow it out too early, it'll keep burning to that same shorter diameter every time after, wasting wax down the middle.
4. Keep It Away from Drafts
Draughts from windows, doors, or fans cause the flame to flicker and burn unevenly, which shortens burn time and increases soot. A steady, still flame is a slow, clean one.
5. Don't Burn It for Too Long in One Sitting
We'd recommend no more than 3–4 hours per burn. Beyond that, the wick can start to mushroom and the flame can grow larger than it should — not dangerous, just wasteful, and not the cleanest burn you'll get from the candle.
6. Snuff, Don't Blow
Blowing out a candle can send sparks and smoke across the room, and disturb the wax pool. A wick dipper or snuffer puts the flame out cleanly with minimal smoke and keeps the wax looking tidy for the next burn.
7. Know When to Stop
For safety (and because the scent throw drops off anyway), stop burning once about 1cm of wax remains at the bottom of the jar. At that point, the flame sits too close to the base and the container gets hotter than it should.
8. Store Away from Sunlight and Heat
When you're not burning it, keep your candle somewhere cool and out of direct sun. Heat and light can cause the wax to soften, discolour, or lose fragrance over time.
Treat your candle well, and it'll return the favour with a longer, cleaner, better-smelling burn from start to finish. Explore the full collection at bramwellandrowe.co.uk.