Candle Care & Safety Guide

A great candle experience starts with proper care. Whether you're new to soy candles or a seasoned enthusiast, following these simple guidelines will help you get the most out of every Three Wicks candle — longer burn times, stronger scent throw, and a safer experience from the first light to the last.

The Golden Rules of Candle Safety

• 🕯️ Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• 🔥 Keep candles away from drafts, heat sources, and anything flammable.
• 👶 Always keep burning candles out of reach of children and pets.
• 🕐 Never burn a candle for more than 4 hours at a time (except our Signature candle — see below).
• 🌡️ Always burn on a heat-resistant surface.
• ✂️ Trim your wick to ¼" before every burn.

The First Burn: Why It Matters Most

The very first time you light your candle is the most important burn of its life. Soy wax has a burn memory — meaning it will follow the same melt pattern every time it's lit. If the wax doesn't melt all the way to the edges on the first burn, it will create a tunnel down the centre of the candle, wasting wax and reducing scent throw for the life of the candle.

To prevent tunnelling, allow the wax to form a full melt pool (edge to edge) on the first burn. Use these minimum burn times as your guide:

• 1.5 oz candle: minimum 1.5 hours
• 6 oz & 14 oz candles: minimum 2.5 hours
• Signature candle: minimum 5.5 hours

Don't rush it — a full melt pool means a fuller, bolder scent and a longer-lasting candle.

Wick Trimming: The Most Important Candle Care Habit

Keeping your wick trimmed to ¼ inch is the single most effective thing you can do to extend the life of your candle and ensure a clean, safe burn. A long wick causes excess soot, a larger-than-normal flame, and uneven burning.

When to trim: Before every burn, and every 4 hours during extended burns.

How to trim properly:

1. Extinguish the flame completely and allow the candle to cool to room temperature.
2. Use a wick trimmer for best results — place the flat base flush with the wax surface, then tilt to a 45-degree angle before trimming. This ensures the correct ¼" length without cutting too short.
3. Remove the wick trimmings from the wax before relighting.
4. No wick trimmer? Scissors work fine — just be precise.

If you notice the wick bending toward the side of the jar, gently recentre it while the wax is still soft.

How Long Should You Burn a Candle?

As a general rule, do not burn any candle for more than 4 hours at a time. After 4 hours, extinguish the flame, allow the candle to cool for at least 2 hours, trim the wick, and then relight.

Exception — Signature Candle: Due to its larger size, the Signature candle should burn for a minimum of 5.5 hours and a maximum of 12 hours per session.

Check the caution label on the bottom of your jar for the recommended maximum burn time specific to that vessel.

The Half-Inch Rule: Know When to Stop

Stop burning your candle when ½ inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar. As the flame nears the base, the glass can become very hot, which may damage your surface or the container itself. Following the half-inch rule protects both your candle vessel and your home.

💡 Tip: Don't throw that jar away — bring it in for a refill through our Eco-Refill Program!

Getting the Best Scent Throw from Your Soy Candle

Want the biggest, boldest fragrance from your candle? Follow these tips:

• Let the wax pool fully on every burn — a complete melt pool releases the most fragrance.
• Burn in an appropriate-sized room — a small candle in a large open space will have less scent impact.
• Keep windows and doors closed while burning for maximum scent concentration.
• Trim the wick — a properly trimmed wick burns cleaner and more efficiently, improving scent throw.
• Not a fan of strong fragrance? Try our Plain Jane — all the ambiance of a beautiful soy candle, with no added scent.

How to Store Your Candles

Natural soy wax and fragrance oils are sensitive to temperature and light. To keep your candles looking and smelling their best:

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or bright artificial light.
• Ideal storage temperature: 50°F – 85°F (10°C – 29°C).
• Avoid leaving candles in your car, especially in summer — heat can cause melting and discolouration.
• Extreme cold can cause cracking and wax separation. If a candle has been stored in the cold, allow it to return to room temperature for at least 2 hours before burning.
• Store with the lid on to protect from dust and to preserve the fragrance.

Quick-Reference Candle Care Checklist

• ✅ Trim wick to ¼" before every burn
• ✅ Allow a full melt pool on the first burn
• ✅ Burn on a heat-resistant surface, away from drafts
• ✅ Never burn more than 4 hours at a time (12 hrs max for Signature)
• ✅ Let candle cool 2 hours before relighting
• ✅ Stop use when ½" of wax remains
• ✅ Store between 50°F–85°F, away from light
• ✅ Never leave a burning candle unattended

Have questions about your candle? Contact us — we're always happy to help.