Candles are a first step for great residential or hospitality lighting design. Natural flame candles and LED candles are both good options.
There are many beautiful decorative lighting fixtures on the market, but candles are the best form of illumination for bringing warmth and intimacy to a space.
While natural flame candle burn times will vary, different techniques can improve a candle’s life so you can appreciate these decorative accents more.
Factors that make affect burn time include the candle itself:
1. The type of wax used to make the candle and if any scents or additives have been added. Soy wax and beeswax are the two longest lasting waxes. While beeswax lasts longer, soy wax is cheaper and easier to work with because it has a lower melting point.
2. How frequently the candle is burned and the duration of each burning
3. The shape and size of the candle
4. The environment around the candle.
To make the most of your candles, here are 6 tips to make them burn longer:
1. Place candles in the freezer. Thinner candles will need at least 1 to 2 hours while thicker pillared candles need 6 to 8 hours of freezing. This process will make the wax harden, allowing the candle to melt more slowly. Some say candles will last up to twice as long.
2. Before lighting the candle, make sure the wick is 1/4 of an inch long. The candle will burn more evenly and last longer.
3. For the first burn, let the pool of wax extend across the diameter of the candle before extinguishing it. This will prevent “tunneling” to occur. Tunneling is when the wick in the wax gets deeper and deeper until the wick drowns.
4. Add a pinch of salt. Once the candle forms a pool of wax, blow out the flame and sprinkle salt into the liquid wax. Mix the salt in well so it doesn’t just sit on top of the wax.
5. Keep candles away from windows and doorways to avoid uneven burning. Drafty spots may make candles drip or burn on one side only
6. Place a drop of water on the top of the candle next to the wick.