Candle Care Tips & Best Practices

A great candle should burn cleanly, smell amazing, and last as long as possible. Below are our best candle care tips to help you get the most from your Clarky Candles jar candles — with a safer, stronger, and more even burn.

1) The first burn matters most

On your first light, let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the jar before blowing it out. This helps prevent tunnelling (when the candle burns a hole down the middle and wastes wax around the sides).

• Aim for a full melt pool edge-to-edge
• As a guide, allow around 2–4 hours on the first burn (depending on room temperature)

2) Trim your wick (every time)

A long wick can cause a larger flame, soot, and a faster burn. Before each burn, trim the wick to around 5mm.

• Use wick trimmers, scissors, or nail clippers
• Remove any loose wick bits from the wax surface

3) Burn time: keep it steady

For best performance, avoid very short burns (which can cause tunnelling) and very long burns (which can overheat the jar).

• Ideal burn sessions: 2–4 hours
• Avoid burning for more than 4 hours at a time

4) Place your candle in the right spot

Where you burn your candle makes a big difference.

• Keep away from draughts (windows, fans, doorways) to prevent uneven burning
• Use a flat, heat-resistant surface
• Keep away from curtains, shelves, and anything flammable

5) Soot happens — here's how to reduce it

A little soot can happen with any candle, but you can minimise it with a few simple habits.

• Keep the wick trimmed
• Avoid draughts
• If the flame is too high or flickering, extinguish, trim the wick, and relight

6) Extinguish properly (no smoky surprises)

To reduce smoke, avoid blowing hard directly into the jar.

• Use a candle snuffer if you have one
• Or gently dip the wick into the melted wax and lift it back up (this also helps with relighting)

7) Keep the wax pool clean

Dust, wick trimmings, and matches can affect how your candle burns.

• Keep the surface free of debris
• If you notice any bits, let the wax cool and remove them carefully

8) When to stop burning

For safety, stop using your candle when there's around 10mm of wax left at the bottom of the jar.

9) Candle safety basics (always)

A few quick reminders — because safety comes first.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended
• Keep out of reach of children and pets
• Don't move the candle while the wax is hot
• Always allow the jar to cool fully before handling

Want more fragrance in your home?

If you love home fragrance, you might also enjoy our wax melts and scented sizzlers (simmering granules) — perfect for switching scents more often.

Shop Clarky Candles

All our products are handmade in Northampton, UK, and packed with care. Browse the full range on our website and find your next favourite fragrance.

Tip: If you're gifting, our luxury gift-wrapped candles make a brilliant present — ready to give and guaranteed to impress.