Hi friend,
You lit a beautiful candle. Two hours later, it's tunnelling. A week later, half the wax is still stuck to the sides. Sound familiar?
Most people don't know how to care for their candles, and it's costing them money — and wax. Here are three simple ways to make yours last longer.
1. Trim the wick before every burn
Why it matters: A long wick creates a bigger flame, which burns wax faster and produces soot.
What to do: Trim your wick to 6mm (¼ inch) before lighting. Use scissors or a wick trimmer. Your candle will burn slower, cleaner, and longer.
2. Let it burn long enough — but not too long
Why it matters: Candles have memory. If you blow one out before the wax melts to the edges, it will tunnel forever.
What to do: Burn your candle for at least 2 hours on the first light, or until the entire top layer has melted into a full liquid pool, wall to wall. After that, never burn for more than 4 hours at a time. Longer leads to carbon build-up on the wick ("mushrooming"), an overheated vessel, and more soot.
3. Keep it away from draughts
Why it matters: Moving air causes uneven burning, tunnelling, and soot.
What to do: Place your candle away from windows, fans, and vents. A calm flame is a long-lasting flame.
The takeaway: Good candles aren't cheap. Treat them well, and they'll last. Care tips apply across Chiije candles — Signature, Petite, or Essence.
With care, The Chiije Team