How to Get the Most Scent from a Candle

Candles don't seem complicated. You light the wick. Let it burn for a while. Blow out the flame. Yet many people are burning their candles in ways that limit the burn time and scent, reducing the effect of their purchase. 

Make sure the candle size and type is appropriate for the room.

The candle size should mimic the size of the room. Large candles with two or three wicks produce larger wax pools, which create the scent throw. Medium candles (7-10 oz.) with one wick are appropriate for a medium-sized room, such as a bedroom. Small candles (2-6 oz.) are only capable of scenting a small room, such as a bathroom or entryway. 

Trim the Wick. 

Before you light the wick, trim it to ¼”. This simple step helps the candle to burn cleaner with less soot. It prevents wick crumbling and mushroom tops.

Burn the Candle Longer. 

Let the candle burn at least until the wax pool reaches the edge of the container (or about 1–2 hours after lighting). Blowing out the candle before the wax pool reaches the edges will produce "tunneling," that pesky issue that causes the wax to create a tunnel inside the jar. The tunnel is essentially wasting the wax that remains on the sides of the container.  

But Don't Burn it Too Long. 

Extinguish the candle when the burn pool is less than 1” deep in the container. Burning the candle longer will heat and evaporate the fragrance too quickly and weaken the scent throw over time.