How to Make Your Candle Last Longer: 7 Expert Tips for 2027

A good candle is an investment. And like any investment, you want to get the most out of it. After 30 years of working with candles and home fragrance, I've learned a few things that make a real difference to how long your candle lasts — and how good it smells while it burns.

1. Trim Your Wick Before Every Burn

This is the single most important thing you can do. Before you light your candle, trim the wick to 6mm (about a quarter of an inch). A shorter wick burns cooler, which means the wax melts more slowly and your candle lasts longer. It also reduces soot and mushrooming — that black, carbon build-up you sometimes see on the wick tip.

2. Let the Wax Pool Reach the Edges on the First Burn

Candle wax has a memory. If you blow out your candle before the melted wax pool has reached the edges of the vessel, it will only ever melt to that point in future burns. This causes tunnelling — where the candle burns down the middle and leaves a ring of solid wax around the outside. On your first burn, let the candle burn for at least 2–3 hours to allow a full melt pool to form.

3. Don't Burn for More Than 4 Hours at a Time

Burning a candle for too long causes the wick to "mushroom" and the wax to overheat. This can affect the fragrance throw and shorten the life of your candle. Four hours is the maximum — after that, extinguish the flame, let the wax cool completely, and trim the wick before relighting.

4. Keep Your Candle Away from Draughts

A draught causes your candle to burn unevenly and faster than it should. Keep candles away from open windows, fans, and air conditioning units. A steady, draught-free environment is ideal.

5. Store Your Candles Correctly

Soy wax is sensitive to temperature and light. Store your candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. UV light can fade the colour of the wax and degrade the fragrance over time.

6. Use a Candle Snuffer

Blowing out a candle can cause the wick to move and the wax to splatter. A candle snuffer extinguishes the flame cleanly and keeps the wick centred, which helps it burn evenly next time.

7. Repurpose the Glass Vessel

Once your candle has burned down to the last 10mm of wax, it's time to retire it. But don't throw away the glass! Our eco-friendly vessels are made from recycled glass and are perfect for storing small items, holding pens, or even as a small vase. Simply pour boiling water into the vessel to melt the remaining wax, wipe clean, and it's ready to reuse.

Follow these tips and you'll get every last hour out of your De Lacy at Home candle. Happy burning!

— Kerris Lacy, Founder & Candle Maker