Candle care
done right
A well-made candle deserves a little attention. Follow these steps and your Holistic London candle will burn cleaner, last longer and fill the room more beautifully.
Candles need some love
Scented candles made with plant-based wax and essential oils will deliver their full aromatherapy benefits when burned correctly. The good news: proper candle care takes seconds and makes a real difference to how long your candle lasts and how well it performs.
Six steps for a perfect burn
The first burn is the most important
Allow the entire top layer of wax to fully liquefy before extinguishing. If you put it out too soon, it creates a memory ring, a permanent tunnel that follows the candle for the rest of its life. A good rule: allow one hour of burn time per inch of candle diameter. On a 300ml Holistic London candle this means two to three hours. Don't rush it.
Trim the wick before every burn
A long wick produces a larger flame, more soot and faster wax consumption. Trim to 5mm (about ¼ inch) before each use. Let the candle cool completely first, then use a wick trimmer or scissors. This single habit makes the biggest difference to burn quality and burn time.
Burn for no more than three hours at a time
After three hours, extinguish the flame and allow the candle to cool for at least two hours before relighting. Burning for too long causes the wick to move or lean, the wax pool to overheat and the fragrance to diminish more quickly.
Know when to stop
Stop burning when approximately 1.5cm of wax remains at the bottom of the jar. As the flame nears the base, the glass can become very hot. Continuing to burn risks heat damage to the surface beneath and to the jar itself. Time to let it go.
Place it somewhere safe
Always place your candle on a heat-resistant surface away from draughts, other heat sources and anything flammable. A draught can cause uneven burning and tunnelling even if you have done everything else right. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Never leave it unattended
This one is non-negotiable. Always extinguish your candle before leaving the room or going to sleep. Use a candle snuffer rather than blowing it out — blowing can send hot wax spattering and pushes smoke down into the wax pool, which affects the next burn.
The first burn sets the memory. Make it a good one.
Burn safely, every time
Always protect the surface beneath your candle. Use a heat-resistant holder or coaster, especially on wood, marble or lacquered surfaces.
Keep at least 10cm between burning candles and any other objects. Never burn near curtains, paper, books or anything that could catch.
Keep burning candles out of reach at all times. Our plant-based wax is non-toxic, but an open flame is always a risk around curious hands and paws.
Burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Our soy wax burns cleanly and produces minimal soot, but fresh air improves the fragrance experience too.
How to store your candle
Plant-based wax and essential oils are sensitive to both temperature and light. If you're not burning your candle regularly, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or strong artificial light.
A dark cupboard or the original box is ideal — it protects the wax from fading or yellowing and keeps the fragrance intact for longer.
Always replace the lid between burns. It keeps dust out, slows fragrance evaporation and helps the scent stay true the next time you light it.
About candle care
Why is my candle tunnelling?
Tunnelling happens when the first burn is too short and the wax forms a memory ring. Always allow the full top layer of wax to liquefy on the first burn. On a 300ml candle this takes two to three hours. Once tunnelling has started it is difficult but not impossible to reverse: wrap the top of the candle in aluminium foil, leaving a small opening in the centre for the flame, and burn for two to three hours. The foil traps and redirects heat back into the wax walls, gradually melting them level. Alternatively, use a hairdryer on a low setting to carefully melt the surface until it is flat, then allow to cool fully before relighting.
How long should I burn a candle for the first time?
Long enough for the entire top surface of wax to melt to the edges of the jar. A reliable rule is one hour per inch of candle diameter. For a Holistic London 300ml candle this means at least two to three hours on the first burn. Never light a new candle if you only have thirty minutes to spare.
How do I stop my candle from producing black smoke?
Black smoke almost always means the wick is too long. Trim to 5mm before every burn. If your candle smokes during burning, extinguish it, let it cool, trim the wick and relight. Our plant-based soy wax burns significantly cleaner than paraffin, so a trimmed wick should give you a virtually smoke-free flame.
How long should a Holistic London candle last?
Our 300ml candles are rated for 55 to 60 hours of burn time. To get the most from yours: trim the wick before every burn, never burn for more than three hours at a time, and stop when 1.5cm of wax remains. Following these steps consistently will get you to the full burn time.
Why does my candle smell stronger sometimes than others?
Fragrance throw is affected by room size, ventilation and how warm the wax pool is. A candle that has been burning for 30 minutes with a full melt pool will throw more scent than one just lit. Storing with the lid on between burns also helps preserve the fragrance oils. If the scent seems weaker over time, check that you are trimming the wick — a large flame burns through fragrance faster.
How do I clean a candle jar to reuse it?
Place the jar in the freezer for one hour once about 1.5cm of wax remains. The wax will contract and lift away cleanly from the glass. Remove the wax and wick tab, then wash with warm soapy water. The jar is then ready to reuse as a vessel, planter or storage pot. Our jars are designed to be kept.
Is soy wax better than paraffin for candles?
Yes, in several meaningful ways. Soy wax is plant-based and renewable, burns at a lower temperature which means a longer burn time, and produces significantly less soot than paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and releases more volatile compounds when burned. All Holistic London candles use 100% sustainably sourced soy wax with no paraffin.
Find your perfect candle
Seven questions. Two minutes. A scent matched to how you want to feel at home.
Take the Scent Identity Quiz
