How to enjoy a candle

The flame of a candle is so delicate and relaxing. It’s easy to forget that a candle can rapidly become a fire hazard if used incorrectly. The National Candle Association mentions three rules that must be followed at all times when you want to enjoy the light of the warmth of a candle:

• It must be watched at all time.
• Remove anything that could catch fire close to the candle.
• Keep it out of reach from children and domestic animals.

The safety measures on the use of a candle established by the National Candle Association are divided into three categories: before lighting, when the candle burns and extinguishing. Indeed, what precedes and follows the combustion of a candle is as important as when it burns.

Before lighting

It is important to think of your desired combustion time. A candle should not burn for more 4 hours and cool down for 2 hours before using it again.

The length of the wick can cause a risk of burns. Using a long reach lighter or a longer match can reduce this hazard. We recommend that it is always trimmed to 3/8 inch before enjoying a candle. Residues made by the wick must also be removed from the melted wax at all time.

Use a recipient adapted to the combustion of candles and put in on a steady and heat resistant surface in a well-ventilated room. However, air flows need to be avoided because they make the shape of the flame unequal, which can affect the candle’s combustion and cause unpredictable damages.

When the candle burns

If you light more than one candle, make sure that they are at a good distance from each other and never touch or move them when they are burning. If they are too close, they can melt incorrectly, or drip on one another.

Burning the whole candle in one use is also not recommended. Extinguish it when there’s 2 inches of wax left. If the flame flickers multiple times or becomes too big, don’t hesitate to extinguish it, let it cool down, trim the wick and verify the air flow of the room.

A candle needs to be watched at all time. Using it as a night light is therefore prohibited.

Extinguishing

Prioritize the use of a snuffer to extinguish your candle. If you don’t have a snuffer, you can also gently blow on the flame with your hand placed behind it. Using water is really dangerous because hot wax could splatter on you. The best way to know if a candle is extinguished is to verify that the ember of the wick is not glowing. Be sure to do it before leaving the room and to move the candle only when it has cooled down.

Now all you have to do is enjoy the warmth of your candle!