When I founded Aromachology Studios, I wasn't simply trying to make another scented candle. I wanted to create something that could genuinely enhance everyday life.
After experiencing adverse reactions to conventional home fragrance products, I began looking much more closely at the ingredients we bring into our homes and the effect they can have on both our physical and emotional wellbeing. That journey eventually led me to aromachology: the science of how fragrance influences the way we think, feel and experience the spaces around us.
Every candle I make begins with the same intention. Before I think about wax, wicks or fragrance composition, I'm thinking about the person who will eventually light it. I think about the atmosphere it will create, the ritual it may become part of and how fragrance can help transform an ordinary moment into one of calm, comfort or quiet reflection.
Once a candle leaves my studio, however, its story is only just beginning.
Even the most carefully formulated candle will only perform at its best when it's paired with a few simple care habits. Understanding how to trim the wick, how long to burn your candle, when to extinguish it and how to care for it between burns will all influence its fragrance, performance and longevity.
In this guide, I'll share the same candle care principles I follow myself, explaining not only what to do, but why each step matters. My hope is that, by understanding how a candle works, you'll enjoy a cleaner, more consistent burn and get the very best from every candle you light.
Why Candle Care Matters
Creating a candle doesn't end when the wax has been poured.
Every formulation I develop has already been through hours of testing before it ever becomes part of the Aromachology Studios collection. I'm observing the flame, the melt pool, the way the fragrance develops throughout the burn and how every component interacts with the others. Small adjustments to the wick, the fragrance or even the wax itself can completely change the finished result.
That process exists for one reason: so that when you light your candle, everything simply works.
Once a candle arrives in your home, however, its performance is no longer determined by formulation alone. The way it is burned, extinguished and cared for between burns also plays an important part in how it performs throughout its life.
The good news is that candle care isn't complicated.
A handful of simple habits can make a remarkable difference to how evenly a candle burns, how effectively it releases its fragrance and how long you are able to enjoy it. They can also help prevent many of the common problems people experience, including tunnelling, excessive soot and unstable flames.
It all begins with the first burn.
The First Burn Is the Most Important
If I could give only one piece of candle care advice, this would be it.
The first burn shapes every burn that follows.
Candle makers often talk about wax having a memory. During its first burn, the wax establishes the shape of the melt pool. If it melts almost to the edges of the vessel before the candle is extinguished, future burns will usually continue following that same pattern.
If the candle is extinguished too soon, however, it may continue burning only within that smaller circle, increasing the likelihood of tunnelling as the candle burns lower into the vessel.
That is why I always recommend allowing the first burn to continue until the wax has almost melted to the edges of the container. Depending on the size of the candle, this may take several hours, but it is one of the simplest ways to encourage a cleaner, more even burn throughout the life of the candle.
How Long Should You Burn a Candle?
One of the questions I'm asked most often is how long a candle should remain lit.
There isn't a single answer because every candle is different. The size of the vessel, the wax blend, the wick and the fragrance all influence how long it takes to develop a full melt pool.
What matters most is allowing the candle to burn for long enough that the surface of the wax melts close to the edges of the container, particularly during the first burn. As we've already explored, this establishes the candle's memory and encourages future burns to follow the same pattern.
With natural waxes, it's perfectly normal for a very thin rim of wax to remain around the edge during the first few burns. This is known as candle overhang and will usually melt away naturally as the flame gradually burns lower into the vessel.
After the first burn, the candle continues to benefit from being allowed enough time to develop a generous melt pool. As a general guide, I recommend burns of around two hours. One of the reasons tunnelling is so common is simply that many people underestimate how much influence those early burns have. Extinguishing the candle too soon, particularly when it is still relatively new, encourages the flame to continue burning within that smaller pool of melted wax.
Knowing when to extinguish your candle is just as important.
Leaving a candle burning continuously for many hours allows heat to build throughout the wax and the vessel. As the wax becomes progressively hotter, the wick may draw up more fuel than it was designed to, causing the flame to grow larger and burn less efficiently. Over time, excessive burn times can also alter the way fragrance is released and shorten the overall life of the candle.
For that reason, I generally recommend avoiding burns of longer than around four hours at a time. Once extinguished, allow the candle to cool completely before lighting it again. Cooling allows the wax to solidify, the wick to reset and the next burn to begin under the conditions the candle was carefully formulated and tested for.
Finally, never leave a burning candle unattended. Always burn your candle on a stable, heat resistant surface, keep it away from children, pets and flammable materials, and extinguish it before leaving the room.
Why Is My Candle Tunnelling?
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a candle is tunnelling.
Instead of melting evenly across the surface, the flame gradually burns down through the centre of the candle, leaving a thick ring of unused wax around the inside of the vessel. Not only does this reduce the amount of fragrance being released, but it can also leave a surprising amount of perfectly good wax behind once the wick has reached the bottom.
As we've already explored, the first burn plays an important part. Wax develops what candle makers often refer to as a memory, so extinguishing the candle before the melt pool reaches the edge of the container can encourage future burns to follow that same smaller pattern.
The first burn, however, is only one part of the story.
A candle may also tunnel if the wick is too small for the diameter of the vessel, if the fragrance blend is particularly rich and requires more heat, if the fragrance load is higher than the wax can comfortably support or if the wax, wick and fragrance have simply not been properly matched during formulation.
This is precisely why burn testing is so important. Every change to the wax, fragrance, wick or vessel influences how a candle behaves, which is why every Aromachology Studios candle is extensively tested before it becomes part of the collection.
If you'd like to understand these causes in greater depth, together with practical advice on prevention and whether a tunnelled candle can be rescued, you may enjoy reading my detailed guide, Why Is My Candle Tunnelling? Causes, Prevention and How to Fix It.
What Is Candle Overhang?
A small ring of wax around the inside edge of a candle doesn't always mean it has started tunnelling.
In many cases, what you're seeing is something candle makers refer to as candle overhang.
With natural waxes such as rapeseed and coconut, it's perfectly normal for a thin lip of unmelted wax to remain around the upper edge of the container during the early stages of a candle's life. As the flame gradually burns lower into the vessel, more heat is reflected back from the surrounding glass, allowing this wax to melt away naturally over subsequent burns.
This is one of the characteristics of many natural waxes and isn't considered a fault. It doesn't reduce fragrance performance, nor does it indicate that the candle isn't burning correctly.
True tunnelling is different. Rather than gradually correcting itself, the flame continues burning down through the centre of the candle, leaving a progressively deeper well surrounded by a thick wall of unused wax.
Understanding the difference can prevent a great deal of unnecessary concern. A small amount of overhang is entirely normal. A tunnel that becomes deeper with every burn is not.
Why You Should Always Trim the Wick
If there is one candle care habit almost as important as the first burn, it's trimming the wick.
As a candle burns, a small amount of carbon naturally forms on the tip of the wick. If that carbon isn't removed before the next burn, the flame can become larger than intended, causing the candle to burn hotter, produce more soot and consume both wax and fragrance more quickly.
Keeping the wick trimmed to around 5 mm helps the candle burn in the way it was designed to. The flame remains more stable, the melt pool develops more evenly and the fragrance is released more consistently throughout the burn.
Because I use cotton and linen wicks throughout the Aromachology Studios collection, trimming them is refreshingly simple. Once the candle has cooled completely, you can often remove the carbon with your fingertips, although a wick trimmer would be a cleaner option.
One small tip I often share is to tilt the candle slightly before trimming the wick. This helps prevent loose carbon from falling into the wax, keeping the melt pool cleaner for your next burn.
It takes only a few seconds, but it's one of the simplest ways to help your candle perform consistently throughout its life.
If you're looking for a dedicated wick trimmer or candle snuffer, you can also explore the Aromachology Studios Candle Care Accessories collection.
What Is Mushrooming?
If you've ever noticed a small black ball forming on the end of a candle wick, you've seen what candle makers call mushrooming.
It happens when carbon gradually builds up on the tip of the wick during burning. Left in place, that carbon can cause the flame to grow larger than intended, producing more soot and reducing the overall efficiency of the burn.
Fortunately, mushrooming is usually very easy to manage.
Allow the candle to cool completely, trim the wick back to around 5 mm and remove the carbon before lighting it again. Doing so helps restore a steadier flame and reduces the likelihood of excessive mushrooming developing over time.
Like many aspects of candle care, mushrooming is less about correcting a problem and more about maintaining the conditions that allow the candle to perform consistently.
Why Does My Wick Look Crooked?
It can be surprising to see a wick begin to curl after a candle has been lit, but in most cases it's a sign that the wick is behaving exactly as it should.
Cotton wicks naturally curl as they burn. This movement helps position the carbon at the tip of the wick within the hottest part of the flame, where it gradually burns away. Candle makers often refer to this as self trimming, and it's one of the reasons cotton wicks perform so well.
If a candle is left burning for significantly longer than the recommended time, however, the wick can eventually fold back on itself and become trapped in the melted wax. When that happens, the flame may become smaller or extinguish itself altogether.
Keeping to the recommended burn times and trimming the wick before each burn greatly reduces the likelihood of this happening.
It also explains why I spend so much time watching the wick during burn testing. A well performing wick isn't judged simply by whether it stays alight. I'm looking at how the flame develops, how the wick curls, how consistently it burns and whether every part of the formulation is working together in harmony.
Why You Should Never Blow Out a Candle
Most of us grow up blowing out birthday candles, so it feels like the natural way to extinguish any flame.
Container candles are different.
Blowing directly onto the flame can scatter tiny particles of soot across the surface of the melted wax. Once the wax cools, those particles become trapped within the candle, affecting both its appearance and the cleanliness of the melt pool during future burns.
A snuffer extinguishes the flame gently by removing its oxygen supply, allowing it to go out with minimal disturbance to the wick and the melt pool. The result is a cleaner wax surface, less smoke and a candle that's ready for its next burn.
It may seem like a small detail, but candle care is often a collection of small habits rather than one dramatic change. Together with trimming the wick before each burn, using a snuffer helps preserve both the appearance and the performance of the candle throughout its life.
If you're looking for a candle snuffer, wick trimmer or other accessories, you can explore the Aromachology Studios Candle Care Accessories collection.
How Should You Store Your Candles?
The way a candle is stored before and between burns can have more influence on its fragrance and appearance than many people realise.
Hot weather is generally far more damaging to a candle than cold weather.
Natural waxes become firmer in cooler temperatures and may occasionally develop small surface cracks, particularly around the edge of the vessel. This is perfectly normal and has no effect on either the fragrance or the way the candle performs once it is lit.
Excessive heat is a different matter.
Prolonged exposure to warm temperatures or direct sunlight can cause natural wax to sweat as fragrance oils gradually migrate to the surface. Over time, this can reduce the candle's cold throw — the fragrance you notice before it is lit — and, in more extreme cases, may also affect its hot throw once burning.
To help preserve both fragrance and performance, I recommend storing candles in their original box or with the lid securely in place, away from dust, direct sunlight and strong sources of heat. Ideally, they should be kept in a cool, dark place at around 15 to 25°C.
Like many aspects of candle care, proper storage is simply another way of protecting the fragrance and ensuring your candle performs exactly as it was intended to.
Why Does My Candle Flame Flicker?
A candle flame should never be completely still.
It is a living flame, constantly responding to the environment around it, so a gentle movement is perfectly normal. What matters is not whether the flame flickers, but how it behaves overall.
During burn testing, one of the first things I observe is the flame itself. A healthy flame is typically around 2 to 3 centimetres high. It should burn steadily, without excessive flickering, smoking or becoming noticeably larger as the candle continues to burn.
If the flame is significantly larger than expected, it's often a sign that something isn't quite right. The wick may not have been trimmed before lighting, allowing carbon to build up on the tip, or one of the elements within the formulation may not be working together as intended. A larger flame is also more likely to produce black smoke and consume both wax and fragrance more quickly.
A flame that is unusually small can also tell its own story. Dense essential oils, such as myrrh and patchouli, sometimes require additional heat to burn efficiently. If the formulation or wick isn't correctly balanced, the flame may struggle to generate enough heat, eventually allowing the melted wax to overwhelm the wick.
This is exactly what burn testing is designed to identify. During testing, I watch how the flame develops, how the wick curls, whether any black smoke appears above the flame and how the candle behaves over several hours. These observations tell me whether the wax, wick and fragrance are working together in harmony or whether the formulation still needs refining.
For the person lighting the candle at home, the goal is much simpler: a steady, consistent flame that allows the fragrance to unfold naturally throughout the burn.
Why Is My Candle Smoking?
A small wisp of smoke immediately after extinguishing a candle is completely normal.
Whilst the candle is burning, however, excessive smoke usually indicates that something needs attention.
In many cases, the cause is surprisingly simple.
An untrimmed wick often produces a larger flame, increasing the amount of soot and smoke during burning. Burning the candle for significantly longer than the recommended time can have a similar effect, as the hotter wax supplies more fuel to the flame than the wick was designed to manage.
Dust, ash or other debris within the melt pool can also interfere with combustion. This is one of the reasons I recommend using a candle snuffer rather than blowing directly onto the flame, as it helps prevent soot from being scattered across the surface of the wax.
Occasionally, the cause lies within the formulation itself. A wick that is too large, or a fragrance load that is higher than the wax can comfortably support, may also contribute to excessive smoking. These are precisely the kinds of issues that careful formulation and extensive burn testing are designed to eliminate before a candle ever reaches someone's home.
Throughout the Aromachology Studios collection, I use cotton and linen wicks because they provide a clean, consistent burn whilst also reducing afterglow — the gentle smouldering that can continue for a few moments after the candle has been extinguished.
How Do You Keep the Wax Pool Clean?
A clean melt pool allows the fragrance to develop as intended and gives the candle the best opportunity to continue burning consistently throughout its life.
Fortunately, keeping it clean requires very little effort.
Trim the wick before every burn and remove any loose carbon before lighting the candle. When extinguishing the flame, use a candle snuffer rather than blowing directly onto it, helping to prevent soot from settling on the surface of the wax.
It's also worth checking that nothing has fallen into the melt pool during burning. Dust, fragments of wick or burnt matches should always be removed once the candle has cooled completely.
Small habits like these help preserve the quality of each burn whilst allowing the candle to perform as it was designed to.
Why Does Natural Wax Sometimes Look Different?
Natural waxes respond to the environment around them.
Small changes in temperature, humidity and cooling conditions can all influence the way a candle looks once it has set. As a result, you may occasionally notice subtle variations in colour, texture or surface appearance from one candle to another.
This is entirely normal.
Unlike highly processed waxes that are manufactured to achieve a highly uniform finish, naturally derived waxes retain some of the characteristics of the raw materials from which they are made. These subtle variations are simply part of working with plant based ingredients.
Importantly, they do not affect the way the candle burns, the fragrance it releases or its overall performance.
At Aromachology Studios, every formulation is extensively burn tested to ensure it performs consistently, regardless of these natural variations. Performance will always matter more to me than creating a perfectly identical appearance from one candle to the next.
If you'd like to understand more about how different waxes behave and why I chose a blend of rapeseed and coconut wax, you may enjoy reading What Is the Best Candle Wax? Comparing Soy, Paraffin, Beeswax, Coconut and Rapeseed Wax, or Why We Chose Rapeseed & Coconut Wax Over Soy or Paraffin.
Why Doesn't My Candle Smell Strong?
Fragrance is often the first thing people notice about a candle, so it can be disappointing when the scent seems weaker than expected.
The reality, however, is that fragrance throw is influenced by far more than simply how much fragrance has been added to the wax.
Sometimes the explanation has nothing to do with the candle itself. Strong cooking aromas, open windows, large rooms with high ceilings or even becoming accustomed to a familiar scent can all influence how strongly a candle appears to smell. This is known as olfactory adaptation, or becoming "nose blind", where the brain gradually stops registering a fragrance that is still present.
Our sense of smell is closely connected to emotion and memory, which is why fragrance can influence us in ways we don't always consciously recognise. If you'd like to explore the science behind this fascinating connection, you may enjoy reading How Does Fragrance Affect Mood? The Science Behind Scent and Emotion.
Technical factors also play an important role. The wick must generate enough heat to produce a generous melt pool, the wax must be capable of holding and releasing the fragrance effectively, the fragrance load must be correctly balanced and the candle must be allowed sufficient time to cure before it is burned. Even the length of each burn can influence how much fragrance is released into the room.
Why Does the Glass Get Hot?
As a candle burns, the flame generates heat that gradually transfers through the melt pool into the glass vessel. As the level of wax becomes lower, the flame naturally sits closer to the base of the container, so it is perfectly normal for the glass to feel warmer towards the end of the candle's life than it did when the candle was new.
A warm container is simply part of how a well-performing candle works.
That said, candles should always be burned on a stable, heat-resistant surface and allowed to cool completely before being moved. Following the recommended burn times also helps prevent unnecessary heat build-up within the vessel, allowing the candle to perform consistently throughout its life.
Understanding what is normal helps distinguish it from what is not. A warm glass container is an expected part of burning a candle safely. Treating it with sensible care simply allows you to enjoy your candle with confidence.
Five Simple Habits That Will Transform the Way Your Candle Performs
By now, you've probably realised that looking after a candle isn't about following a long list of complicated rules.
In reality, a handful of simple habits will have the greatest influence on how your candle performs.
- Allow the first burn to develop a full melt pool almost to the edge of the vessel.
- Trim the wick to around 5 mm before every burn.
- Burn your candle for around two to four hours at a time, allowing it to cool completely before relighting.
- Extinguish the flame with a candle snuffer rather than blowing it out.
- Store your candle in a cool, dark place away from heat, sunlight and dust.
Taken together, these small habits help preserve the fragrance, encourage a cleaner burn and allow your candle to perform consistently throughout its life.
A Candle Should Simply Feel Effortless
Perhaps the greatest lesson candle making has taught me is that the smallest details often have the greatest influence.
When you light a candle, you shouldn't need to think about wax chemistry, wick selection or fragrance loads. You shouldn't have to wonder why the flame behaves as it does or whether the formulation has been carefully tested.
That work has already happened.
Long before a candle becomes part of the Aromachology Studios collection, countless hours have been spent refining the formulation, adjusting the wick, evaluating the fragrance and observing every stage of the burn. My role is to think about those details, so that when the candle finally reaches your home, you don't have to.
You simply light it, enjoy the fragrance and allow it to become part of your everyday rituals.
If you're looking for candles that have been carefully formulated, extensively burn tested and hand poured using a blend of rapeseed and coconut wax, I invite you to explore the Aromachology Studios Candle Collection.
And if you'd like to discover the philosophy that underpins everything I create, you may also enjoy reading What Is Aromachology? The Science of Scent and Emotional Wellbeing, where I explore the fascinating relationship between fragrance, emotion and everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I burn a candle for?
The first burn is the most important and should continue until the melt pool has reached almost to the edges of the vessel. After that, aim for burns of around two to four hours before allowing the candle to cool completely.
Why is my candle tunnelling?
Tunnelling occurs when the wax melts only around the wick instead of forming a full melt pool. It is commonly caused by extinguishing the candle too early during its first burn, although wick size, fragrance composition, wax selection and overall formulation can all influence how a candle burns.
Can a tunnelled candle be fixed?
Sometimes, depending on what caused the tunnelling. If the problem is identified early, gently warming the surface of the wax with a hairdryer or heat gun may help level the wax. However, if the underlying cause is an unsuitable wick, excessive fragrance load or an unbalanced formulation, the candle is likely to continue tunnelling.
What is candle overhang?
Candle overhang is the thin ring of unmelted wax that can remain around the upper edge of a natural wax candle during its early burns. Unlike tunnelling, it is completely normal and usually melts away naturally as the flame gradually burns lower into the vessel.
Why do some candles have two wicks?
Some richer fragrance compositions require additional heat to develop a full melt pool. A second wick helps distribute that heat more evenly, improving both fragrance release and overall burn performance.
Why does my wick curl over?
Cotton wicks naturally curl as they burn. This allows the carbon at the tip of the wick to move into the hottest part of the flame where it burns away naturally. It is a normal characteristic of a well-performing cotton wick.
Does the type of wax affect how a candle burns?
Yes. Different waxes behave differently and require carefully matched wicks and fragrance loads. The relationship between the wax, wick, fragrance and vessel determines how efficiently a candle burns and releases its fragrance.
Why does Aromachology Studios use rapeseed and coconut wax?
I chose a blend of rapeseed and coconut wax because it offers an excellent balance of clean burning, fragrance performance and sustainability. It also performs exceptionally well alongside the carefully selected cotton and linen wicks used throughout the Aromachology Studios collection.