How to Care for Your Scented Candle
Tips to Make Your Candles Last Longer
Scented candles – is there a better way to instantly create a cosy atmosphere? They find their way into summer cottages that have stood empty for a little too long, brighten up offices when the sun has set and you'd rather be somewhere else, and accompany wonderful evenings spent with family and friends. Wherever they're lit, the combination of fire and fragrance has an almost irresistible ability to evoke that special feeling the Danes capture so perfectly in the word ‘hygge’.
Summary
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Trim the wick regularly to prevent soot and ensure a more even burn, helping your scented candle last longer.
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Allow the candle to burn until the wax has melted all the way to the edges to prevent a tunnel from forming around the wick.
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Avoid burning your candle for too long at a time, and use a candle snuffer to minimise soot and wax splashes.
Fire has played an intimate role in human life for at least fifty thousand years, and some believe we may have been cooking over open flames for as long as a million years. It's easy to understand, then, how fire gradually came to represent warmth, safety and togetherness, even on an instinctive level. It was around the fire that we gathered, safe from predators. It was where we prepared and shared our meals, told stories and sang songs late into the night.
Scents, on the other hand, have been part of our heritage almost since life first emerged over three and a half billion years ago. It's hardly surprising, then, that scent plays such an important role in our interactions with others and even in choosing a partner, or that it has such a powerful – and often subconscious – influence on our memories, emotions and experiences. And if fire and fragrance are so important, and can be combined so beautifully in elegant, luxurious scented candles, surely we should take good care of them to enjoy them for as long as possible.
That's where we at Gents would like to share some of our knowledge – and introduce a few of our current favourites along the way.
Do's & Don'ts:
A Few Tips to Make the Most of Your Scented Candle
The combination of wax and volatile aromatic oils means that scented candles require a little more care than ordinary candles. The fact that they often come in beautiful glass or ceramic containers isn't simply a matter of aesthetics – these vessels can also help protect and preserve the candle.
#1. Check whether the wick needs trimming before lighting your candle.
A wick that's too long may produce soot and cause the candle to burn too quickly. A wick that's too short, on the other hand, produces a small flame that struggles to melt the surrounding wax, burning downwards until it eventually extinguishes itself. Experiment a little and start with a wick length of around 10 mm, unless the manufacturer's instructions recommend otherwise. If the candle produces soot, trim the wick by another couple of millimetres, but not shorter than 5 mm.
#2. Once you've lit your candle, let it burn...
...until the wax has melted all the way to the edges of the container. This prevents a tunnel from forming in the centre, where the wick burns down faster than the surrounding wax. Otherwise, the wick may eventually become submerged in melted wax when the candle is left burning for longer periods. The time required varies depending on the candle's size and brand, but for most candles, allow approximately one or two hours.
#3. But don't let your candle burn for so long...
...that almost all the wax inside the container melts. At that point, the wax can no longer support the wick, which may bend towards the edge or sink beneath the surface. If this happens, carefully straighten the wick using a pair of tweezers before the wax solidifies again. The time it takes for all the wax to melt depends on the candle's size, composition and the material of its container. Checking the candle after three to four hours is a good starting point.
#4. Ideally, extinguish your candle with a proper candle snuffer.
This helps prevent the wick from producing soot and reduces the risk of hot wax splashing. Once you've extinguished the candle, wait until the wax has completely solidified before lighting it again. Before relighting, remember to remove any debris, such as matchstick fragments, carbon deposits on the wick or loose particles in the wax.
5 Beautiful Scented Candles for Dark Autumn Evenings
Amoln Barr Scented Candle
This soothing scented candle from Swedish brand Amoln fills your home with an inviting, refreshing fragrance inspired by the natural beauty of the forest, bringing a sense of well-being to the autumn months. Amoln Barr creates a fresh, earthy atmosphere, where top notes of fir needles and orange blend with warm heart notes of cinnamon and a base of sandalwood and resin. Its balanced, understated fragrance gently fills the room, creating an atmosphere that is both calming and uplifting.
Byredo Bibliothèque Scented Candle
You can't go wrong with Byredo's classic Bibliothèque. Perfect for anyone looking to bring a distinctive, fruity and leathery fragrance into their home, adding both atmosphere and warmth. The base of suede and patchouli, with touches of vanilla, evokes the heavy leather-bound volumes of classic literature, hidden like treasures among the dark wooden shelves of an old library. Fruity top notes of peach and dark plum are complemented by heart notes of peony and violet.
D.S & DURGA Portable Fireplace Candle
Portable Fireplace Candle offers an exclusive fragrance experience inspired by crackling fireplaces and the comforting scent of warm wood. With its deep, smoky character and sophisticated balsamic warmth, this candle creates an atmosphere of comfort and elegance. The fragrance transports you to a rustic cabin, where cedarwood and birch logs burn gently in the background. Perfect for evenings spent with a good book and relaxing moments during the chilly, windswept nights of autumn.
Fornasetti Architettura Immaginazione Scented Candle
This aromatic scented candle from Italian design house Fornasetti not only fills your home with a wonderful fragrance but also serves as a beautiful, classic design piece. Immaginazione is a homely, herbal, warm and spicy composition featuring thyme, lavender, incense and woods. Its fragrance evokes memories of old Italy, bringing both elegance and a particularly inviting sense of comfort to your surroundings.
Trudon Cire Scented Candle 270 g
An exceptionally luxurious scented candle from the historic French house of Trudon, filling your home with a beautifully warm, spicy and creamy fragrance. The candle is presented in an exquisite amber-coloured glass vessel. Top notes of bergamot, woods and honey make the first impression, gradually giving way to sandalwood and cinnamon. The base is composed of tonka bean, patchouli, musk and vanilla.
― Bonus Tip ―
The irresistible feeling of ‘hygge’, combined with their beautiful design, makes scented candles a perfect gift!