How to Make a Soy Candle Last Longer: 8 Burning Tips
A candle can burn beautifully for weeks or tunnel down the middle in a few evenings. The difference is mostly in how you light it. These eight tips show how to make a soy candle last longer, starting with what to expect from our own 9oz candle.
About our soy candle
The Be Proud of How Far You Have Come soy candle ($22.58) is made with a 100% natural soy wax blend and a cotton wick. It burns for about 50 to 60 hours and comes in a reusable glass jar with a glossy permanent label. According to the listing, you can choose from 12 scents, including Unscented, and it is ASTM safety-compliant and assembled in the USA.
8 tips to make a candle last longer
- Let the first burn reach the edge. Burn a new candle long enough for the wax to melt all the way across the top. A common guideline is about an hour per inch of jar width. This prevents tunneling, where wax is left stuck on the sides.
- Trim the wick. Before each burn, trim the cotton wick to about a quarter inch. A short wick burns cleaner and more slowly.
- Do not burn it too long at once. A common guideline is two to four hours at a time. Longer burns can overheat the jar and use up wax quickly.
- Keep it out of drafts. A flickering flame burns unevenly and can leave soot. Place it on a stable surface away from fans, vents and open windows.
- Center the wick. If the wick leans, gently straighten it while the wax is soft so the pool melts evenly.
- Keep the jar clean. Remove wick trimmings and debris from the wax before lighting.
- Extinguish it properly. Use a snuffer or gently cover the jar, rather than blowing hard, which can spray hot wax.
- Stop before the end. When about half an inch of wax remains, let the candle go out for good. A very low candle can overheat the glass.
Do and do not at a glance
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Trim the wick before every burn | Burn it for more than a few hours at a time |
| Let the full surface melt on the first burn | Let it burn near drafts |
| Use a stable, heat-safe surface | Leave it unattended |
| Snuff it out gently | Burn it down to the very bottom |
Safety first
The care instructions say to keep a burning candle within sight, away from children and pets, and never near flammable items. Follow those rules every time you light it.
Choosing a scent
Pick a scent to match the room and the mood. A fresh, light scent such as Clean Cotton suits a living space, a warm one such as Cinnamon Vanilla or Christmas Warmth suits colder months, and Unscented is a good choice when you want the glow without any fragrance.
Reusing the jar
The jar is glass and reusable. Once the wax is gone, let the jar cool completely, remove any leftover wax and wash it well before using it for pens, cotton swabs or small plants.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a candle burn the first time?
Long enough for the wax to melt across the whole top, which prevents tunneling. About an hour per inch of jar width is a common rule of thumb.
Why does my candle tunnel?
Usually because it was extinguished before the wax pool reached the edge on earlier burns.
How long will a 9oz soy candle last?
Our listing says about 50 to 60 hours of burn time, depending on how you burn it.
Is this candle a good gift?
Yes. It pairs well with a journal for a quiet evening. See our self-care gift ideas and cozy gifts for winter.
Browse the accessories collection for more cozy gifts.