Candle tips: How to correctly light your candle, and why you should never blow your candle out

The right candle can help add a cosy, elegant finishing touch to your rooms and surfaces. They’re perfect for enjoying your favourite scents and providing a warm glow. But candles need a bit of maintenance and care, too!

To get the best from your candle collection, here’s a few top tips from the experts at William West…

Light your candle the right way

Think lighting a candle is pretty straightforward? Think again! There’s a definite method to getting it right, ensuring you achieve the longest life from your candle and don’t make a mess in the process.

Firstly, make sure your candle is in a safe area. Check the surface you’re placing it on is resistant to heat. Candles are generally best kept in a dedicated candle holder, to help protect them and the surfaces around them.

Next up, check the candle wick length. If it’s too long, this could present a fire hazard. The wick should be ¼ inch or 5mm. When you light the candle, strike your match or flick the lighter, turning the candle sideways to help prevent yourself from being burned.

When the candle is lit, place it back onto the safe surface.

Be careful with your containers!

Don’t put burning candles in glass containers, unless they are specifically designed for that purpose.

There are plenty of glass candleholders on the market, but they’ve been tempered to handle the high temperatures that your candle will emit while lit. If in doubt, go for another material.

Not sure how to store your candles?

Cool, dark, dry spaces are best for keeping your candles in the best condition. Some types of candle also need to be protected from warping, so store them flat whenever possible.

Keeping your candles away from strong sources of light and heat will prevent them from melting and losing shape, and it will also keep their colours vibrant.

Don’t leave burning candles unattended

They can be knocked over easily, so be sure to place your candles somewhere that you can keep an eye on them, away from drafts – and make sure your candles are safely stowed where children and pets can’t reach them.

Why shouldn’t you blow out candles?

It’s standard practice…right? No! Blowing out candles can prompt lots of smoke. The smoke is also the wick smouldering and burning itself out.  It can also cause the wick to fall down into the candle wax and solidify. Instead of blowing out the candles, opt for a wick snuffer to extinguish the flame.

Ready to get started? Shop our beautiful candle collection now!