Lighting a candle isn’t just ambiance — it’s ritual.
A signature scent, a warm glow, a small luxury that resets the room. When you choose a candle from Charlestown Candle Co., you’re investing in craftsmanship and quality. To make the most of it, follow these five rules. They’ll stretch the life of your candle, protect its beauty, and maximize every burn.
1. Respect the First Burn
Tunneling is the enemy. That wasted ring of wax clinging to the sides? Preventable.
The Rule: Let your first burn reach the edges of the jar. This sets the “memory” of the wax and ensures future burns are even.
Pro Tip: One hour of burn time for every inch of candle diameter. For our standard 8.5 oz jar, that’s about three hours.
2. Trim Your Wick. Every. Single. Time.
This is the difference between a candle that burns clean and one that smokes, mushrooms, and burns too fast.
The Rule: Keep the wick at ¼ inch before each light.
Why It Matters: A shorter wick means a steadier flame, less soot, and longer life for your candle. (Yes, a Wick Trimmer beats kitchen scissors every time.)
3. Keep the Melt Pool Clean
Your wax pool is the engine of fragrance. Keep it pure.
The Rule: Remove any charred wick bits, dust, or match heads.
Why It Matters: Debris can clog the wick or create multiple flames — neither is safe. Only soy wax + premium fragrance should be burning.
4. Know When to Say Goodbye
Every candle has an endpoint. Don’t push it past safety.
The Rule: Stop burning when about ½ inch of wax remains.
Why It Matters: Go lower and the flame risks overheating the jar. Better to retire gracefully — and start fresh with a new scent.
5. Store Your Candles Properly
A candle deserves proper care, even when it’s off-duty.
The Rule: Keep them cool, dark, and covered.
Why It Matters: Sunlight fades wax, heat separates oils, and dust dulls fragrance. A lid keeps your candle pristine until the next strike of the match.
The Bottom Line
Treat your Charlestown Candle Co. candle right, and it will return the favor — burning longer, cleaner, and truer to the fragrance we designed. Because a great candle isn’t meant to be rushed.