In our second installment of Home by RD, we’re going over some helpful tips on how to get the most out of your candle collection.

We’re big fans of candles for adding a little atmospheric coziness to any space. Candles can also improve your mood and promote better mental health. The ritual of burning a candle at the end of a long day is sometimes enough to help us ease into a relaxing bedtime routine (as long as you also remember to blow them out!).

On the other hand, certain scents may also be great to start one's evening. Certain essential oils used in candles can enliven us and clear our heads while doing yoga, or set the mood for a romantic evening. 

Whether you see it as a self-care treat or an absolute necessity, here are some things to think about the next time you decide to light one.

• Make sure you're trimming your wicks. We can't stress it enough! Ever notice that when you burn your candles, you get those smudgey black marks on the glass?  Even soy candles that don't produce black smoke will leave black marks on the glass if the flame gets is too high. Before every burn, trim your wick to 1/8 -1/4 inches tall. We really love these wick trimmers from Yield Design. They're angled so you'll be able to access any wick in any size glass jar.

 

• Don't burn for too long, too short... just right! To keep you wax leveled for an even burn each time, make sure that you're not burning your candle for too long. When a candles completely liquefies, the wick may slide away from the center of the candle and hit the glass container causing smoking, or worse, the glass cracking. Burn a candle for too short of a time, and you'll create a tunnel, basically wasting precious wax. We've found the sweet spot for candle burning is anywhere from 3-4 hours at a time. Larger candles may be burned for longer.

 

• Store unused candles properly when not in use. If your candle came with a lid, be sure to put the lid back on to prevent dust particles from getting caught in the settling wax. Also, pro-tip: did you know you can store your candles in the fridge? Cold wax burns longer.

• Keep them out of the draft. There's something romantic about the image of a candle glowing in someone's window, but there's nothing romantic about fire hazards. Keep your candles away from wind and drafts.

Now that you know how to get the most out of your candles, start adding more to your collections by shopping our selection of candles.