Ever spent good money on a candle, only for the wick to become drowned in wax or the glass to turn sooty? The secret to ensuring an even burn, and a long-lasting beautiful candle is to take care of it. Yes, a good candle is a little high maintenance but we forgive it for the cosy joy it brings to our living room or bedroom, and the spa like experience it lends to a bathroom. 

The Beauty Editor now stocks the most incredible candles by fragrance brand Sana Jardin. The all-natural vegetable wax candles are made using sustainably-sourced ingredients and essential oils. Incredibly luxurious, they scent your home beautifully and won't release any nasties into the air. 

Keep reading to find out how to take care of your candles...

Safety first

Always read the candle instructions. Place it on a heat resistant surface away from loose papers. And, if you're lucky enough to have a collection of candles, don't place them too close together as they could become a fire hazard. Oh, and never leave candles unattended. 

Avoid "tunnelling"

Have you ever burned a candle only to end up with a rim of surrounding wax that just won't burn? Well, the secret to avoiding this "tunnelling" from happening is by making sure the first time you burn your candle you leave it lit long enough that the whole top layer of wax has liquified. 

Aim to burn your candle for around 3 hours each time, this is optimal because it burns a good even layer of wax but won't get too hot that it causes the fragrance to be evaporated too quickly.

Don't leave your candle in the sun

When you're not using your candle, make sure it lives in a shady spot. The sun will cause the fragrance to evaporate more quickly. 

And, while it's burning, avoid placing it in a drafty or windy part of your room - this will cause the flame to dance around and could lead to an uneven burn and the dreaded "tunnelling".

Trim the wick

If a wick is too long or has a little bobble shape at the top, it can send soot out of the flame which is unsightly. Aim for a wick that's around 0.5-0.75cm long, you can trim it with scissors or a wick trimmer. Be careful though, too short and your wick won't light and could become engulfed by the wax. 

Clean your candle

Whether it's dust, the tip of a match or something else, keeping your candle clean will avoid any incidents. Use tweezers to pick out any larger pieces of debris and a dry cloth to dust the candle before lighting to avoid anything catching on fire.

Re-use your candle holder

Once your candle has about 1cm of wax at the bottom, stop using it. Burning it all the way down could be a fire hazard. When the candle is cold, put it in the freezer, the cool temperature shrinks the wax so you can easily remove it. Clean it with warm soapy water and you can re-use it as a pot for a succulent, makeup brushes, pencils or even as a glass!

Click here to explore our selection of Sana Jardin candles and fragrances.