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Colorado Candle Co.

How to Light a Candle and Put It Out Safely

Lighting a candle takes a few seconds. Doing it well gives a steadier flame, less smoke and a candle that lasts longer. Here's the whole routine, from the first light to the last.

Updated

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Shown: Comfort Spice, 16 oz glass jar, $26

How to light a candle

  1. Set it on a stable, heat-resistant surface, at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, like curtains, bedding or books, and at least 3 inches from other candles.
  2. Keep it out of drafts from fans, vents, open windows and busy doorways. Moving air makes the flame flicker and smoke.
  3. Trim the wick to ¼ inch and lift out any trimmings or old match ends.
  4. Light the wick with a long lighter or a long match, which keeps your hand clear of the rim. That matters most in a tall jar like our 16 oz glass jar.

The first time you light a candle

Let the first burn go until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar, about an hour for every inch of jar width, but no more than four hours. Stopping early leaves a ring of hard wax that the candle keeps following down, which is called tunneling. Our burn-time guide has how long each size lasts.

How to put out a candle

  • A snuffer is the recommended way. Lower the cup over the flame and it goes out for lack of air, without splashing wax.
  • A wick dipper also works. Push the lit wick into the melted wax, then lift it straight back up so it's coated and ready for next time. It makes little smoke.
  • Blowing it out is fine if you blow gently. A hard puff sends up smoke and can spray hot wax onto you or the table.

Never put a candle out with water

Water makes hot wax spatter, and it can crack a hot glass jar. Use a snuffer, a wick dipper or a gentle breath instead.

Make sure it's out

Put out every candle before you go to bed or leave the room, and check that the wick has stopped glowing before you walk away.

How to relight a candle

Let the candle cool for at least two hours, until the wax is solid. Trim the wick back to ¼ inch, lift out any bits in the wax, and light it again. If the flame gets too high or starts smoking during a burn, put it out, let it cool, then trim and relight. Here's why a candle smokes or flickers.

When to stop for good

Stop burning a jar candle when about ½ inch of wax is left, so the flame never reaches the bottom or sides of the glass. Then the jar can be cleaned and reused.

Sources: National Candle Association, fire safety; National Candle Association, your foolproof guide to burning a candle correctly; Candle-Lite, safety guidelines.

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