We've found after many tests that our candles are happiest when their wicks are about 7mm long. Oddly specific, we know, and we don't expect you to get out a ruler each time, so consider that the ideal is about the diameter of a pea. Trim your wick to this length with strong sharp scissors or a wick trimmer for clean, smokeless burning.

Candles need to rest sometimes, too.

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It's actually the constraints about wick length above that set some sensible limits on how long you should burn your candle: if you burn the candle for too long (more than 2-4 hours), the amount of wick burning slowly gets longer and longer, until the flame becomes smoky and potentially dangerous. 

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If you notice that your wick has grown too large or is bending over, sniff out the flame, snip it, and relight. 

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Burning the candle until the very last drop of wax isn't wise: the flame tends to heat up the bottom which could cause the container to break. When the wax level goes gown to around 5mm, extinguish the candle for good.

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See our Candle Decommissioning Guide for some ideas for giving your candle jar a happy retirement. 

We recommend burning your candle on a heatproof surface and away from pets, flammable materials and other candles. Refer to the safety info on the bottom of your candle for more.