Your Step-By-Step Candle Care Guide

Despite what your coffee table might be telling you, there's always room for another candle.

On a more emotional end, their sensorial aromas help create lasting memories, and then there's the undeniable fact... Candles are — hands down —the easiest form of decor and make any room look a little more stylish. 

But in order to get the most out of our candles, we need to take care of them.

Yes, there's actually a right way to care for your candles so that they last longer.

Here, a candle care guide so you can give your candles the love and care they deserve.

1. Cherish the first burn

The first burn of your candle is the most important. Upon first lighting, burn the candle until its entire surface has liquefied — which takes approximately two to four hours. This will create an even burn — prolonging your candle’s life.

2. Choose a heat-resistant surface

Always make sure the surface on which you burn your candle is heat-resistant and stable. This will prevent potential heat damage, as well as ensuring the candle’s glass container does not break.

3. Trim the wick

We recommend trimming the wick for every 4 hours of burn time. This will prevent your candle from smoking on its next burn, as well as the potential of burning the sides of its glass container. When clipping, first make sure the flame is extinguished. Then, let the candle cool down to room temperature, and trim the wick to approximately 1/8” before lighting again. A good pair of wick trimmers will aid in this process.

4. Keep it clean

It’s not uncommon for soot to form on the inside of your candle’s container. If that happens, extinguish the candle, wait for it to cool, then wipe the inside with a clean, damp cloth.

5. Know when to say goodbye

It’s hard saying goodbye to your favorite candles, but it isn’t worth the possible heat damage that can occur if you don’t. When ½” of wax remains at the bottom of the jar (after approximately 45 – 50 hours of burn time for Bastide candles), it’s time to discontinue use of the product.

6. Save the jar

The candle may be gone, but its jar can and should absolutely be repurposed. To remove any residual wax, place the candle in the freezer for two hours and take out the wax with a knife so it can be cleaned. Use it for spare change, makeup brushes, to house our scented crystals, and more.