Home candles: how to choose and burn them safely

Candles have long stopped being just a source of light – today they create cosiness, complete an interior and pair beautifully with flowers. But for a candle to burn evenly, not smoke and stay safe, it is worth knowing a few rules. In this guide: how to choose a candle for your home, how to burn it and how to combine it safely with flower arrangements.

How to choose a candle for your home

Wax. Soy and beeswax candles usually burn more slowly and smoke less than cheap paraffin candles. Beeswax has a gentle natural honey scent.
Wick. A cotton or wooden wick should match the size of the container: too thin a wick leaves a tunnel of wax, too thick a wick smokes.
Scent. Soft scents such as vanilla, lavender or cedar suit bedrooms and living rooms. At the dining table, unscented candles are better so the scent does not compete with the food.
Container and shape. A candle in a glass, ceramic or concrete container is safer and tidier, while pillar candles need a heat-resistant tray.
Burn time. It is usually stated by the maker; a medium-sized container candle burns for about 30–50 hours.

How to burn a candle for the first time

The first burn determines how the candle will burn for the rest of its life. Wax has a kind of memory: if you blow it out too early the first time, it will tunnel from then on, leaving unused wax around the edges.

So the first time, burn the candle until the whole surface has melted to the edges of the container. This usually takes 2–3 hours – roughly an hour for every 2.5 cm of candle diameter.

A black handmade soy wax candle in a concrete container — A black soy wax candle

A grey handmade soy wax candle in a concrete container — A grey soy wax candle

How to care for a candle

Before each lighting, trim the wick to 5 mm – the flame will be calm and the candle will not smoke.
Burn the candle for no more than 4 hours at a time, otherwise the wick starts to smoke and the container gets too hot.
Keep the candle away from draughts, fans and open windows – they make the flame flicker and smoke.
Put it out with a lid or a snuffer rather than blowing – the wax will not splash and there will be no smoke.
Do not move the candle until the wax has cooled completely.
Stop burning when about 1 cm of wax is left at the bottom of the container – otherwise the container can overheat.

Safety

Never leave a burning candle unattended or go to sleep without putting it out.
Place it on a flat, heat-resistant surface, away from curtains, books and other flammable items.
Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Leave at least 10 cm between burning candles so they do not heat each other.

Candles and flowers: how to combine them safely

Candles and flowers together create a festive mood – especially on a dinner table or during the holidays. But dried flowers, eucalyptus and other greenery catch fire very quickly, so:

place candles at least 15–20 cm away from bouquets and dried flower arrangements;
for wreaths and table arrangements choose candles that stand taller than the greenery, and never leave them burning unattended;
next to a bouquet, candles in glass or ceramic containers work best – the flame stays protected;
do not put scented candles next to strongly scented flowers such as lilies – the scents will clash.

The warmth of a candle also makes flowers wilt faster, so keep the bouquet away from the flame. More on this in our flower care guide, and on choosing a vase in our vase guide.

Flowers & Lovers candles

We also have our own handmade candles – natural soy wax in concrete containers, in black, grey and white. Each candle burns for about 40 hours. When they are available, you will find them under for the home.