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There is nothing like the warmth and friendly glow of a lit candle to add a little magic to your home, especially at Christmas; as my friend says, “it’s like having a friend in the room even when nobody else is in.” There are a few handy tips to ensure you get the best from your precious candles. I always tend to have just a few fairy lights on during the evening all year round, so the lower ambient light levels really allow the candles to give a hyggelig ambience.norska-nordic-juniper-forest-candle-287x300 Get the most from your precious candle!

 

  1. When lighting them for the first time, allow to burn for long enough that the wax melts across the whole surface. This prevents tunnelling (where the flame burns down just in the centre of the candle, leading to wasted wax) and will extend its life.
  2. Keep the wick trimmed down to about 5mm as this should also help an even burn and prevent any soot. If your candle has more than one wick, make sure they are all the same length.
  3. If you really want to show your candle some love, don’t blow it out! To extinguish the flame, poke the wick down into the melted wax with a pair of tweezers and then lift it out again; this stops any soot forming and helps keep the smell pure. It also reduces the risk to you from leaning dangerously low over the flame.
  4. Try placing the candle low down in the room, for example in the fireplace rather than on the mantelpiece. Scent rises, so if your candle is placed higher up you will be losing much of the fragrance.
  5. Diffusers can add a wonderful background scent; just turn over one or two of the reeds daily, to keep the fragrance fresh; choose one that matches your favourite candle so that there is no clash of florals over deeper notes.
  6. It goes without saying that candles should always be burned on a flat surface (on a heat proof surface if necessary) and away from any draughts. Keep away from children and pets, never leave them burning unattended and don’t let them burn down further than the bottom 1cm of wax.black-cast-iton-pillar-candle-holder-300x274 Get the most from your precious candle!

If you fancy making your own, try one of our Hyggestyle beeswax candles kits; they really smell of honey!