Why Your Candle's First Burn Matters

Soy wax remembers. The first time you light a candle, the melted pool sets the edge it will follow every time after, so a short first burn leaves a tunnel down the middle and wastes the wax around it.

The first burn

• Keep it lit until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar, usually two to three hours.
• Light it where it will not be moved or caught in a draught.

Three habits for every burn after

• Trim a wooden wick to about 3 mm before lighting.
• Burn for no more than four hours at a time.
• Put it out with a snuffer or the lid rather than blowing, so the wax does not splash.

Once the candle is finished, pour hot water into the jar, let the last of the wax float up and wash it out. It makes a good pot for pens, brushes or a small plant.