How Long Do Candles Last? Candle Care & Burning Tips for a Better Burn

How Long Do Candles Last? Candle Care & Burning Tips for a Better Burn

There's nothing quite like lighting a beautifully scented candle and letting the fragrance fill your home. But how long should a candle actually last, and are you getting the most out of every burn? Here's everything you need to know about candle burn times and how to care for your candles properly.

How Long Do Candles Last?

Burn time depends on the size of the candle and the type of wax used. As a general guide:

  • Small candles (100ā€“150g): 20ā€“30 hours
  • Medium candles (200ā€“250g): 35ā€“50 hours
  • Large candles (300g+): 50ā€“80+ hours

At Nomdori, our luxury clean-burning candles are hand-poured using a premium coconut and rapeseed wax blend, which burns slower and cleaner than paraffin, meaning you get more hours of fragrance from every candle.

The First Burn Is the Most Important

The very first time you light your candle, let it burn until the entire surface has melted into a full wax pool; this usually takes 2ā€“3 hours. Skipping this step causes tunnelling, where the candle burns straight down the middle, wasting wax around the edges and shortening its life significantly.

Trim Your Wick Every Time

Before each burn, trim your wick to approximately 5mm. A wick that's too long produces a larger, flickering flame that burns through wax too quickly, creates soot, and can cause uneven burning. A simple wick trimmer (or nail scissors) does the job perfectly.

Keep Burns Between 2ā€“4 Hours

Burning a candle for longer than 4 hours at a time causes the wick to "mushroom" and the wax to overheat. Equally, very short burns of under an hour don't allow the wax pool to fully form. Aim for 2ā€“4 hours per session for the best scent throw and longest life.

Store Your Candles Correctly

  • Keep candles away from direct sunlight, which can fade the wax and affect fragrance.
  • Store in a cool, dry place with the lid on to protect the scent.
  • Avoid dusty surfaces; dust on the wax can affect how cleanly it burns.

Know When to Stop

Stop burning your candle when 1cm of wax remains at the bottom. Burning below this level can overheat the container and become a safety risk. Once finished, clean out the jar. Nomdori vessels make beautiful storage pots, vases, or desk tidies.

Shop Our Candle Collections

Ready to find your next favourite scent? Explore our hand-poured collections:

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