Which candles burn the longest and why?

We often get questions from you why some candles burn longer than others? Today we will tell you about the most common reasons why this happens, and we will also give you practical advice that will keep your candles burning as long as possible.

Why do some candles burn longer than others?

There are many reasons why some candles take longer to burn than others. The first one is certainly the weight of the wax. Typically, if the wax weight in a candle is higher, it will burn longer. However, this is not always the rule, because another factor influencing the burning time of the candle is the type of wax used.

As a general rule, paraffin candles will burn for a shorter time than those made of natural waxes (e.g. soy or palm wax). Interestingly, this rule will not always work, because the burning time of the candle is also influenced by... the wick! Both its type and the number of wicks.

Typically, candles with cotton wicks will burn longer than those with wooden wicks. However, by combining vegetable wax with a wooden wick, we can achieve a longer burning time with the same weight than, for example, combining paraffin and a cotton wick. Additionally, wicks differ in the size of the flame they can achieve. This means that one cotton wick candle with the same wax weight and the same raw material may burn for a shorter or longer time. Moreover, if we use more wicks in a candle, e.g. two or three, the candle will usually have a shorter burning time.

Let's remember a nuance here - a candle with more wicks will achieve the so-called pool, i.e. melted wax up to the walls of the vessel. Thanks to this, the recommended single-wick burning time of the candle will be shorter than for a similar candle with one wick.

Not only the type of wax used, the wicks and the amount of wax will affect the burning time. The temperature in the room is also a factor that determines the burning time. The warmer it is, the faster the candle can burn.

Additionally, the length of the wick will also affect the burning time of the candle. If the wick is too long, the candle burns out too quickly due to the larger flame. Therefore, before each lighting a candle, it is recommended to trim the wick with a special wick trimmer to a length of approximately 5 mm.

Which candles burn the longest?

The above information shows that we cannot fully predict whether a given candle will burn longer just because it is made of, for example, soy wax. Therefore, it is best to check the burning time of the candle provided by the manufacturer. A higher wax weight is not a clear indicator that the candle will burn longer.

How to make a candle burn longer?

There are certain rules that, if followed, will ensure a longer burning time for each candle.

• Trim the wick before lighting your candle. Using wick scissors, cut the wick to a length of approximately 5 mm. This rule applies to both candles with a wooden and cotton wick.
• Trim the wick as soon as it becomes too long. If we burn a candle for a long time, a phenomenon called mushrooming may occur, i.e. the formation of a characteristic mushroom-shaped swirl on the wick. This is the time to extinguish the candle for a while, trim the wick and relight it.
• Burn the candle at least until the wax melts to the walls of the vessel. Then you can extinguish the candle.
• Do not place the candle in a draft or near a heat source. Too high temperature and air movements cause uneven firing.
• Using candle covers increases the temperature. Higher temperature = faster combustion.
• We always light all the wicks at once in a multi-wick candle.