How Long Do Candles Last? [Short and Long Answer]
Candles have evolved from a practical light source to a decorative accent with many different uses and benefits.
Although candles may no longer provide man’s primary light source, they now continue to grow in popularity and use.
Candles symbolize celebration, signify romance, soothe the senses, define ceremony, and accent the style of home decors.
They instantly change the ambiance of any indoor or outdoor setting by adding light to any space without the harshness of a bright electric bulb. The soft flickering of candlelight creates a relaxing atmosphere and a sense of warmth.
How long does a candle last?
There is quite a broad spectrum of candle burn times, with 30 to 40 hours of discrepancies from brand to brand. So, unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to how long candles last.
It depends on various factors. For example, the amount of time a candle will burn varies based on the wax used, the size of the wick, the kind of wick, and more. Location is also a factor, as candles burned in the path of a draft will have significantly shorter burn times.
Materials used to scent or color the wax will also affect the burn time from the ingredients used to make the candles to your approach to candle care. However, there are some ways to lengthen the life of your candle. And get the most burn for your buck.
Generally, when we’re talking about the lifespan of candles, we’re talking about a factor known as burn time. Burn time refers to the number of hours a candle will stay lit without being extinguished. Good candle companies will always list burn time. For larger candles — 12 ounces and up — a great range is between five and eight hours per ounce. Keep in mind that large candles and those with long or multiple wicks will burn much faster than small votives and single-wick candles.
The main rule of enjoying candles is never to leave a burning candle unattended. Do short or long candles burn faster?
How do you make a candle last longer?
- Proper first burn
Keep your candle lit properly for its initial burn. Let the wax melt until it almost reaches the outer rim of the candle. When it has done this, extinguish the candle and let it set. It will create the baseline melt area for the rest of the candle.
- A pinch of salt
Sprinkle a small pinch of salt into the melted wax. It can help slow down future burns and will stretch the life of your candle.
- Storage
Storing your candles away from heat and light will help keep them in their best condition for every occasion.
- Lying down
Suppose you have long thin candles like those you may have at a dinner party. Keep them lying flat to stop them warping. A bent candle will not burn evenly and may not be as stable as a perfectly straight one once
- Don’t burn a new candle for only a few minutes.
The first time you burn a container candle, you should allow it to form a complete pool of melted wax across the surface of its container, from rim to rim.
It is because wax has a memory, and on subsequent lightings, the wax pool will struggle to go beyond the circumference of the previous burn.
The candle will most likely tunnel down into the wax from then on. The wick will sink deeper and deeper into the candle, and the wax on the sides will never burn, shortening the life of your candle.
- Keep wicks trimmed
You should trim the wick of a candle every time before you light it. A trimmed wick will give you a nice bright flame. A long or crooked wick can result in uneven burning, leading to bursts of high flames or smoking.
Wicks should be about one-fourth-inch high for best burning; don’t trim them lower than that. Slatkin’s method is to wait for the candle to cool 100 percent and turn it upside down.
Take off the charred part with a tissue, and your wick will be good to light. Trimming the wick to a 1/4 inch length before use will keep the wax pool clear from debris, making it look ugly, and can add a second ignition point to your candle but will make your candle burn slower as the flame will be smaller and less hot.
- Avoid burning candles in the path of vents, fans, or drafts.
Current air can cause candles to burn unevenly or produce excessive smoke or soot, leaving messy black stains on your container. In addition, if a wick becomes too long or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles can escape.
Keep your candle away from drafts wherever possible. It makes the candle flicker, which can be very annoying. It also makes the candle burn erratically, which can shorten burn times.
- Keep the wax pool clear of any debris.
Don’t mess up the candle pool with pieces of cut-off or charred wicks or used matches. Introducing debris into the wax will interfere with the chemistry of the candle and may cause it to burn unevenly. It could clog the wick and prevent it from drawing up the fragrance oil and diffusing the scent.
- Let a candle completely cool before lighting again.
A candle in a container takes about two hours to cool down completely, but it’s worth the wait for safety and function. Trimming the wick when the wax pool has hardened is much safer. A hot pool of melted wax can burn your fingers if you dive in for a wick before it’s cooled and solidified.
Which candles last longest?
For a Long Burn Time, Use Beeswax Candles
If you are just looking for the longest burn time, then beeswax candles will be the way to go but bear in mind the price of these candles can be pretty high.
Also, you need to be extra vigilant that there are no additives and that the candle you choose when buying should be 100% pure with no additives listed on the product.
That said, you are probably looking to make your own. Making your candles can be very rewarding, whether you intend to use them or spoil someone with a lovely gift.
Beeswax had a very high melt point, and the wax is quite hard. It makes for a very slow-burning robust candle, but it also makes the manufacturing process a little more tricky as you need to use a more potent heat source to melt the wax. It will also be tough to add color or fragrance as you need to know the correct temperature usage for the ingredients, so you don’t spoil your hard work.
Higher melting points mean longer burns usually, but you need to consider other factors:
Approximate Burn Temperature in Fahrenheit
• Beeswax usual burn temperature 149°F/65°C
• Soy wax’s usual burn temperature is 130°F/54°C
• Paraffin usual burn temperature 99°F/37°C
Other Factors to Consider
• Wax blend: Mixing different grades of wax as well as different wax types In addition, it will significantly change the burn rate
• Adulteration: Adding foreign substances like colors and perfumes will affect the candle’s performance
• Not caring for your candles: quick burns or leaving them in the wrong temperature room can affect their longevity. (See below for tips on getting longer burns out of your candles).
Medium Burn Time Use Soy Candles
Soy candles have a slightly softer wax than beeswax and are not quite as hard. It means the burn time is not as long as beeswax. So, why do we use them if they do not last as long?
Well, there are many benefits to choosing soy wax candles over beeswax.
• Cost: Soy candle wax costs much less than beeswax, so you get more bang for your buck but is that reason enough?
• Eco-friendly: Much cleaner and more eco-friendly than paraffin, so it’s a good middle ground when making a choice
• Lower melting point: A lower melting point means making them at home is easier. A lower melting point means you are less likely to overheat the wax and spoil any dyes or oils you may wish to add
• Higher availability. It will put a real downer on your project if you cannot get hold of the ingredients, but, on the other hand, Soy gets widely produced, ensuring a good supply and a reasonable price.
• Less harmful: Soy Candles still contain a small amount of paraffin needed to aid in processing.
• Home-made is best: Interestingly, a candle only needs 51% soy in some countries to be classed as pure, so making them at home will guarantee you know exactly what is going into them and just how safe they will be.
It would be upsetting to find your lovely soy candle gets precisely made from 40% paraffin and is quite unhealthy to burn repeatedly in your home.
Shortest Burn Time: Paraffin Candles
Paraffin candles have been around for as long as we can remember and for a good reason. They are super cheap to make and last forever.
However, many toxic ingredients get put into paraffin candles that are now known to be hazardous to your health. Here are a few of the components which may find their way into your innocent-looking paraffin candle:
• Formaldehyde: Used for preserving dead bodies
• Toluene: A hydrocarbon found in coal tar and used as a solvent
• Benzene: Found in the emissions from leaded petrol and diesel vehicles
The main takeaway from this section is that paraffin candles are just not worth the savings you make in your pocket. Lighting one of these is like having a car running in your living room and breathing in all those chemicals.
Are our 3-wick candles better?
Three wick candles are large, usually made of wax, and have three wicks of the same height. They are more comprehensive and contain more wax than single wick candles.
Here are some reasons why you should add a three-wick candle to your collection:
- Less wastage
If you genuinely love scented candles, you must know how upsetting it is to throw away wasted candle wax, knowing that you did not get the most out of it.
To avoid this, multiple-wick candles are the best option. They melt candle wax evenly so that none of it gathers around the jar and gets wasted.
- Brighter burn
Three wick candles give out substantially more light than single wick candles. Because of the multiple fires blazing inside the jar, the room becomes brighter. In addition, the candle gives more light and offers more functionality.
- More fragrance
In contrast to the single-wick candles that need to be lit for several hours to get maximum fragrance in the room, these multiple-wick designs work more efficiently and distribute more fragrance in a shorter duration.
You will have to light the candle for a shorter period and blow it off when there is an equal and satisfying scent distribution in the room.
- Aesthetically pleasing
Multiple-wick candles look much more pleasing to the eye than the regular ones. They’re stylish, modern, and more ambient. They light up the room nicely, but they’re exquisite to look at too. Every candle-lover wants to have at least one of these in their collection.
- Reusable containers
Multiple-wick candles are usually large to compensate for their quick burning. Therefore, they have more candle wax in a much bigger jar. One can reuse the jars after the candle has burnt out. They are big enough to be utilized as jewelry boxes, pin-holders, stationery cups, and anything else you can think of.
- Economical solution
They are economical as you don’t need to burn these candles for as long as you burn single wick candles. A single 3-wick candle will provide you with the effectiveness of a single one-wick candle burning for hours. Also, you can use it more than just one time.
The Drawbacks Of Having 3-Wick Candles:
- Decreased durability
As a result of multiple fires burning in the jar, the candle wax melts faster, and the jar empties quicker than one-wick candles. On average, multiple-wick candles burn for approximately 30 to 50 hours. Hence, these will last you a shorter time than the traditional style of candles.
- More expensive
Because of their decreased durability and modern design, these multiple-wick candles are more expensive than single ones. It can be quite a pickle for those unwilling to spend much money on scented candles.