Basics
Candle Burn Time Optimization: How to Make Your Candles Last Longer
Feb 23, 2025
One of the key factors that customers and candle makers alike care about is burn time - how long a candle lasts before it completely melts away. A well-made candle should burn evenly, cleanly, and for as long as possible. Whether you’re creating candles for personal use or selling them professionally, optimizing burn time enhances the value of your candles and ensures a better customer experience. In this guide, we’ll explore the most effective ways to extend your candle’s lifespan.
1. Choosing the Right Wax for Longer Burn Time
The type of wax you use plays a major role in how long your candle burns. Some waxes burn faster, while others are naturally slow-burning.
Best waxes for long burn time:
Soy Wax – One of the slowest-burning waxes, providing an even and long-lasting burn.
Beeswax – Burns even slower than soy and has natural air-purifying benefits.
Coconut Wax – Another slow-burning option with a creamy texture and excellent scent throw.
Paraffin Wax – While commonly used, it burns faster than natural waxes, making it less ideal for maximizing burn time.
Pro Tip: If you want to optimize longevity while maintaining a great scent throw, consider blending soy wax with beeswax or coconut wax.
2. Using the Correct Wick Size and Type
The wick controls how quickly your candle burns. A wick that’s too large will burn too hot and fast, reducing burn time. A wick that’s too small may not create a full melt pool, leading to tunneling.
Best practices for wick selection:
Use cotton wicks or wooden wicks that are properly sized for your wax type and container.
Avoid oversized wicks, as they create excessive heat and cause faster wax consumption.
Ensure wicks are properly trimmed to ¼ inch before each burn to prevent large flames and soot buildup.
Pro Tip: Test different wick sizes before finalizing your candle design. Wick guides are helpful, but real testing is essential to finding the perfect match.
3. Maximizing Burn Time with Proper Fragrance and Additives
Adding fragrance and dyes can impact how your candle burns. Too much fragrance oil or dye can alter the wax composition, causing uneven burning and shortening burn time.
How to optimize scent and color for longer burns:
Stick to the recommended 6-10% fragrance oil load (varies by wax type).
Use high-quality, concentrated fragrance oils that don’t require excessive amounts.
Avoid heavy dyes or pigments that might clog the wick and create soot buildup.
Pro Tip: Natural essential oils can burn differently than synthetic fragrance oils—always test them in small batches first.
4. Ensuring an Even Melt Pool
An even melt pool prevents wax wastage and extends burn time. If the wax doesn’t melt fully across the surface, you’ll get tunneling, which wastes wax and reduces lifespan.
How to achieve a full melt pool:
The first burn is the most important—let your candle burn until the wax melts evenly across the surface (usually 1 hour per inch of diameter).
Keep candles away from drafts, which can cause uneven burning and flickering flames.
Choose the right container shape—wider, shallower containers help maintain an even burn.
Pro Tip: If a candle starts tunneling, wrap aluminum foil around the edges while burning to help melt the remaining wax.
5. Controlling Burn Time with Candle Maintenance
Even a perfectly made candle won’t last long if it’s not cared for properly. Teach customers how to maintain their candles for the longest burn time possible.
Candle care tips:
Trim the wick before each burn to ¼ inch to prevent excessive flame height and rapid wax consumption.
Burn in 3-4 hour increments—longer burns create excessive heat and shorten lifespan, while shorter burns may cause tunneling.
Store candles properly in a cool, dark place to prevent sweating and discoloration.
Pro Tip: Adding a simple wick trimmer to your candle packaging can encourage customers to take proper care of their candles.
6. Choosing the Right Container or Mold
The container or mold you use can impact how efficiently the wax burns.
Best containers for longer burn time:
Thick glass jars retain heat and help create an even melt pool.
Metal tins distribute heat well and can prevent excessive tunneling.
Avoid containers that are too deep and narrow, as they can cause wicks to drown before all the wax is used.
Pro Tip: Use heat-resistant containers to ensure safety and better heat retention, which contributes to a steady burn.
7. Testing and Perfecting Your Burn Time
Candle testing is an essential step in creating long-lasting candles. Always test your candles before selling them to ensure they meet expectations.
Steps to conduct a burn test:
Weigh your candle before and after burning for a few hours to measure wax consumption.
Monitor flame height, wick performance, and melt pool formation.
Track total burn time from start to finish.
Pro Tip: Keep a detailed log of your test results to refine your formulas and wick choices over time.
Create Long-Lasting Candles with Expert Techniques
Optimizing burn time is essential for making high-quality candles that delight customers and provide the best value. In my Candle Making Course, I teach all the techniques needed to create long-burning, perfectly balanced candles. You’ll learn how to choose the right materials, troubleshoot common burn issues, and ensure every candle burns efficiently from start to finish.
On my course, I also provide a full list of tested materials and suppliers where you can get the best-quality wax, wicks, and fragrances at great prices.
Want to master the art of long-lasting candles? Join my Candle-Making Course (click here) and start making professional-quality candles today!
Happy candle making!
