Candles are having their moment. Autumn's arrived, the clocks will change soon, and suddenly everyone's reaching for something that smells like woodsmoke or spiced orange or a forest after rain. By December, candles will be wrapped, gifted, stockpiled for cosy nights in. But here's the thing: most people are burning them wrong.

Not disastrously wrong, you're not burning the house down, but wrong enough that you're wasting money, ruining the scent throw, and ending up with a sad tunnel of wax down the middle while perfectly good candle clings to the sides. A £24 Earl of East candle should last 40+ hours. If you're getting 20 because you didn't burn it properly, that's not value. That's just annoying.

So here's how to do it right, from the first light to the last flicker.

The First Burn Is Make-or-Break

This is the most important rule, and the one most people ignore: the first time you light a candle, let it burn until the entire top layer of wax has melted to the edges of the jar. Not just a little pool in the middle. The whole surface.

Why? Because wax has a memory. If you only melt the centre on the first burn, the candle will continue to burn straight down the middle every time after, creating a tunnel. You'll end up with half your candle left clinging uselessly to the glass while the wick drowns in a deep wax pit. It's maddening, wasteful, and entirely avoidable.

Soy wax, which is what Earl of East uses, and what the best candles are made from, has a lower melting point than paraffin. This is brilliant for scent throw (it releases fragrance beautifully) and burn time (it lasts longer), but it also means the wax can get properly liquid. Don't panic if the whole top layer melts. That's the point. Just don't knock the jar, or you'll have molten wax everywhere.

The first burn usually takes 2-4 hours depending on jar size. Yes, that's a commitment. No, you can't cheat it. Put it on, settle in, and let it do its job.

Trim Your Wick Every Single Time

Before you light the candle, every time, not just occasionally, trim the wick to about 5mm or 1/4 inch. If you don't, you'll get a tall, flickering flame that produces black smoke and soot, which will stain the glass, ruin the scent, and generally make your candle look like it's been through something traumatic.

You don't need fancy equipment. Pinch off the burnt bit with your fingers (when it's cold, obviously) or use a wick trimmer if you want to feel competent. It takes five seconds and makes an enormous difference.

Untrimmed wicks also burn hotter and faster, which means you're literally watching your money go up in smoke. Trim it. Every time.

Where You Put It Matters

Candles aren't just décor; they're small controlled fires. Treat them accordingly.

Always burn on a flat, heat-resistant surface; not a wobbly side table, not directly on wood, and definitely not near anything flammable like curtains, books, or that dried pampas grass you bought in 2020 and still haven't thrown out.

Drafts are the enemy. A candle near an open window or a door that keeps opening will burn unevenly, flicker constantly, and produce smoke. Find a stable spot away from airflow, and your candle will burn cleaner and longer.

Before lighting, check there's nothing in the wax; no wick trimmings, no match heads, no bits of debris. These can catch fire or interfere with the burn. A quick glance before you light saves problems later.

The Four-Hour Rule

Never burn a candle for longer than four hours at a stretch. This isn't arbitrary fussiness; it's about safety and wax integrity.

After four hours, the vessel gets very hot, the wick can become unstable, and you're increasing the risk of the glass cracking or the flame behaving unpredictably. Extinguish it, let it cool for at least two hours, trim the wick, and then you can light it again if you want.

Speaking of extinguishing: never use water. It can cause the hot wax to splatter violently and crack the glass. Use a snuffer, or just blow it out (though snuffers prevent wax splatter and are more elegant). If you're using a lidded candle, don't replace the lid until the wax has fully solidified, or you'll trap smoke and ruin the scent.

If your candle starts smoking, flickering wildly, or the flame gets too tall, something's wrong. Extinguish it, let it cool, trim the wick, check for drafts, and start again. A candle should burn steadily and calmly. If it's not, don't just let it carry on misbehaving.

Know When to Stop

When there's about 1cm (1/2 inch) of wax left in the bottom of the jar, stop burning it. Yes, it's tempting to squeeze every last hour out of it, but continuing past this point is dangerous.

When the wax gets very low, the flame sits too close to the glass and the surface beneath. The vessel can overheat, crack, or even start a fire. Not worth it for an extra 30 minutes of scent.

The good news? You can reuse the vessel. Earl of East jars are beautiful - use them for cotton buds, desk supplies, or small plants. Or return them to the first-burn ritual and start again with a refill if the brand offers one.

The Boring But Essential Safety Bit

Never leave a candle burning unattended. Never. Not even if you're just popping to the shops. Not even if your dog's home and you trust them implicitly.

Keep candles away from children and pets. A wagging tail or curious toddler can knock a lit candle over in seconds.

Always burn within sight, and always extinguish before you leave the room or go to sleep. This should be obvious, but house fires caused by candles are still depressingly common.

Why This All Matters

A well-made candle - like the ones from Earl of East that we stock at Renley Hawthorn - is a small luxury. It's chosen for its scent, its burn time, its ability to shift the mood of a room. But if you don't burn it properly, you're not getting what you paid for.

Candles aren't complicated, but they do require a bit of respect. Trim the wick. Let the first burn do its job. Don't leave them in a draft. Stop when you're supposed to. Do these things, and your candle will burn cleanly, smell glorious, and last as long as it's meant to.

This season, as you light candles for cosy evenings, for guests, for the quiet satisfaction of making a room feel like winter, do it properly. You'll get more hours, better scent, and the smug satisfaction of knowing you're not committing candle crimes.

Enjoy. With care.