A well-made candle deserves a little attention. Not a lot, just enough to let it do what it was made to do. Follow these simple steps and your TBB candle will burn cleaner, last longer, and smell exactly like it should.
The first burn matters most
The first time you light your candle, let it burn until the entire surface becomes liquid wax, edge to edge. This is called a full melt pool. For a 3-wick candle in our jar, this takes about 2 to 3 hours. If you extinguish it early, the wax remembers. It will tunnel down the centre on every future burn, wasting the wax on the sides and reducing your burn time significantly. First burn rule: light it when you have time.
Trim your wicks before every burn
Before each burn, not just the first, trim all three wicks to about 6mm. Long wicks cause larger flames, more soot, uneven burning, and a weaker scent throw. A trimmed wick gives you a steady, clean flame that fills the room without blackening the jar. Use a wick trimmer if you have one. If not, small scissors or your fingers (once the wax is cool and set) work fine.
Never burn for more than 4 hours at a time
After 4 hours, extinguish the candle and let it cool completely before relighting. Burning beyond 4 hours causes the wax to overheat, the wicks to shift, and the glass to get too hot. It also reduces the quality of the scent throw significantly. Extinguish, wait, trim, relight.
Keep the wax pool clean
If you notice any debris, such as burnt wick trimmings, dust, or anything that fell in, remove it once the wax is cool and solid. Debris in the wax pool causes uneven burning and can create a fire hazard. A clean wax surface means a clean, even burn every time.
Store it right
Keep your candle away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts. Direct sunlight fades the wax colour and weakens the fragrance over time. Drafts cause uneven burning and can push the flame toward the jar wall. The best spot: a cool, dry surface out of direct light.
Keep the frosted jar clean
Our matte frosted glass is beautiful, and it shows fingerprints. Wipe it gently with a dry cloth when needed. Never use wet or chemical cleaners on the outside of the jar.
When to stop burning
Stop using the candle when there is about 1cm of wax remaining at the bottom. Burning below this level can overheat the glass base and damage the surface it sits on. At this point, the candle has done its job. If you want to reuse the jar, place it in the freezer for a couple of hours. The remaining wax will contract and pop out cleanly. Wash with warm soapy water and the jar is yours to keep.
Quick reference
⟡ First burn: full melt pool before extinguishing (2-3 hours) ⟡ Wick length: trim to 6mm before every burn ⟡ Max burn time: 4 hours per session ⟡ Wax remaining: stop at 1 cm from the bottom ⟡ Storage: cool, dry, away from sunlight and drafts
