A soy candle is already a better choice than most. Cleaner burn, longer life, no petrochemical byproducts. But even the best candle benefits from a little attention. A few simple habits make the difference between a candle that tunnels, smokes, and fades after a few burns, and one that burns evenly and smells beautiful right to the end.
These are the seven candle care rules we follow at Mimi & August. The same ones we include with every candle we ship from our South Shore of Montreal workshop.
1. The First Burn Is the Most Important One
This is the rule most people skip and the one that matters most. Soy wax has a memory. The first time you light your candle, the melt pool sets a precedent for every burn that follows.
If you extinguish the candle before the melt pool has reached all the way to the edges of the cup, the wax will continue to melt only within that smaller circle from then on. The result is tunneling a deep well that forms in the centre of the candle while a thick ring of unused wax builds up around the sides. Once tunneling starts, it's very difficult to reverse.
The fix is simple: on the first burn, leave your candle lit until the entire surface has melted from edge to edge. For most of our candles, this takes between two and three hours. It's worth the patience.
2. Trim Your Wick Before Every Burn
This is the single habit that most dramatically extends the life of your candle and the one most people never do.
A wick that's too long burns hotter and faster than it should. It creates a larger flame, more soot, and uneven wax consumption. You'll notice it as a flickering, oversized flame or black residue forming on the inside of the cup.
Before every burn, trim the wick to about 5 mm. You can use dedicated wick trimmers which are designed to reach into the jar cleanly or a simple pair of scissors. Either way, make it a habit and your candle will reward you with a steadier flame, less soot, and noticeably more burn time.
3. Let It Burn for at Least Two Hours, But Not More Than Four
Every burn has a sweet spot. Too short, and you risk tunneling or an uneven melt pool. Too long, and the wax overheats, which can affect fragrance quality and shorten the overall lifespan of the candle.
As a general rule, burn your candle for a minimum of two hours per session and no more than four. After four hours, extinguish the flame, let the wax cool and resolidify completely, then trim the wick before relighting. This rhythm gives you the best burn quality and the longest life per candle.
4. Keep It Away From Drafts
A candle flame is sensitive. Air movement from an open window, a ceiling fan, an air vent, or even foot traffic nearby causes the flame to flicker and move unevenly. An uneven flame means uneven wax consumption, more soot, and a shorter burn time.
Find a spot that's calm and sheltered. If you notice your flame dancing more than it's burning steadily, move the candle. It makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
5. Place It on a Flat, Stable Surface
Always burn your candle on a flat, heat-resistant surface away from the edges of tables, out of reach of children and pets, and well clear of anything flammable like curtains, paper, or dried flowers.
If you're worried about heat transfer to the surface below, a coaster or small ceramic dish underneath works perfectly. Our candle cups sit flush and are stable by design, but the surface underneath still benefits from a little protection during longer burns.
6. Keep the Wax Pool Clean
Wick trimmings, match heads, dust, and debris have a way of ending up in the wax pool. Leave them there and they become fuel they'll cause the flame to flare, produce more soot, and burn through your candle faster.
Before each burn, take a quick look at the surface of the wax and remove anything that doesn't belong. A toothpick or the tip of your wick trimmer works well for this. It takes five seconds and makes a real difference in burn quality.
7. Stop Burning When 1 cm of Wax Remains
It's tempting to burn a candle right to the bottom but stopping with about 1 cm of wax remaining is the right call. At that point, the ceramic cup can start to overheat without the wax acting as a buffer, which can damage the surface below and stress the cup itself.
The good news: a cup with 1 cm of wax left is also a cup that's nearly ready for its next chapter. Once it's cooled, clean it out using the hot water or freezer method and it's ready to be refilled or repurposed however you like.
Our soy wax candle refills fit directly into your existing cup. Same ceramic, new scent, zero new packaging. It's the most sustainable way to keep going and at a lower price than buying a full candle.
One More Thing: Store It Right
When your candle isn't in use, keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Soy wax can yellow with prolonged UV exposure, and strong light or heat can also affect the fragrance before you've even lit it. The lid or dust cover that came with your candle is there for a reason use it between burns to keep the wax surface clean and the scent intact.
The Payoff
None of these habits are complicated. Trim the wick, let it burn to the edges on the first light, don't leave it going for more than four hours, keep the wax clean. That's really it. Do those four things consistently and you'll get the full life out of every candle which for our classic candles means up to 50 hours of clean, even, beautifully scented burn.
Ready to find your next scent? Explore the full Mimi & August soy candle collection, or try something new with one of our mini candles before committing to a full size.
Candle Care — Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my soy candle tunneling?
Tunneling happens when the candle is extinguished before the melt pool has reached the edges of the cup usually on the first burn. Soy wax has a memory, so it continues melting only within that smaller circle. To prevent it, always let the melt pool reach the full edge of the cup on the first burn, which typically takes 2 to 3 hours.
How often should I trim my candle wick?
Before every single burn. Trim to about 5 mm using wick trimmers or scissors. A properly trimmed wick means a steadier flame, less soot, and a longer-lasting candle.
How long should I burn my candle each time?
Aim for a minimum of two hours per burn session to allow the melt pool to develop properly, and a maximum of four hours to avoid overheating the wax and cup. After four hours, extinguish the flame, let the wax cool completely, trim the wick, and relight when ready.
Why does my candle produce black soot?
The most common cause is a wick that's too long. Trim to 5 mm before each burn. Drafts and debris in the wax pool can also cause sooting. If you notice black residue on the inside of the cup, wipe it away with a damp cloth once the wax has cooled, then trim the wick before the next burn.
Can I relight my candle right after extinguishing it?
It's better to wait until the wax has fully cooled and resolidified before relighting. This protects the fragrance quality and gives you a cleaner burn on the next session. It also gives you the chance to trim the wick properly before relighting.
What do I do when my candle is finished?
Stop burning when about 1 cm of wax remains to avoid overheating the cup. Once cooled, clean out the remaining wax using the hot water or freezer method, and your ceramic cup is ready to be refilled with one of our soy wax refills or repurposed however you like.