The Best Burn! | Candle Dos & Don’ts + The Best Fall Candles

I don’t know about you, but at my house, fall is candle season! I’m always looking for the best fall candles to make my house smell cozy and bring a little bit of that crisp fall feeling indoors. I was talking with some of my friends about the fall candles they burn, and I loved hearing everyone’s favorites!

In the photo above: Rosy Rings candles are my absolute favorite right now! This is their Signature Botanical Candle in Spicy Apple. Every botanical element you see on the exterior is carefully placed by hand! These gorgeous, fragrant candles can take up to 3 days to perfect! They’re not inexpensive, but I reached out to Rosy Rings and asked if they’d offer my followers an exclusive discount code! They kindly said yes! Use code SUZY15 for 15% off sitewide!

As so often happens, one of my friends said, “That would make a good post, Suzy!” (This occurs more than you know! 😄) THEN the conversation turned to the dos and don’ts of candles! (“What do you mean, you don’t trim the wick before lighting? Doesn’t it make the candle super smoky?”) I love it when women get together and talk! Bob can’t believe the things we discuss.

In the photo above: Orleans Crème Brûlée Candle (One of my favorite candles!)

So today (thanks to my friends), I’m sharing some of the most important candle dos and don’ts. I’m also sharing tips for handling common candle dilemmas (!), plus recommendations for the best fall candles.

As always, click the pink text links or any image for more information.

Candle Dos & Don’ts

Remember, when you light a candle, you’re literally playing with fire! You need to take safety precautions and do a few things to get the longest burn time out of your candle. Here’s what to remember:

Wax Has “Memory”

Did you know that wax has “memory,” so if it is extinguished with a partial pool, that will prevent a full, even pool from forming in the future? Crazy, right? But it’s true. So the first time you light your candle, allow it to burn until the wax pool melts all the way to the edge.
Suzy’s Pro Tip: The larger the candle, the longer it will take, so make sure you’ll be home for several hours if you’re lighting a large candle.

Trim The Wick First Thing

Before burning your candle for the first time, trim the wick to about ¼-½” in length. This will prevent the flame from becoming too large, causing a potential fire hazard. Also, each time you light the candle, remove the excess from the previous burn. Again, aim for ¼-½” in length before lighting.

Placement Perfection

Make sure you place your candle on a heat-safe surface. Check the surrounding area to make sure the flame (or the heat from the flame) is nowhere near plants, lampshades, drapes, etc.

Keep it Clean

When you trim the wick before lighting, be sure to remove the trimmings. To maximize burn time and fragrance, don’t let dust, wick trimmings, hair, or anything else accumulate in the wax pool.

Common Candle Problems

Here’s how to solve some of the most common candle “dilemmas” you may encounter.

Light a Hard-to-Reach Candle

For pillar candles, jar candles that have burned way down, or other hard-to-reach candles, you can light one end of an (uncooked) spaghetti noodle and use it to light the candle.

Secure a Wobbly Taper Candle

Taper candles that don’t stand straight up can not only be a fire hazard, but they can often drip damaging wax onto your table or tablecloth! To secure a wobbling taper candle, wrap a rubber band around the base to fill the gap between the taper and the holder.

Fix a Tunneled Jar Candle

Did you know candle tunneling is one of the most common reasons we don’t get the most out of our candles? “Tunneling” happens when only the center of the wax around the wick melts and burns down, leaving a band of hard wax around the outside. The problem is that when the wax melts only in the middle, you lose valuable burn time!

To fix it, wrap a piece of foil around the jar and pinch it into a dome that covers the unmelted wax ring before lighting the candle. Be sure to leave ample space around the wick so the foil doesn’t catch fire! When you light the candle, the foil traps heat and melts the wax wall, evening out the candle’s surface. 😀

Extend Burn Time

After you snuff out your favorite candle, sprinkle a pinch of table salt into the pool of wax, being careful to avoid the wick. Use a wooden toothpick to mix in the salt, then let the wax harden as normal. This slows the wax’s melting rate and results in a longer burn time.

Repurpose the Candle Container

Raise your hand if you’ve bought a candle because you loved the container! 🙋‍♀️ (SO glad I’m not alone!) Once the candle has burned itself out completely, put it in the freezer overnight. The next morning, the remaining wax will pop right out! Then wash the container and repurpose it as a vase or pencil holder, or buy another candle that will fit in it!

Candle Equipment

Like anything you do, you need the right equipment! I think THIS 3-pc. Candle Accessory Kit is the best. (Not to mention, it’s beautifully packaged and priced right for gifting!) It contains a wick trimmer, snuffer, and a wick dipper.

If you’re not familiar with a “wick dipper,” it simply provides an alternative way to extinguish a candle. By submerging the wick in liquid wax, you extinguish the flame without the typical puff of smoke and soot that can accompany blowing on it.

Another key candle tool I recommend is a flameless candle lighter. I use it to light everything from birthday candles to a fire in the fireplace! It’s a rechargeable lighter that produces a small electric current (totally safe!) that lights your candle without a flame. Buh-bye butane lighters! My kids are all getting these in their stockings this year!

If you or a loved one lives somewhere that doesn’t allow flames, consider a beautiful flameless candle from a high-quality brand like Luminara. These candles are typically a little more expensive than a regular candle, but they last forever, and you can bring them out year after year! How cute is this burnt orange pumpkin flameless candle? I also love their gorgeous metallic pine cone candle for fall AND winter, and they have a darling metallic flameless turkey candle that would be fabulous on a Thanksgiving table along with this cute metallic acorn candle.

Luminara just launched their Holiday Collection, and, of course, I’m already eyeing THIS flameless Joy pillar candle, THESE real bark wood flameless pillar candles, and THESE cute green glitter holiday tree flameless candles. (By the way, I think flameless candles make wonderful gifts for apartment-dwelling adult kids and your senior adult parents!)

If you want a real candle but don’t want a flame, consider a candle warmer plate. (THIS is the one I own!) Or, for a slightly prettier option, try a candle warmer lamp. (THIS pink glass candle warmer lamp at Anthropologie is so pretty!) It heats the wax, so you can enjoy the scent without lighting it. I use one when my candles burn down to the bottom (no wick remains) but still have delicious-smelling wax left!

The Best Fall Candles

After a very scientific poll (Instagram Stories + Suzy’s friends & family! 😄), you’ll find our picks for the best fall candles! (At all different price points.) Several of them are on sale! Click through for detailed descriptions, prices, and more.

Do you have a favorite fall candle? I’d love it if you’d share it with our community in the comments! Thank you so much!