Waste Not with GoodLight Candle Tips
Finally: a candle burn guide that actually answers all of your questions. Here, we’re dropping our hottest tips for cleaner candle care, longer burn times, and more intentional candle rituals.
Whether you’re lighting up a meditative morning or winding down a long day, the way you treat your candle makes all the difference. With proper wick trimming, consistent candle burn times, and a little plant-powered care, your candles can glow brighter, burn longer, and stay beautifully clean from first light to final flicker.
Below, we’re walking through simple, effective candle care tips—from the tip of the wick to the type of vessel—so you can get the most out of every burn.
Why and How to Trim a Candle Wick
A trimmed wick is the foundation of a clean-burning candle. Too long, and it can “mushroom,” lean, or release excess soot. Too short, and the flame struggles, causing tunneling or an uneven melt pool.
The sweet spot? About ⅛ to ¼ inch, trimmed before every burn.
Knowing how to trim a candle wick properly helps regulate flame height and temperature, allowing the wax to melt evenly and steadily. The result is a calmer flame, less soot, longer burn times, and more consistent scent distribution.
Plant-based wax and cotton wicks already burn cleaner than paraffin, but even the best candle performs better with regular wick trimming. It takes seconds — and it changes everything.
Why Does My Candle Wick Look Like a Mushroom?
Carbon buildup causes the dreaded mushroom wick. While it may look unsightly, it’s actually a common occurrence—especially in candles made with natural waxes and essential oils. As the candle burns, tiny carbon particles can collect at the tip of the wick, forming a rounded “cap.”
This mushrooming effect happens more often when a wick is slightly too long or when a candle burns for extended periods without trimming. Left unchecked, it can lead to a taller flame, visible soot, and uneven candle burning, especially in enclosed spaces (the enemy of those who are air-quality-conscious).
The fix is simple: trimming your wick back to ⅛–¼ inch before each burn keeps the flame balanced, the air cleaner, and your candle burning evenly and beautifully.
What’s in a Wick (and Why It Matters)
A little string with a crucial purpose: wicks are the engine of the candle.
So, at GoodLight, we’ve paid very close attention to our use of candle wick materials. Wicks with 100% cotton, free of lead, pair perfectly with our plant-based wax formula to produce slow, stable burning. Wick structure affects flame height, melt depth, and scent throw, which means the composition matters just as much as the wax. A well-made wick distributes heat evenly, helps prevent tunneling, and keeps the melt pool moving at the pace the candle was designed for.
Understanding your wick is understanding your candle. The better the wick, the cleaner the burn.
Burn Times by Candle Type (And How to Maximize Them)
Every candle has its own natural rhythm. Honoring proper candle burn times by type allows the wax, wick, and vessel to work together — rewarding you with hours (sometimes days) of clean, steady burn.
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Small, but Steady: Tea Lights
Burn Time: 2-5 Hours
Tiny, yes - but not to be underestimated. Tea lights burn hot and fast, but when placed on a level, draft-free surface, they give a surprisingly even melt. Burn your tea light in one steady session (3-4 hours) for a full, even melt.
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Slow & Snug: Votives
Burn Time: Up to 15 Hours
Votives are designed to liquify completely, which means the holder is the hero. Choose a snug glass vessel and let the candle burn long enough each session to deepen the melt pool. You’ll be rewarded with an amazingly efficient burn - meaning it’s the best burn for your bucks.
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Might Marathoners: Pillar Candles
Burn Time: 20-60 Hours
A pillar’s burn time depends on its diameter. Thin pillars burn quickly; wide pillars need patience. Give each burn a few hours to reach the edge, then decide whether you want to break away the thinning sidewalls or keep the shell intact. There’s no wrong choice, just personal preference.
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Memory Makers: Ceramic Jar Candles
Burn Time: 2-5 Hours
Jar candles carry a “burn memory.” That first burn sets the tone for every one that follows. Let the wax melt all the way to the edges (one hour per inch of diameter) and you’ll prevent tunneling before it begins.
Scented jar candles include: apothecary jars, ceramic cups, travel tins, and gold tumblers.
5 Common Candle Burning Mistakes
A few tiny habits can make or break your burn:
- Blowing candles out too early
- Skipping wick trims
- Drafty rooms or open windows
- Unstable or heat-sensitive surfaces
Ignoring early signs of soot buildup is another common misstep. Following clean-burning candle tips consistently helps prevent uneven burns, smoke, and wasted wax.
Why Paraffin-Free Candles Burn Cleaner
(& how clean, plant-based candles burn differently)
With heat comes great responsibility. As a flame heats the components of a candle, everything it’s burning goes in the air. That’s why you can smell the fragrance of scented candles – and why conventional candles made with petroleum-derived paraffin are linked with numerous health concerns. You’re literally breathing what you burn.
And so: it’s for good reason that GoodLight’s candles are manufactured with the utmost intention. By using only plant-based wax, cotton wicks, and pure essential & botanical oils, consumers avoid exposure to harmful toxins, while still being able to enjoy the ambiance of a candle. Our candles are developed to lower soot, produce fewer byproducts, and emit a gentler flame inherent of natural ingredients.
And since you’ve already committed to clean quality, a little paraffin-free candle care can make every candle go the extra mile. Wick trimming, proper burn times, and mindful placement allow these candles to perform exactly as they were crafted to: beautifully, intentionally, and with respect for the air you breathe.
Glow Better, Burn Longer
We get it - with so many things to care about these days, candles may not be at the top of your list. But this is all about getting the most from your purchase while bringing some eco-friendly flare into your space. So we’re hoping it comes as Good news that candle care isn’t complicated…it’s consistent. And it’s worth it to care about candle care.
Light with intention, care with purpose, and enjoy every hour your candle was made to offer.