Do candles have an expiration date?
Candles can expire, but they don't expire the same way food does. Rather than “going bad” or rotting, candles may lose their scent or color over a certain period of time. Most candles are not labeled with expiration dates, so there is not an exact time or day when they will officially be considered expired.
How can I get the most out of candles?
When you buy a candle, you want to make sure you get the most out of it before it loses its fragrance. The following tips will help you get the best use out of your candle.
Use your candles within a year
Most candles should be used anywhere from 12 months (1 year) to 18 months (1.5 years), though this may vary depending on the type of wax a candle is made out of. In the case of 100% natural soy candles, you can expect them to last roughly a year after purchase.
If candles are not used up in that time frame, they may lose their scent. But that doesn't mean you should avoid lighting it at that point. The fragrance oils in candles simply won't be as strong around that time frame. If you want the best results out of your candle, use it within a year.
Keep candles away from heat sources
Wax melts in warm temperatures. Since candles are made out of wax — regardless if the wax is sourced from beeswax, paraffin, or soy — they will melt when left out or near heat sources. This also includes the sun. Candles left out in direct sunlight for a long period of time will melt, even if the wick is not burning.
Store candles properly
Candles may expire faster if they are not stored properly. Many candles come with seals and covers which keep the candle and its smell fresh. At Friendly Candle, we take care when packaging our candles by hand in reusable and recyclable glass jars and encourage you to keep them covered while not in use.
Keeping candles in an airtight container can help prevent the scent from fading while keeping the candle cleaner and free of dust, which can affect the overall quality of the fragrance and wax.
Keep lit candles away from drafts and vents
When a lit candle is set in a drafty area or near some sort of vent, it can cause the flame to sputter or be blown out. Sputtering flames can create an uneven burn, which often results in lower quality burns from then on out. You always want to have a candle that burns evenly.
Trim the wick before burning a candle
Before you light a candle, trim the wick. This can help the candle burn evenly and also reduce some smoking. Too much smoking can discolor the candle's container and accumulate soot marks.
Let the first burn go for several hours, then shorten subsequent burns
When you light a candle for the first time, you'll want to allow the first layer of wax to melt. This can take several hours, but it's worth the wait. Doing this can prevent tunneling, in which only the center of the candle burns down, leaving excess wax on the sides of the glass.
Subsequent burns should not last more than 4 hours at a time. Leaving a candle burning any longer will overheat the wax and reduce the candle's scent.
Help Friendly Candle use, reuse, and recycle
Every part of Friendly Candle's 100% all-natural soy candles are designed to be used, reused, and recycled, but we need you to help us by properly using our candles and reusing and recycling what you don't use.
Learn more about our Ohio candle company or browse our eco-friendly candles today!