Who doesn’t love a good candle? Especially these days when they come in all sorts of pretty packaging, glass canisters and with all sorts of scents so good you could eat ’em!
WATCH: How to make a wooden candle holder
Putting flint to tinder and lighting up your favourite scent from your favourite candlemaker is an ideal way to pump beautiful aromas throughout your home, add mood lighting for a dinner party or intimate night in or just add a bit of pizzaz to your living spaces, but using them comes with a warning – be careful!
According to NSW Fire, well over 154 residential fire callouts were candle-related in the 22 months before April 2011, so knowing the best way to burn is essential. Here are some common mistakes people make and easy ways around them.
Do not leave a burning candle unattended – if you’re not nearby to watch what those flames might attach themselves to, that’s when drama starts.
Way around it: Think about investing in a nice candle holder to keep those flames enclosed and manageable. This rose gold one from Dusk would look look stunning in any home.
Candles should always burn on a flat, even surface – if they’re uneven, wax can pool and tip out, damaging furniture, burning or hurting you or someone else and even cause a fire.
Way around it: Burn your candle of choice in a room that has this sort of surface built-in already, like the bathroom or kitchen, where you can keep an eye on it. Any candle from Circa Home’s range is the perfect choice.
Make sure the wick of the candle is upright and trimmed to as close to 7mm as possible during use and each time candle is relit.
Way around it: Buy a candle wick trimmer to ensure a clean burning candle. Like this stunning one from Glasshouse Fragrances.
If your candle is in a glass container or jar, stop burning before the wax burns down to about 13mm from the bottom – you don’t want to shatter the glass!
Way around it: Get an open-topped jar candle that can breath and you can easily observe. Like this one from Adore Beauty.
Don’t move the candle whilst it’s alight – flames travel!
Way around it: If you do have to move a candle and have run out of matches or can’t find the lighter, at least make sure its got a lid so it causes no drama. Glasshouse Fragrances’ range all include candles in a protected case.
You should not use water to extinguish a candle.
Way around it: A swift wave of air from the flat palm of your hand should do it. Or you can think about getting a candle snuffer like this gorgeous one from Diptyque.
Do not light candles near draughty areas – sure, dancing flames are pretty, but unsafe if they’re near anything flammable.
Way around it: You could always pop them in a protected candle holder like these stunning ones from Pillow Talk.
Keep burning candles away from children and pets – they might be a bit too young to know what to do and cause serious injury to themselves.
Way around it: Get yourself a candle holder that’s too heavy to move and too sealed-up to drip anywhere like this ceramic and glass pillar candle holder. Problem solved.
Some final tips for candle safety:
Do not place candles near anything flammable, such as paper, fabrics, plastics (or poly clothing/fabrics), aerosol cans, and food products.
Do use a flame extinguisher or a wave of wind from your hand to extinguish the flame. Blowing the flame out with your mouth might send wax flying and damage property or someone else.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
