Why the first two hours of burn time can make or break your scented candle

November 8, 2026 — 5:00am

Scented candles bring instant joy to a space, from the initial process of lighting them (only use long matches, please) to being enveloped by their wafting scent as you enter a room.

When it comes to getting the most out of a candle, Nick Smart, founder of Agence de Parfum and Libertine Parfumerie, has some advice. “Keep the wick centred and allow the candle to burn for at least two to four hours on its first use, until the wax has melted evenly across the surface. Before each subsequent burn, trim the wick to around five millimetres [to ensure a clean burn] and position the candle away from draughts to allow the fragrance to disperse evenly throughout the room.”

He suggests picking a candle to suit each room in the house: smaller candles work well in bedrooms and bathrooms; larger candles suit living and dining rooms. A small (100g) candle should burn for about 25 hours, medium (250g) about 50 hours, and large (400g) about 80 hours. Fragrance, of course, is personal but our favourite combinations include fig and cedarwood, sandalwood and amber, and bergamot and neroli.

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