Candle care

How to Make Your Candle Burn Longer

Trim the wick, nail the first burn and stop tunneling. Simple candle care that gets you every hour you paid for.

The Strike + Burn team
October 17, 2026 · 3 min read

Strike And Burn Big Energy Candle Collection In 4Oz &Amp; 8Oz Clear Glass Jars On Peach Background

You bought a candle with a hilarious name. Now make it last. With a little care, a Strike + Burn 4 oz candle burns about 30 hours and an 8 oz candle about 60 hours. Here is how to get every one of them.

1. Nail the first burn

The first time you light your candle matters most. Let it burn 2 to 3 hours, until the melted wax reaches the edges of the jar. If you blow it out early, the wax remembers. Next time it melts only that smaller circle and starts digging a tunnel down the middle, leaving wasted wax on the sides.

After that, keep the same rhythm: 2 to 3 hours at a time, until the melt pool reaches the edges.

2. Trim the wick every time

Before every burn, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. A long wick makes a big, flickering flame that burns through wax faster and can leave soot on the jar. A short wick burns calm and steady.

3. Keep the wick centered

Keep the wick centered, and do not leave wick bits or matches in the wax. Bits in the wax can catch and make the flame uneven.

4. Pick the right spot

Burn your candle on a heat-resistant, level surface, away from drafts. Open windows, fans and air vents make the flame dance, which means uneven melting and a shorter life. Do not move the candle while it is lit or until the wax has set.

5. Put it out the right way

Use a wick snuffer or the lid to put out the flame without smoke. Blowing it out works, but the snuffer or lid keeps the smoke down.

6. Know when to stop

Stop burning when 1/2 inch of wax is left in the jar. That last bit protects the bottom of the glass from getting too hot. After that, the jar is ready for its second life.

Safety first, always

Never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep it in sight.
Keep it away from kids and pets.

Why our candles burn clean

Every Strike + Burn candle is made in-house in the USA with USA-farmed coconut-soy wax and eco-friendly cotton wicks, free of lead and zinc. Our fragrances are free from parabens and phthalates, California Prop 65 compliant and meet IFRA safety standards. Good care plus good ingredients means a clean, steady burn from the first light to the last.