I know, I know...it seems kind of silly to give you pointers on how to burn a candle, right? Seems pretty straightforward...strike match, light wick, enjoy. If you've taken the time to find 'the one', a super high quality candle in a scent that really takes you there, then there are some simple tricks to getting the most out of your new fiery and beautifully fragranced friend.

-First burn: a good first burn is critical to maximizing the life and burn time of your candle. Always allow your candle to burn for at least one hour the first time you light it. This allows a complete wax pool to form, where the entire top of the candle melts evenly reaching the sides of the candle vessel. You want a complete wax pool to form because this will help your candle burn down smoothly, avoid wick issues, and utilize all wax in the container.

-Trim your wick to about 1/4-1/8" each time you burn to prevent soot and maximize the burn time of your candle. If your wick develops one of those naughty little soot balls at the end, always remove it by gently snipping off...this will keep your precious haute wax clean, looking its best, and prevent smoking.

-Extinguishing your candle: A quality candle should never be blown out (TheCut agrees with me 100% on this topic). Always snuff candles to avoid sooting your vessel, disturbing the wax pool, and disrupting the beautiful fragranced vibe you've created in your home with any smoke that might occur...there's a reason why top quality perfumed candles ship with a lid! Use it to snuff out your fave candle gently and safely.

-Candles are fiery creatures, and if they were an animal, I'd definitely say that they're nocturnal. Store and display candles out of direct sunlight to protect the wax, label, and fragrance.