I bought a candle at a mega-store, it listed on its label a 70-hour burn time. It is a 3x3 round candle. I was elated I could relax to the flickering of a vanilla scented room up to 70 hours for a mere $4.99 (plus tax and fossil fuel emissions hauling it back to my place).
I have been burning it for maybe 7 nights, up to 4 hours. IANAMathematician but I think that equates to roughly 28 hours.
I’m not absolutely certain 4 hours is completely accurate, as many nights its blaze perished sooner. Not at all do I remember extinguishing it at more than 4 hours of flame life.
It is all but an empty hull now, no more midnight burns.
But what am I to do?!? Do you think mega-store will accept the shell of a retired candle? What proof do I have that I received only half the value I was led to believe I would receive? That I was overcharged? To whom do I complain? The candle should have cost me ~$1.99.
Well, I do have the other. Perhaps this candle was a lemon (though smelled vanilla) and the other will burn as advertised.
IANA candleologist but I believe candle burn times work on the assumption that you leave them “on” all the time. If you start/stop them, you don’t burn the whole thing and end up with a tube with a ton of unused wax
I’m not a candleologist either, but I do make pillars and votives as a hobby. Generally, assuming the wick used is the correct type for the diameter of the candle, if you burn a candle for one hour per inch in diameter, you won’t end up with the empty shell o’ candle. If you burn it for longer than that, you can run into problems with losing too much wax (it goes over the side).
So, one hour per inch in diameter, or, just watch it and when the melt pool reaches the veeeery edges of the candle, extinguish, and your candle will stay pretty and last longer.
If I were you, I’d try to warm it up a bit, making the wax more malleable, and gently fold the sides in to fill the center. Make sure if you do this that you don’t screw up the wick, as that’s really more important than the wax.
I should also add that things like drafts and the position of the wick (it needs to be centered properly, look at a candle before you buy it, if the wick is off-center, you’re not going to get an even burn from it) can also affect whether or not the candle burns nicely.
I dunno. I saw nothing in the story that mentioned the appropriate trimming of wicks. I suppose it would be nice if candles came with instructions, but if one has decided to taint one’s room with vanilla, one should probably take the time to keep the wick trimmed to the appropriate length to prevent tube burn.
For those who thought that burning a candle actually meant turning the candle on and off with a match and snuffer, here are some guidelines.
You might also take note of the length of the wick when burning candles in the future. Most candle makers recommend that you keep the wick trimmed to 1/4" or so. If it gets longer than that, the candle will burn with a larger flame, create soot, and get used up more quickly. That, and letting the candle burn long enough to create a melt pool out to the edges should extend candle life greatly.
As for the candle you have left, you can buy inexpensive stiff, trimmable wicks and the little metal bases for them (often in packs of ten or so, already assembled) at most hobby stores. You might consider melting your remaining candle wax into a jar or rocks glass and inserting a wick with base into the center. Then, once it cools, you’ll have a nice, new jar candle. You’ll also find that hobby stores carry lots of candle-making materials and if you enjoy candles a lot you might find you can make them quickly and more inexpensively yourself.
either, but I do make pillars and votives as a hobby. Generally, assuming the wick used is the correct type for the diameter of the candle, if you burn a candle for one hour per inch in diameter, you won’t end up with the empty shell o’ candle. If you burn it for longer than that, you can run into problems with losing too much wax (it goes over the side).