There is nothing quite like the welcoming glow and sense of ambience a lit candle brings to a room. We explore how to get the very best out of yours, every time it burns.
At Tara Dennis Store we’re always burning a selection from the Cire Trudon candle range to set the mood and if you have visited our stores you'll know we use our exquisite European crystal votives around the shop in vignettes every day too.
Having a beautifully scented home is a welcome sensory touch and burning candles at home not only achieves this, is also a lovely daily ritual to engage in to help unwind and reset your mood each evening.
“One of the best things at the end of a long day is to light candles at home and relax with family.”
For candle aficionados, it’s important to ensure you get the most out of your investment in quality candles by following a few simple rules when burning them.
Read on for our top five tips on how to make your candles last longer.
The key to learning how to burn a candle all the way down is to “set the memory” of your candle the very first time you burn it. This is done by burning it for several hours on the first lighting to ensure the entire surface of the wax melts all the way to the edges of the glass or container, which can take up to four hours, depending on the size of your candle and number of wicks. This will ensure the long life of your candle, as with each use following the first, it will burn slowly and completely across to the edges and avoid the tunnelling effect a shorter initial burn creates, leaving a significant amount of unmelted wax behind.
In order to preserve the fragrance for as long as possible, we recommend burning your candle for around 1 to 2 hours with each burn subsequent to the first. Ensure your wick continues to stand in the centre of the candle after each burn. If an adjustment is necessary this should be done whilst the wax is still molten.
Keep an eye on your candle as it burns throughout the evening and take care not to leave it in the line of drafts. A breeze will always accelerate the burning of a candle and shorten its life.
When held closely over it, a candle snuffer stops the oxygen from reaching the flame of a candle to bring it to a smoky end. Our preferred practice however, is to push the tip of the wick into the melted wax, which will extinguish it but without smoke! The delightful Les Éteignoir is the perfect tool for this task, carefully fashioned for this specific purpose by artisan candle makers with its delicate brass hook designed to reach out, press the wick into the liquid wax and under its grip raise and centre it to be easily lit again.
Yes! Trimming the wick removes the spent material to leave a fresh wick to burn next time without generating smoke. We recommend trimming your candle to approximately 6mm above the surface of the wax following each use.
Tip: put together a candle care kit and keep handy to your living space. Include a lighter or matches, wick trimmer and the Les Éteignoir.
Founded in 2013 by husband and wife team, Nathan and Kristine Brown, SOH candles are created and poured in Melbourne, “To express the purity, freshness, simplicity and ethics of Australia.” Bespoke fragrances are created by Kristine, “The Nose behind SOH,” together with esteemed perfumer Francois Merle-Baudoin and each blend is presented in a vessel designed to reflect the style of the fragrance, from clear glass to crisp white and moody navy or black, to stunning brass. We also sell the lovely glass domes for an extra touch of elegance to their display when not burning.
Created in Normandy, the Carriè Frères use selected wicks with burning properties suited to the blend of essential oils in each fragrance. Each candle is hand poured with the wick set upright as they harden to be perfectly scented and burn beautifully. The range takes us to new levels of freshness and aromatic adventure with floral fragrances such as Orange Blossom and Tuberose, wood fragrances such as Cedar and Ebony and fruit fragrances such as Siracusa Lemon, Tomato and Melon. The eclectic tea plants, herbs and roots fragrances include Spearmint, Bay Laurel and Thyme. Pretty display domes available in the range come with a white timber base.
This is a next level candle experience. Made since 1643 by the oldest candle manufacturer in the world and presented in hand made Italian glass vessels, find the incredible Cire Trudon range of candles - known for the highest quality wax and divine scent - in both our Wahroonga and Balmain stores, as well as online. When in store, lift their display domes (also available for sale) one at a time to sample the fragrance captured within. Each member of our team has their favourite!
The Cire Trudon story - take a bit of history home with you!
Seduced by the maker’s perfectly white candles, the French King Louis XV had the manufacturer supply the court during his regime and they went on to supply the Imperial Court of Napoleon. Today, you can find them in boutique shops on the left and right bank in Paris, with the name Cire Trudon now synonymous with the best candles in the world!
During October Tara Dennis Store in both Wahroonga and Balmain villages will be holding VIP Cire Trudon events which we encourage you to attend and become better acquainted with this incredible range. Details to come.
Wahroonga - 29th October | Balmain - 17th October
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