Candlelight is magical. You can rely on it to set a mood, create a celebration, or provide a calm ending to a stressful day. There is no doubt that the invention of the light bulb has advanced humankind beyond measure. At the same time, there are some aspects of candlelight that no light bulb will ever replace. The most memorable occasions begin and end in candlelight. Pillar candles offer the longest burning time of most candles. Wicks should always be kept trimmed to approximately 3/8" for best results. Pillars should be burned one hour for every inch in diameter. If the candle is 3 inches in diameter - it should be burned for a minimum of 3 hours. If you blow the candle out before the pool of wax reaches the outside rim, the size of the hole in the center will remain throughout the candles life. You rarely can over burn most quality candles, so don't be afraid to let them burn! The 3-Wick candle is the Granddaddy of all candles! One look at this beautiful candle, and a lot of people are intimidated. But never fear ... with only a little extra care, this candle will burn beautifully! As with pillars, these candles should be burned one hour for every inch in diameter. Most are 6 inches in diameter - so should be burned for a minimum of 6 hours. NEVER trim the wicks. Because these candles have a larger surface, they need the longer wicks for extra heat. Make sure the wicks are not pointed out - as this may create the sides to melt too quickly - causing a "blow out". If a thin "wall" or "triangle" forms after 6 hours of burning, gently hug the wax ... pushing it inwards toward the melted wax. Do not do this too quickly, or the sides will break. But most of all, ENJOY!! Votives are my personal favorite. You don't have to burn them for long periods of time ... and there are so many beautiful votive holders in brass or crystal. Just remember to keep their wicks trimmed ... and as with all other candles - always snuff them out instead of blowing them out. Because quality candles completely liquify when they burn, blowing them out can cause the wick to shift off center. When this happens, it can cause the holder to crack when it's lit the next time, as the flame could be too close to the glass. Tealights are the smallest of the candles. They come in either metal cup (as shown above) or in clear cup. The metal cup tealights should be burned in enclosed holders (ie. tealight houses), and the clear cup tealights should be used anytime the candle is exposed and seen. Tapers are also commonly known as dinner candles. Tapers rarely are scented - and this is to keep them from interfering in the aroma of your meal. However - if your cooking is anything like mine - you'd welcome the candle scent!! :o) There is no required burn time for them, just remember to keep their wicks trimmed. Ball candles will burn inside and leave the outside shape in tact, unless it is a small (3" or less) sphere. Do not extinguish until you are happy with the diameter of the hole. 30-45 minutes of burning usually produces a hole the size of a tealight or votive. When the hole gets a bit deeper you can keep your candle "forever" by just dropping in a votive or tealight rather than burning the candle. Then, when you burn the candle, you're getting the beautiful glow, while keeping the shape in-tact. Jar candles are the easiest to burn ... just light and go! They also make wonderful gifts - I keep several on hand at all times for when I forget to purchase a gift and need one at the last minute. When the candle has burned, you can use the decorative jar (shown above) for various things around the house!! [Candle Page] [Main Page] [Nascar Page] [Background Sets] [Holiday Pages] [Links]