Are you one of those people who simply light up a candle when you need it, blow it out when done and continue with the next task? Most of us probably fall into this category! 

Candles often fail to give us the burn time we expect, simply because we don't treat them properly. A little knowledge and care goes a long way to looking after your candles, extending their lifespan, keeping them looking great and making them cost effective. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind -  

Store your candles in a cool, dry and dark place. Long tapers or dinner style candles are best stored lying flat to prevent them from warping. 

When lighting candles for the first time, burn them until the wax melts across entire top surface to the sides. This prevents your candle from forming a hollow in the centre. To get an idea of time, pillar candles should be burnt for 1 hour for every 2cm of its diameter the first time you light it. Do some calculations to get this right, it will be worth the trouble!

Remove fingerprints, soot markings and dust from the outside of the candle by gently rubbing with a soft cloth dampened with some water. Make sure the candle has cooled down before doing this!  

Blowing out candles is fun, but don't do it. Extinguish your candle with a proper snuffer.  

After a lot of use, the wick may start getting long and very sooty. Trim it down to 5mm before each burn to get an even flame.  

Avoid placing your candles in direct sunlight or under harsh indoor spotlights. The beautiful bold colours will fade over time. 

Try not to burn your candle in a draughty area. Draughts decrease the burn time and can cause uneven burning and excess smoking. Scented candles also lose their effectiveness in a draughty area. 

An efficiently burning candle is one where the flame is not flickering. It is teardrop shaped and upright. If this is not happening, try moving your candle to another spot.  

Scented candles work best in closed areas. Now, we all want fresh air, so burn it for about 30 minutes in a closed room to get the most out of the scent. Then open up the windows and the lovely aroma will remain and be subtly replenished as the candle burns.  

Votives make great holders for all sorts of items after your candle is burnt down. Don't try to dig the candle out with a sharp object. Place the votive in the freezer overnight. Next day, simply turn it upside down, tap lightly and the last remains of the wax will fall cleanly out.  

You can also use the freezer to remove wax drippings from expensive candle holders. Once again, the wax will shrink and simply drop off, rather than being scraped off and damaging the holder.  

Now that you are an expert, buy some glorious candles, light up and create the fabulous ambiance you want in your home, knowing that you are going to get the most out of your candles!