Can You Leave A Yankee Candle Burning All Night?
Introduction
Yankee Candles are a popular brand of scented candles, renowned for their long burn times, fragrances, and quality. With their trademark clean-burning natural waxes, innovative jar shapes, and range of over 150 different scents, Yankee Candles have become a staple in many American homes. In fact, the classic Yankee Candle jar is considered an iconic product in the home décor industry.
But with this popularity also comes a common question many Yankee Candle enthusiasts have: can you safely leave a Yankee Candle burning all night while you sleep? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at this question and provide tips on how to maximize your Yankee Candle’s burn time.
Are Yankee Candles Designed to Burn All Night?
Yankee Candles offers candles in a variety of jar sizes, ranging from small 4oz tumbler candles to extra large 22oz jars. The smaller candles like the tumbler and medium jars have an approximate burn time of 20-30 hours. Yankee Candle’s large, extra large, and 22oz jar candles are designed to burn for much longer – up to 110-150 hours.
While Yankee Candle’s larger candle jars have an extensive burn time, they are not specifically marketed as being safe to burn all night long. The company recommends blowing out all candles before going to sleep or leaving the room. Even the longest burning Yankee Candle jars do not guarantee it is safe to keep them lit overnight without supervision.
Dangers of Leaving Candles Burning All Night
Leaving a Yankee Candle or any candle burning all night unattended poses some serious fire and safety risks that all candle users should be aware of.
One of the biggest dangers is the risk of fire if the candle is left burning while you sleep. Candles have an open flame that can easily ignite any nearby combustible materials if the candle gets knocked over or something falls on it. With no one awake to notice, a small flame could quickly grow into a destructive house fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 7,900 home fires are started by candles each year, so it’s very risky to leave any candle unattended at night.
There are also potential issues that can arise even if no fire occurs. One problem is wax pooling, which happens when melted wax accumulates in one area instead of being evenly distributed. This can cause uneven burning, tunneling, and excess smoke. If too much wax pools in one place, it can overflow the candle holder and make a mess. Leaving a candle burning all night increases the chances of wax pooling occurring before the candle goes out.
Additionally, leaving a candle lit too long can result in a build up of black soot on the candle holder and surrounding surfaces. The soot is caused by incomplete combustion and can be difficult to remove. Allowing the candle to burn for prolonged periods increases the amount of soot released into the air.
Safety should always be the top priority when using candles. The risks of unattended candles burning all night greatly outweigh any benefits. It’s much safer to extinguish candles before going to sleep.
Tips for Safely Leaving Yankee Candles Burning
While it’s generally not recommended to leave candles burning unattended or all night long, there are some precautions you can take if you do plan to keep a Yankee Candle lit for an extended period:
– Only leave candles burning in open areas on non-flammable surfaces. Avoid placing the candle near curtains, upholstered furniture, bedding, clothes, or anything else flammable. The kitchen counter or dining table are safer options.
– Check for drafts before lighting the candle. Drafts can cause the flame to burn unevenly and too quickly. Close windows and doors to avoid drafts blowing out the candle.
– Use larger Yankee Candles with longer burn times, such as the large 22-ounce or 24-ounce jars, so you won’t have to relight as frequently. The longer burn times are safer if letting it go unattended. Extinguish shorter votive or tea light candles.
– Never leave a burning candle unattended when going to sleep. Always extinguish Yankee Candles before bedtime or leaving the house. Don’t take risks while sleeping.
Using Yankee Candle Warmers Instead
Yankee Candle warmers provide a safer and more convenient alternative to burning candles all night. Warmers heat the candle wax to release fragrance without an open flame.
Benefits of candle warmers include:
- No fire hazard from leaving an open flame unattended.
- Warmer only uses 25W, much less than a burning candle.
- Maximum fragrance diffusion without wasting wax.
- No residue, smoke or soot that can stain walls or furniture.
- Automatic shut-off if the warmer gets knocked over.
Yankee Candle offers electric and candle-powered warmers in various styles like warming plates, lanterns and scent plugs. The electric warmers are safe to leave on overnight as long as you use the manufacturer’s cord.
Safety tips for warmers:
- Use on a stable, level surface away from flammables.
- Never leave children or pets unattended around a warmer.
- Don’t touch the hot surface.
- Keep wicks trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before warming.
With just a 25W bulb, a Yankee Candle warmer allows you to safely diffuse your favorite scents all night.
Leaving Battery-Operated Candles On
Yankee Candle offers a variety of battery-operated candle options that provide the ambiance of a real candle without the danger of an open flame. The battery-operated candles come in tumblers, jars, and votives to match their regular candle counterparts.
The LED lights in the battery-operated candles flicker just like a real flame to create a convincing effect. However, unlike a real candle, the battery-operated versions can be safely left on for extended periods without risk of fire or wax dripping. This makes them a great option for overnight or long-term use.
To get the most out of battery-operated candles, be sure to use the style of batteries recommended by the manufacturer, usually AA or AAA. The batteries should be replaced frequently to maintain the brightness of the LEDs. Position the candles properly so the fake flame is visible and flickering. Battery-operated candles are safe to leave on all night or even for days at a time.
Using Other Yankee Candle Products All Night
If you want your home to smell like an inviting Yankee Candle all night long, but don’t feel comfortable leaving an actual burning candle unattended, there are other Yankee Candle products designed to be used safely while you sleep.
Yankee Candle makes a wide variety of air fresheners, fragrance oils, wax melts, and tart warmers that can infuse your home with lovely scents for hours. These products don’t have an open flame like traditional candles, making them a safer option for overnight use.
Some popular Yankee Candle products that are safe to use all night include:
- Electric tart warmers and wax melts
- Plug-in scented oil warmers
- Reed diffusers and room sprays
- Scented oils and air fresheners
With reed diffusers, room sprays, and scented oils, simply apply or spritz the fragrance before going to bed. It will continue releasing aroma while you sleep. For warmers, plug them in and add a wax tart or scented oil – these can be left on safely overnight while you reap the benefits of the scent.
As with any electrical device, be sure to use proper precautions and don’t overload outlets. But in general, these candle-free, flame-free products can infuse your home with Yankee Candle scents 24/7.
Maximizing Yankee Candle Burn Time
Yankee Candles are designed to provide long, consistent burn times. However, there are some tips that can help maximize burn time even further:
Trim wicks to 1/4 inch before lighting. Long wicks can create excess smoke and cause the candle to burn too quickly. Keeping wicks trimmed prevents this and allows the candle to burn slower.
Burn in an area free of drafts. Air currents from open windows, vents, or fans can cause the candle flame to flicker and burn unevenly. This leads to faster wax pool melt and shorter burn time. Burn in an enclosed, draft-free area for best results.
Use a candle warmer instead of burning. Candle warmers provide fragrance without burning the wax. This avoids any issues with drafts, wick length, etc. that could impact burn time when lighting the candle. The wax can last much longer when warmed compared to burning.
When to Extinguish a Yankee Candle
Yankee Candles are not designed to burn all night unattended. While it can be tempting to keep a candle burning while you sleep to fill your home with pleasant fragrance, this is very unsafe.
You should always extinguish your Yankee Candle before going to bed or leaving the house. Do not leave a burning candle unattended.
Some signs that it’s time to extinguish your Yankee Candle include:
- The candle becomes too hot. If the jar is uncomfortably hot to the touch, put the candle out.
- The wax fully pools. Once the wax has fully melted across the top, extinguish the candle.
- You are going to sleep or leaving your home. Never leave a burning candle unsupervised.
While Yankee Candles can provide delightful ambiance, allowing them to burn all night poses serious fire risks. Practice candle safety and extinguish your candle before it has burned for more than 4-6 hours.
Conclusion
In summary, while Yankee Candles produce inviting light and fragrance, safety should always be a top priority. These candles are not designed to burn continuously or unattended for long periods. It’s best practice to never leave a Yankee Candle or any candle burning overnight or all day unsupervised.
For nighttime illumination or fragrance, consider battery-operated candles that can operate safely for extended times. Or use Yankee Candle warmers which heat the wax without an open flame. Even when awake, check on burning candles frequently and extinguish them before leaving a room or going to sleep.
With some care and common sense, you can enjoy Yankee Candles safely. But never let safety take a backseat in order to keep them burning all night. It’s simply not worth the risk of fire or toxic emissions. The smartest choice is to relight a extinguished Yankee Candle later as needed. So take pleasure in their charming glow during waking hours, then let the candles rest at night while you do too.