How Long Can Bath & Body Work Candle Burn?

Bath & Body Works is known for their fragrant and long-lasting candles. With iconic scents like Warm Vanilla Sugar, Mahogany Teakwood, and Cranberry Woods, Bath & Body Works candles can fill a room with fragrance for hours on end. But just how long can their candles actually burn? The answer depends on several factors.

Bath & Body Works makes candles in various shapes, sizes, and wax formulations. Larger candles with more wax naturally burn longer than smaller candles. The particular fragrance oils and other ingredients also impact burn time. And environmental factors like room size, ventilation, and drafts affect how quickly the candle releases its scent. With all these variables, Bath & Body Works candle burn times fall within general ranges, but can vary based on circumstances.

What Influences Candle Burn Times

There are several factors that impact how long a candle will burn, including:

Wick Type – The wick is the cord inside the candle that burns. Wicks come in different thicknesses, materials, and shapes, all of which affect burn time. Larger wicks typically burn faster while smaller, braided, or flat wicks burn slower.

Candle Size – In general, larger candles with more wax will burn longer than smaller votives or tealights. The amount of wax directly correlates to burn time.

Ingredients – What the candle is made from impacts burn time. Beeswax and soy wax burn slower than paraffin wax. Essential oils and fragrances will also burn at different rates.

Additives – Some candle makers add ingredients like vybar or stearic acid that make the wax harder. This causes the wax to liquefy more slowly and extends burn times.

Wax Blend – Many candles are made from a blend of waxes, like soy with paraffin or palm. The ratio of waxes affects the burn rate.

Vessel – Containers absorb heat at different rates, which influences wax pool size and burn efficiency. Darker containers increase melt pool size.

Ambient Conditions – Drafts, humidity, altitude, and room temperature all impact burn times. Candles burn slower in cold environments.

Bath & Body Works Candle Sizes

Bath & Body Works offers candles in a variety of sizes. Here are some of the most common candle sizes available:

• Single Wick Candle – These small candles contain one wick and measure 3 ounces. They have an average burn time of 15-20 hours.

• 3-Wick Candle – The classic B&BW candle size contains three wicks and measures 14.5 ounces. They typically burn for 22-24 hours.

• Large Jar Candle – A stepped up version of the 3-wick candle, large jars contain 24-26 ounces of wax and provide 45-50 hours of fragrance.

• 3-Wick Candle Pedestal – Placing a 3-wick candle on a pedestal increases burn time. These candles burn for approximately 30 hours.

• Large 2-Wick Candle – These extra-large candles have two wicks and hold 31 ounces of wax. They burn for 60-75 hours.

Burn Time by Candle Size

Bath & Body Works offers candles in a variety of sizes, each with different approximate burn times:

• Large 3-wick candles are 14.5oz and burn for 45-55 hours
• Medium 2-wick candles are 10oz and burn for 22-30 hours
• Travel size 1-wick candles are 6oz and burn for 15-20 hours
• Mini 1-wick candles are 3.4oz and burn for 7-9 hours

As you can see, the larger the candle size, the longer the burn time. The standard 3-wick candle size of 14.5oz will provide you with up to 55 hours of fragrance. The smaller candles like the mini 3.4oz size only provide up to 9 hours of scent.

Factors that Shorten Burn Time

There are a few common reasons why your Bath & Body Works candles may not burn for as long as expected. The biggest factors that can shorten burn times include:

• Leaving wicks too long – The wicks should be trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent rapid, uneven burning and wasted wax.
• Poor wax pooling – The melted wax pool should reach the entire diameter of the jar to ensure full usage of the wax. Insufficient melting can lead to wasted wax around the edges.
• Burning too long per session – Exceeding the recommended burn time of 4 hours can overheat and destroy the wax.
• Infrequent burning – The wax can harden if the candle isn’t burned regularly, making it difficult for subsequent burns to pool properly.
• Drafts or breezes – Air currents that blow directly on the flame or that shift the melted wax pool can cause the candle to burn unevenly or too quickly.
• Burning in high temperatures – Warm environments can make candles burn faster than normal.

Paying attention to wick length, allowing the wax pool to reach the edges, and burning for reasonable lengths of time in a draft-free space at moderate temperatures will help maximize burn time.

Factors that Lengthen Burn Time

There are a few ways to help extend the life of your Bath & Body Works candles and get the most burn time possible.

Proper wick trimming helps candles burn longer. The wick should be trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent sooting and to allow for complete wax pooling. Using a wick dipper or trimmer every few burns will help the candle perform optimally.

Allowing the wax to fully melt and pool out to the edges of the container is also key. This allows even burning and maximum fragrance release. Avoid extinguishing the candle before the entire top layer of wax has melted.

Burning the candle for at least 2-4 hours at a time enables the wax to pool properly across the entire surface. Shorter burn times can lead to uneven melting and wasted wax.

Keeping the candle away from drafts helps the wax melt straight down and outward. Drafts can cause the flame to tunnel down into the wax which affects burn time.

Using the candle frequently, such as daily or every other day, helps the wax stay softened and makes the candle last longer. Infrequent burning causes the wax to re-harden and makes tunneling more likely.

Safety Tips

When burning candles, it’s important to keep some safety guidelines in mind:

– Never leave a burning candle unattended. Blow it out if you have to leave the room or go to sleep.

– Keep candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans, etc. Drafts can cause the flame to tunnel down into the wax pool, creating a fire hazard.

– Place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Avoid surfaces like wood, plastic or paper which can overheat.

– Keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, drapes, blankets, etc. Leave at least 12 inches of clearance.

– Do not burn candles all the way to the bottom. Extinguish before the last half inch of wax to prevent glass breakage and wick problems.

– Keep wicks trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent smoking, uneven burning and excess mushrooming.

– Allow melted wax to harden before moving a candle to prevent spills.

– Keep out of reach of children and pets at all times.

– Never touch or move a burning candle. Allow to cool completely before handling.

– Avoid burning for more than 4 hours at a time. Trim wick, allow to cool and relight to extend burn time.

Extending Candle Life

One way to make your Bath & Body Works candles last longer is to use a candle warmer instead of lighting the wick. Candle warmers gently heat the wax pool using a light bulb or hot plate, releasing the candle’s fragrance without having an open flame. This slows down the melting process and reduces how much wax is burned off each time you use the candle. Just place the unlit candle on the warmer and flip it on. As the wax pool melts, you’ll smell the lovely aroma just as if the candle was lit – but the wax will last considerably longer. Candle warmers are inexpensive, widely available and safe alternatives to lighting the wick.

You can also extend the life of your candle by not burning it for more than 4 hours at a time. Longer burn times can overheat the wax pool and reduce how much wax is left. Stick to 1-4 hour burn sessions depending on the candle size, blowing it out completely each time. Trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent excess smoke and uneven burning. Allow the wax pool to solidify completely before relighting, generally waiting 2-4 hours. This prevents tunneling, where part of the wax doesn’t melt. With some simple habits like using a candle warmer and avoiding overheating, you can make each Bath & Body Works candle last for many more hours of enjoyment.

Proper Candle Care

There are a few best practices for caring for your candles to ensure proper burning and extend the life of your candle:

• Trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting. Long wicks cause uneven burning, tunneling, and smoking.

• Allow the wax pool to melt all the way to the edges on the first burn. This helps prevent tunneling.

• Don’t let candles burn for more than 4 hours at a time. Longer burns can cause soot buildup.

• Rotate candle occasionally while burning to promote even wax pooling.

• Place candle away from drafts to prevent uneven burning and blown out flames.

• Keep wicks centered while melting to prevent tunneling.

• Allow melted wax to re-solidify before relighting to preserve fragrance.

• Store candle upright when not in use to help wax pool evenly next burn.

By taking care of candles properly and following these tips, you can extend the life of your candle and enjoy it longer.

Conclusion

To summarize, Bath & Body Works candles in the single-wick size typically last between 15-25 hours, the 2-wick size 25-40 hours, and the 3-wick size 40-60 hours. These burn times are approximate, as there are many factors that can lengthen or shorten a candle’s burn life. Some tips to get the most out of your Bath & Body Works candles include keeping wicks trimmed to 1⁄4 inch, not burning them for more than 4 hours at a time, keeping away from drafts, using a candle warmer instead of lighting if the wax pool doesn’t fully melt, and allowing the wax pool to harden completely before relighting.

With proper care and optimal burning conditions, you can maximize the life of your Bath & Body Works candles. But even when following all the recommendations, the above burn times per candle size give a reasonable expectation of how long they typically last before the wax is fully used up.