How Long Does A Nest Candle Last?
What is a Nest Candle?
Nest candles, also known as nesting candles or Russian dolls, are a unique type of candle designed to burn in stages. They consist of multiple wax shells nested inside one another, each with its own wick. As the outer candle burns down, the inner candle or candles are revealed one by one.
Nest candles allow you to enjoy multiple fragrances over time. The outer shell may be scented, while the inner shells often have complementary but different scents. Nest candles also provide a longer burning time than standard candles, as they have multiple wicks that light up in sequence. The stylish, colorful designs and unveiling effect make them an appealing decorative piece as well.
What sets nest candles apart is their extended burn time and multisensory appeal. You get to enjoy several distinct fragrances, the visual delight of revealing each new candle, and weeks’ worth of flickering candlelight from one decorative piece. Nest candles liven up any space with their uniqueness and versatility.
How Nest Candles Work
Nest candles are designed to provide a clean, long-lasting burn by using a proprietary wax blend, braided cotton wicks, and premium fragrances. The wax used in Nest candles is a blend of food-grade paraffin, soy, and vegetable-based waxes that have been carefully tested for quality and performance. This proprietary blend allows the wax to melt at a lower temperature, reducing soot buildup and allowing for more fragrance to be released into the air.
The wicks used in Nest candles are made from 100% braided cotton that has been primed with wax to ensure easy lighting and complete burns. Cotton wicks are preferred over other materials because they burn slowly and evenly, without bending or releasing excess carbon that can dirty the candle glass and shorten burn times. Nest wicks are designed to curl as they burn, which centers the flame in the wax pool for full top-to-bottom melting.
Nest uses premium fragrances made from a balance of natural oils and synthetic ingredients. This allows for a stronger, more consistent scent throw compared to candles made with only essential oils. The fragrances are designed to complement the wax formula, ensuring they fully release into the air for maximum aroma. Using high-quality wicks, wax, and fragrance allows Nest candles to provide 50-60 hours of clean, even burning and fragrance per candle.
Nest Candle Sizes
The popular Nest Fragrance brand offers candles in a variety of sizes to suit different needs and spaces:
Votive Candles – These are the smallest Nest candles, about 1.5 inches tall with a burn time of 8-12 hours. Votives are ideal for small tables, centerpieces, and compact spaces.
Pillar Candles – Slightly taller than votives at 2-3 inches, pillar candles have a longer burn time of 20-30 hours. They create a classic tapered pillar shape. Good for dressers, shelves, and dinner tables.
3-Wick Candles – The signature Nest candle, these have three wicks and measure about 3-4 inches tall. With a burn time of 50-60 hours, they create nice ambience in living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.
Nest also offers travel tins, reed diffusers, room sprays, and car fragrances. But their pillar candles, votives, and 3-wick candles remain among the most popular for home use.
Nest Candle Burn Times
Nest candles are designed to provide long burn times compared to other candles. Exact burn times depend on the specific Nest candle size:
3 oz Nest Candle
The small 3 oz Nest candle provides up to 15 hours of burn time. This allows for approximately 4-5 hours of fragrance per burn. With 3 total burns, you can enjoy the 3 oz Nest candle over the course of 2-3 weeks if you limit burns to 4-5 hours each.
8 oz Nest Candle
The classic 8 oz Nest candle offers an impressive 50-60 hours of burn time. This allows for 10-12 hours of fragrance per burn. With 5 total burns, the 8 oz candle can be enjoyed over 1-2 months.
13 oz Nest Candle
Nest’s largest 13 oz candle provides 80-100 hours of total burn time. Each burn will last for up to 16-20 hours of home fragrance. With approximately 5-6 total burns, the 13 oz Nest candle can be enjoyed over 2-3 months.
As you can see, Nest candles are designed to provide exceptionally long burn times for pillar candles. Taking care not to burn them more than the recommended hours per burn will help maximize the life of your Nest candle.
Factors Affecting Burn Time
There are several factors that influence how long a Nest candle will burn, including proper wick trimming, ventilation, and overall candle care. Proper wick maintenance is essential for a long-burning candle. The wick should be trimmed to 1⁄4 inch before lighting, and trimmed again each time the candle is blown out. This helps ensure an even burn without excess smoking or tunneling. Allowing the wick to become too long can cause it to bend over into the melted wax, reducing burn time.
Allowing ample ventilation around the candle is also key. Nest candles should be placed on a heat safe surface away from drafts, vents or frequently opened doors. Oxygen helps fuel the flame, but too much airflow can cause it to sputter out more quickly. Following the recommended safety precautions like keeping the candle away from flammable materials will prevent issues that shorten burn time.
General care also affects burn duration. Allowing the wax pool to completely liquefy on the initial burn, keeping the container clean of wax drips, and allowing the candle to cool completely between burns all help maximize candle life. Practicing these wick trimming, ventilation and care tips will help a Nest candle burn slowly and evenly for as long as possible.
Maximizing Nest Candle Life
There are a few simple tips you can follow to extend the life of your Nest candles and get the most out of each one:
Trim the wick – Before lighting, trim the wick to 1⁄4 inch to prevent excess smoking and uneven burning. Trim the wick again each time before relighting to maximize efficiency.
Use a candle warmer – Candle warmers melt wax via a low-watt lightbulb instead of an open flame. This allows the candle to burn cleanly down to the very bottom without the wick ever being lit.
Burn in cycles – Burn the candle in 2-4 hour cycles, letting it cool completely between burns. This helps the wax melt slowly and evenly without tunneling down the center.
Keep wicks centered – As the wax pool gets deeper, make sure to keep wicks centered to prevent uneven burning along the edges.
Avoid drafts – Shield the flame from drafts which can cause it to sputter and smoke. Move candles away from vents, windows and frequently opened doors.
Storing Nest Candles
Proper storage is important for preserving the fragrance and maximizing the life of your Nest candles. Here are some tips for storing them correctly:
Keep the candles in their original packaging until you are ready to burn them. The packaging helps protect the fragrance oils and keep the scent from dissipating.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat. Places like closets, cupboards, or basement shelves are ideal. Fluctuating temperatures can cause the scent to fade faster.
Avoid storing candles in areas that experience major temperature swings from hot to cold. The wax and oils can sweat and lose intensity of fragrance.
Do not store candles in high humidity areas or anywhere they might get wet. Moisture can damage the wax and alter the scent.
Keep candles away from areas that experience strong cooking odors, petrol, paint fumes or anything that could get absorbed into the wax.
Candles stored properly in their original packaging can retain their scent for up to 1-2 years. After opening, the fragrance may start diminishing within 1-3 months.
Safety Tips
When burning any candle, it’s important to follow basic safety guidelines to prevent injury or property damage. Here are some key tips to keep in mind with Nest candles:
Practice fire safety – Keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, books, paper, etc. Trim wicks to 1⁄4” before lighting to avoid flare-ups. Never leave burning candles unattended.
Supervise use – Children and pets should not be left alone with lit candles. Blow them out if you leave the room. Teach kids to treat candles carefully.
Mind placement – Set candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Don’t place near drafts from windows, vents or fans that can cause rapid, uneven burning. Keep out of high-traffic areas.
Following basic precautions will allow you to safely enjoy Nest candles and have them last through their expected burn times. Never sacrifice safety for the sake of extending candle life.
Recycling and Disposal
Once your Nest candle has finished burning, it’s important to properly dispose of it. The tin container that houses Nest candles is fully recyclable.
To recycle your Nest candle tin:
- Allow the tin to fully cool after the candle has finished burning.
- Use a knife to scrape off any remaining wax stuck to the tin.
- Wash out the tin with soap and water to remove residue.
- Remove any labels from the tin.
- Check with your local recycling facility to see if candle tins can be placed in with regular cans and tins.
- If not, see if any craft stores or donation centers accept recycled tins for art projects or repurposing.
- Make sure the tin is empty and clean before recycling.
Recycling the metal tin keeps it out of landfills and allows the material to be reused. Properly disposing of Nest candles is important for sustainability.
The Takeaway
Nest candles are designed to provide 50-60 hours of fragrance, but burn time varies based on factors like wick length, vessel size, wax pool depth, and air currents. To maximize nest candle life, keep wicks trimmed to 1⁄4 inch, allow full melt pool formation, store candles properly, and follow all safety precautions. With proper care and storage, nest candles can provide weeks of home fragrance. The key is patience – allow candles to burn fully to get your money’s worth. Proper pouring and wick maintenance are also critical. Nest candle users should exercise caution and always supervise burning candles. Overall, nest candles offer an affordable, stylish way to scent any space when used correctly.