Should I Light All Three Wicks On A Candle?

Multi-wick candles have become increasingly popular in recent years. Unlike regular candles with a single wick, multi-wick candles contain two, three, or sometimes even more wicks. This allows the candle to produce a brighter flame and fill a room with more scent. However, lighting all the wicks on a multi-wick candle is a point of debate among candle enthusiasts.

Some argue that lighting all the wicks causes the candle to burn too quickly, while others say it helps the wax pool evenly. Safety is also a concern, as having all wicks lit produces a much larger flame. There are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches, and best practices may vary based on the specific candle. This article will explore the pros and cons of lighting all wicks on multi-wick candles to help readers make an informed decision.

What Are Multi-Wick Candles?

Multi-wick candles are a type of candle that have two or more wicks, as opposed to standard single-wick candles. The multiple wicks are used to provide more light, better scent dispersal, and more balanced and efficient burning.

Multi-wick candles utilize multiple wicks spaced evenly across the top of the candle. This allows for a larger candle diameter without the issues that can arise from an overly large single wick, like tunneling. The multiple wicks generate more heat to melt the top layer of wax more quickly and evenly, helping prevent tunneling by maintaining an even melt pool across the surface as the candle burns down.

In addition to more balanced burning and better fragrance diffusion, multi-wick candles also produce brighter, fuller light compared to standard single-wick candles. The multiple flames give off more ambient illumination. Multi-wick candles also tend to have a longer burn time than an equally sized single-wick candle.

Manufacturer Recommendations

Most major candle brands like Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, and Chesapeake Bay Candle provide instructions on properly lighting multi-wick candles on their websites or product labels.

The general consensus is that all wicks should be lit in order to evenly distribute the melt pool and allow for proper wax pooling. Lighting all wicks helps prevent tunneling, which is when wax melts unevenly around just one or two wicks.

Specifically, Yankee Candle recommends lighting multi-wick candles from the outside in, or by lighting the tallest wick first. They advise against leaving just one wick lit, as this can cause the glass to crack from uneven heating.

Bath & Body Works echoes the advice to light all wicks at once to prevent tunneling. They recommend using a long lighter to easily reach all wicks.

Chesapeake Bay Candle suggests allowing all wicks to melt together for a couple hours before extinguishing any so that the wax pool is even. They also advise against leaving a candle unattended with all wicks lit.

So in summary, lighting all wicks is the standard guidance from reputable candle brands for optimal performance and to prevent damage to multi-wick candles.

Benefits of Lighting All Wicks

Lighting all three wicks on a multi-wick candle provides some key benefits compared to only lighting one or two wicks:

Burns Wax More Evenly

Having all three wicks lit helps the candle burn the wax more evenly across the entire surface. With just one wick lit, the candle tends to tunnel down in one spot rather than melting the wax evenly everywhere. Lighting all wicks creates more heat to melt wax evenly.

Prevents Tunneling

As mentioned above, lighting only one wick often leads to tunneling, where a hole burns down into the candle. Tunneling makes the candle unusable once the hole becomes too deep. Lighting all three wicks helps prevent tunneling by melting the top layer of wax across the entire surface.

Stronger Scent Throw

Having all three wicks lit maximizes scent throw from the candle. More wicks and more heat from the flames help diffuse and disperse the candle’s fragrance more strongly into the surrounding area. With all wicks going, you’ll get the full scent experience the candle has to offer.

Drawbacks of Lighting All Wicks

While lighting all wicks on a multi-wick candle may seem appealing, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:

Burns Faster/Shorter Lifespan – With all wicks lit, the candle wax will melt and burn at a faster rate. This leads to a shorter lifespan for the candle overall. Lighting fewer wicks can help prolong the candle’s burn time.

Higher Risk of Soot/Blowouts – Multi-wick candles with all wicks lit have more flame power. This makes them more prone to issues like sooting (buildup of black smoke on the glass) or blowouts where the flame gets too large. Lighting fewer wicks lessens these risks.

More Expensive – Since the candle burns down faster with all wicks going, you’ll go through candles quicker. Buying replacements more often can become costly compared to lighting fewer wicks and extending each candle’s lifespan.

While lighting all wicks provides maximum fragrance and brightness, the downsides are important to weigh. Lighting fewer wicks can still provide an enjoyable experience while minimizing drawbacks.

Tips for Lighting All Wicks

When lighting all three wicks on a multi-wick candle, it’s important to follow some tips to ensure proper and safe burning:

Trim the wicks – Make sure to trim all the wicks to the same height before lighting. Having uneven wick lengths will cause the wicks to burn at different rates.

Space the wicks evenly – Position the wicks evenly spaced apart on the candle. Having wicks too close together increases the risk of flare-ups.

Use a candle lamp – Light the candle inside a candle lamp or hurricane lamp. The glass surrounding the flame helps regulate airflow and prevent burning too strongly on one side.

Following these simple tips will allow all three wicks on a multi-wick candle to burn evenly and safely.

When to Avoid Lighting All Wicks

While lighting all wicks on a multi-wick candle can provide benefits, there are certain situations where it’s better to avoid having all wicks lit at once:

If the wicks are uneven – If one or more wicks are shorter than the others, lighting all of them can cause the candle to burn unevenly. The taller wicks will melt more wax and tunnel down into the candle, while the shorter wicks won’t burn as efficiently. In this case, it’s best to trim the wicks to all be the same height before lighting them all.

In drafty areas – Drafts and wind currents can blow out some wicks while leaving others lit. This can lead to uneven burning. It’s safest to only light two wicks at a time if you’ll be using the candle in a drafty area.

If the candle struggles to stay lit – Some multi-wick candles, especially those with 4 or more wicks, can have trouble staying lit even when out of drafts. The many wicks compete for the wax pool. If you notice the flame flickering or wicks going out, reduce to lighting just 2 or 3 wicks at a time.

In general, pay attention to how evenly and strongly your candle burns with all wicks lit. If it seems to struggle, reduce the number of flames. Lighting just 2 wicks is often sufficient for a bright, even burn.

Maintaining Multi-Wick Candles

Proper wick maintenance is essential for multi-wick candles to burn evenly and safely. Here are some tips for keeping your candle wicks in optimal condition:

How to Trim Wicks

Use sharp scissors to carefully snip the wicks to your desired height. Avoid leaving ragged edges which can affect the burn. The ideal is a straight cut wick.

How Often to Trim

Wicks should be trimmed before each use to maintain an even flame height. As the candle burns down, the wick becomes longer which makes the flame get taller and potentially create more smoke or an uneven melt pool.

Proper Wick Length

For most multi-wick candles, trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch or 1⁄2 inch before lighting. Refer to your candle’s specifications but generally a shorter wick of 1⁄4 inch is recommended for the first burn to prevent an initial large flame. After the first burn, 1⁄2 inch wicks are standard.

Trimming wicks regularly prevents them from becoming engulfed in melted wax as the candle burns lower. This helps the candle burn evenly for a clean and efficient burn.

Safety Precautions

When burning a multi-wick candle, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are some tips for safe candle usage:

Don’t burn unattended – Never leave a burning candle unattended. Make sure to extinguish the candle before leaving the room or going to sleep. Unattended candles can easily be knocked over by kids or pets, resulting in fire.

Keep away from flammables – Place your multi-wick candle a safe distance away from anything flammable like curtains, furniture, bedding or decorations. Keep a minimum distance of 12 inches.

Use a candle holder – Always keep your multi-wick candle in a proper candle holder made of a heat resistant material. This helps contain dripping wax and prevents the candle from tipping over and starting a fire.

By following basic candle safety rules, you can enjoy your multi-wick candle without worry. Be sure to keep lighters and matches out of reach of children too.

Conclusion

In summary, lighting all the wicks on a multi-wick candle can provide benefits like an even melt and fuller fragrance, but also has potential drawbacks like more heat and faster wax consumption. The manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed first and foremost when deciding whether to light all wicks. If lighting all, space the wicks apart and keep them trimmed to the proper height to reduce risks. Avoid lighting all wicks in containers without enough wax volume or airflow. With reasonable precautions, lighting all wicks can enhance the performance and experience of high-quality multi-wick candles. But safety should always come first.