A candle remembers its first evening. The surface the flame melts that day becomes the limit it will keep, lighting after lighting. This first gesture determines how cleanly the candle burns, how its fragrance diffuses and how many hours it will give you. Here, in order, are the gestures that make the difference.The first burn decides everythingThe first time you light it, let the candle burn until the whole surface of the wax is liquid, from one edge of the glass to the other. Put it out too soon and the flame digs a well in the centre: this is tunnelling. A ring of wax stays on the sides, and with it a share of fragrance that will never be released.For our candles, we recommend burns of one to two hours, long enough for the surface to melt completely. Keep this first lighting for a moment when you will stay in the room: late afternoon, early evening.Before each lighting, the wickA wick that is too long gives a tall, unsteady flame that smokes, darkens the glass and burns the fragrance too quickly. Before each lighting, with the candle cold, trim it to 5 millimetres with scissors or a wick trimmer. Also remove any small charred fragments that have fallen into the wax: they could catch fire in turn.Our candles pair a pure cotton wick, sourced in Europe, with an entirely plant-based rapeseed wax, free from paraffin. Well trimmed, the wick gives a calm, steady flame that melts the wax gently.The right length: not too short, not too longToo short, and the burn creates a tunnel. Too long, beyond two hours, and the wick starts to “mushroom”: a small carbon deposit forms at its tip, the flame grows, the glass heats up and the candle burns faster than it scents. In between, one to two hours are enough for the room to take on the fragrance and for its trail to linger once the flame is out.Burned this way, a 240 g Signature Candle lasts about 60 hours, some thirty evenings. The 70 g Petite Candles of From Dawn to Dusk · Trio Gift Set No. 1 burn for about 20 hours each.A flame sheltered from draughtsA breath of air makes the flame flicker: it smokes, burns unevenly and hollows the wax on one side. Place the candle away from an open window, a swinging door, a fan or an air-conditioning vent. Air the room before lighting instead: the flame needs still air.A few rules are not negotiable: a stable, heat-resistant surface, nothing flammable nearby, a flame never left unattended, out of reach of children and pets.Putting it out without smokeBlowing on the flame can spatter wax and releases a wisp of smoke that masks the fragrance. Use a snuffer instead, which smothers the flame in a few seconds. Once the wax has cooled, top the candle with a monogrammed glass lid: it protects the surface of the wax between rituals.Knowing when to stopWhen only about one centimetre of wax remains at the bottom of the glass, do not light the candle again: the flame, too close to the base, would heat the glass. This is the moment to give it a second life. Our jars, crafted in Tuscany by master glassmakers, are designed to be reused and refilled: we explain how to clean them in What to do with an empty candle jar.Small mishaps, simple solutionsThe flame gives off black smoke. The wick is too long, or a draught is disturbing it. Put it out, let it cool, trim the wick, then relight it somewhere sheltered.A tunnel has formed. At the next lighting, without leaving the room, wrap the top of the glass in a sheet of aluminium foil, leaving an opening in the centre: the heat, sent back towards the edges, melts the wax left on the sides. Remove the foil as soon as the surface is level.The flame is tiny. The wick is too short and drowning in wax. With the flame out and the wax still liquid, soak up a little wax around the wick with a paper towel, then relight.Six fragrances, four virtues: discover our botanical candles, poured in the Loire Valley, their fragrances composed with a French perfumer and developed in Grasse. Torn between two fragrances? Your remedy guides you in four questions.Frequently asked questionsHow long should a candle burn the first time? Until the whole surface of the wax is liquid, from edge to edge. For our candles, we recommend burns of one to two hours.Should the wick be trimmed every time? Yes, ideally before each lighting, with the candle cold, to 5 millimetres.How long does a Maison Monravel candle last? About 60 hours for a 240 g Signature Candle and about 20 hours for a 70 g Petite Candle, in good burning conditions.For any other question, our FAQ gathers our advice for use.
