I've been asked this question several times... and I absolutely love it because it shows such incredible love and appreciation for the art of candle making and using.
There is of course the long list of safety precautions that go with candle lighting. Yes, please be responsible with things that have flames or hot liquid.
But beyond this... how should we best light our candle?
First, I think it's so much better to light your candle with a lighter versus with a match. Though long matches are so romantic, once your candle wax is lower in the jar, match flames can leave soot on the side of your jar which is not so lovely. I recently purchased a rechargeable lighter and am absolutely loving it. If you do see soot on your jar, either from lighting with a match or because of a higher burning flame on your wick, you can always wipe the soot off the jar with tissue to keep everything clean and looking nice.
Secondly, candles should not melt all the way to the edge of their container in the first few times you light it. If your candle does this, it will be very hot by the time your wax is in the middle of the jar. This means you won't get to keep the candle lit for very long before it becomes a tremendously hot melt pool. The rule of thumb is to keep your candle lit for about one hour per 2.5 centimetres width. If, for example, you have a new 220 gram Honeywood Candle that you have kept lit for around 3 hours, it is okay to blow out the candle and still see unmelted wax around the edge. This means your candle will last longer.
Lastly, I'm so into old fashioned candle snuffers and wick trimmers. Candle snuffers allow you to put out your flame without accidentally blowing hot wax somewhere you don't want it. Wick trimmers keep your wick nice and neat, allowing the candle to burn longer, cleaner, and more beautifully.
More than anything, the best way to light your candle is to just light it! To allow it to make a less than great day a little brighter or to make a special moment even more special. Then when your candle is through, you can re-purpose the container and look forward to trying out new scents.
Love,
Amy