If you love candles, you’re likely familiar with the tools that can be beneficial to use along with those candles. Candle snuffers, wick trimmers, and candle toppers are not only convenient tools when you love burning candles on a regular basis but they’re a lot of fun too. If you’ve never purchased a candle topper before, you may wonder if it works because this isn’t a device that looks very effective.
So do candle toppers really work or are they just devices sold by candle stores to make extra money? The simple answer is yes, they do work. They reduce the movement of the wick and eliminate the flicker, which results in a more even burning experience that is beneficial in many ways.
Contrary to what many people think, there are ways to burn candles and things to avoid when burning candles. Once you learn some of the tips considered important, your candle-burning experiences will be much more enjoyable from now on.
The Basics of Burning Candles
Despite what some people may think, there are certain dos and don’ts when burning a candle. First of all, let’s talk about some of the things that people dislike about candles and why candle toppers can eliminate some of those problems.
One of the things people dislike the most is the blackened glass that can occur after you’ve been burning the candle for a while. This is usually caused by the wick being too long as well as it moving around too much. Ideally, wicks should be no longer than a quarter-inch because if they are longer than that, the flame moves around too much and gets too close to the sides of the jar, causing the smoke to blacken the side of the jar.
Candle toppers go a long way in alleviating these problems because the flicker and movement of the wick is reduced quite a bit, which does several things. First of all, it means a much more even burn but since there is a hole in the middle of all candle toppers, it also means that the top of the wick is drawn towards that hole, allowing it to stand up straighter and away from the sides of the glass. This results in less blackening on the sides of the jar.
Candle toppers also do something else that is important. These toppers are not used with tealights and votives but only for larger pillar-type candles. One of the rules for these larger candles is that they should burn for a minimum of one hour for every inch they are in diameter.
For example, a three-inch pillar candle should be burned for a minimum of three hours each time that you burn it. This way, the melted wax is allowed to pool up in the center of the candle and spread out until it reaches the end.
If you think about it, it makes sense. When wax melts only in the center of the candle and then you blow it out, the center of the candle is going to be deeper than its sides, making it uneven. Over time, this results in a candle that you’ll likely want to throw out because it won’t burn properly after a while.
A good candle topper allows the wax to melt in a bigger pool, which will automatically spread out to the ends of the candle and allow it to stay flat and even all the time even as it gets shorter.
Read more about Candle Tunneling: A Complete Guide (and fix it).
Test it Out Yourself
If you are still hesitant that candle toppers work, you can experiment with it yourself. First, light a large jar or pillar candle and watch the flame as it flickers about and moves. Then, place a topper on top of the candle and view the flame again. You’ll immediately notice that both the wick and the flame stop moving about so much and make everything more even as well.
A lot of this has to do with the way that candle toppers are made. Candle toppers cover the top of the jar and have holes all over them. There is a single, larger hole in the center and dozens of smaller holes throughout the rest of the topper.
The large center hole draws the flame upward and the smaller holes on the sides of the topper allow the replacement air to go back into the candle, resulting in a candle that burns much more efficiently and cleanly, not to mention more evenly.
Of course, candle toppers for even burn have a functional use that absolutely works the way it’s supposed to work but are there any other advantages associated with these devices? Of course, there are and below are a few of them:
- They are absolutely gorgeous and do a great job of making the candle more decorative.
- They come in hundreds of designs and themes, allowing you to find one that is perfect regardless of your interests.
- If you turn out the light before you burn the candle, they’ll reflect a beautiful pattern on your ceiling and walls.
- They are made out of a sturdy steel and therefore will last for many years to come.
- Regardless of where you buy your candle topper, they will fit other brands of candles easily.
- They are easy to care for and to clean.
- They are easy to find and even easier to afford.
There is also one word of caution for those who choose to use these toppers. When your candle has been burning for a while and you blow it out, never try to immediately remove your topper because just like the candle, the topper is going to be hot.
Always let it cool off before you decide to remove it but you likely won’t want to remove it even then because this is a device you can keep on your candle until you no longer have a candle there to burn.
A Decision You Won’t Regret
Because candle toppers work so well, you might think that they are expensive but you can get these toppers almost anywhere for no more than $5 to 10 each. If you’re sick and tired of seeing black all over the sides of your candle jars or uneven candles that you have to discard before their time, purchasing a candle topper will eliminate those problems and therefore is a decision you won’t regret.
They are also easy to find because you can purchase candle toppers for jar candles anywhere candles are sold, from brick-and-mortar stores to stores found online. Check the price on Amazon.
Some Final Thoughts
For candles to burn clean and even, you need a candle topper.
These are very inexpensive devices that you can purchase several of without breaking the bank. They work because they reduce the flickering of the fire and keep the wick standing up straight as well as allow the melted wax to pool up in the center and spread faster to the sides of the candle.
Both of these things are needed for your candle to burn without blackening the glass or becoming shorter in the middle than it is on the sides.
If you’ve never used a candle topper before, you owe it to yourself to give one a shot. They are cheap, well made, easy to use, and, most importantly, extremely effective. And besides, once you use it even for a short period of time, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to purchase one.