CANCELED PLANS Candle

The First Burn

Burn for 2–3 hours immediately. Wax has a memory; if you don't melt the top layer entirely, it will tunnel out of spite.

Trim the Wick:

Keep it at 1/4 inch. A long wick creates a large, erratic flame, and "uncontrolled fire" is generally a bad look.

Constant Vigilance

Never leave a candle unattended. Waking up to a firefighter in your bedroom is less romantic than it sounds.

Kids & Pets

Keep out of reach. Fur and curiosity are a highly flammable combination.

Drafts

Avoid vents and open windows. A flickering flame is just a fire looking for a new place to live (like your curtains).

Clear the Area

Keep away from books and clutter. Your rom-com collection burns at 451°F.

4-Hour Limit

Extinguish after 4 hours. If the glass gets too hot, it breaks. If it breaks, you have a fiery mess. Do the math.

The End

Stop burning when 1/2 inch of wax remains. Let it die with dignity.

Spills

If you spill wax, let it cool before cleaning. Scraping is annoying; skin grafts are worse.

Reuse

Clean the jar and put a plant in it. The candle is gone, but the glass will haunt your house forever.