Before the invention of the light-bulb in 1878, candles were instrumental in providing light during dark nights.
While nowadays most of us light our homes with a simple flick of a switch, the functionality of candles has not yet diminished. A scented candle in the bathroom brings a relaxing and cozy feel to the space, and a citronella candle will chase away the bugs when you’re sitting out on the porch on a summer evening.
While candles can technically be used for ages, it might surprise you to learn that they do degrade in quality over time.
This post unpacks everything you need to know about whether candles expire.
Table of Contents
Types of Candles and How Long They Last
There are countless candle varieties and manufacturers use many different materials when constructing candles.
Here are some of the world’s top-selling candles and the shelf-life of each type.
Soy Candles
These candles feature formulation with organic materials and no preservatives.
Soy candles typically last around 18-months before the wax starts to degrade and turn bad.
Some manufacturers add preservatives to their soy formulations to extend shelf life; check the packaging for details.
Citronella Candles
These candles have a unique formulation that bugs despise, and they’re great for outdoor areas around the home or camping. These candles have shelf lives of around 24-months before they start to degrade. Lemongrass oil is the primary ingredient in these candles and gives them their characteristic citrus scent.
Yankee Candles
These aromatic candles feature formulation with paraffin wax. As a result, they have a shelf life of five years or longer, depending on the storage conditions. If stored in a cool dark place, they can last for decades.
Beeswax Candles
Beeswax candles have the longest-lasting formulation available. The organic substances in beeswax have natural preservative properties. When stored correctly, they have an indefinite lifespan. Look for candles featuring genuine bees propolis in the formulation.
How to Extend the Service and Shelf Life of Candles
Regardless of the type of candle you have and the conditions of use, there are a few things you can do to extend the service life of your candles.
- Make sure you burn your candle correctly during the first use. Burn the candle, so the wax melts to the edges, forming a protective ridge. This strategy traps any scent in the candle, decreasing the rate of the scent evaporation from the candle.
- Burning your candle incorrectly also protects the wax from moisture in the atmospheric environment.
- During the candle’s lifespan, keep the wick to no longer than ¼-inch.
- To ensure this shielding layer remains intact, do not move the candle until the wax fully sets after this first burn.
- Make sure the wax fully hardens after the first burn to form the protective layer.
- During your candle’s lifetime, keeping the wick no longer than 1/4 inch will elongate its burn time.
- Store your candles in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
