Choosing the 'right' candle... it's all about the burn time

Recently I received a customer complaint. They weren't happy with their votive candle as it wasn't burning out to the edge of the glass.

Having burned hundreds of them in my lifetime, I gathered my thoughts started questioning! Turns out they were using the votive candle for their morning meditation. They meditate for around 20 minutes. Candle is lit for only 20 minutes. Which brings me to the purpose of this post... about the candle burn times (not the meditation practice).

It is REALLY important when you're choosing a candle, that you think about what the intended use for the candle is - ie how long you will typically burn it for (and in what conditions).

There are a few general pointers:

The wider the candle, the longer you need to burn it for.
Burning guidelines apply to say every second or third burn (ie if you have just lit your Queen B candles one night and you're invited out to dinner, you don't need to decline the invitation because you've just lit your Queen B candles! Just ensure that the next time you light them, you give them a longer burn... enough time to allow them to burn out to the edges).
If you are planning on burning candles outdoors (or in a breezy space) stick to the wider candles (Columns or Gothic Columns in the solid candles and 10cm medium, 15cm medium or 20cm fat in the handrolled pillar candles). Alternatively, invest in a glass hurricane lantern - they will stop the candle smoking and will ensure the candle doesn't drip.

Here's a general guide on choosing the right candle according to your intended burn time.

Burn time <30 minutes