The way you burn your candle greatly affects its performance and longevity. To get the most out of your candle, please follow the steps below: - Before each burn, it is important that you trim the wick to 1/4" so that the candle burns down slowly and evenly. - The first burn is the most important because it creates a 'burn memory'. Please allow it to burn for at least 2 hours, or until the melted wax reaches the edge of the jar. By creating this wide 'burn memory' your candle will burn down properly and have a greater fragrance throw. - Any wax or soot residue on the sides of the jar can be wiped away easily with a paper towel after each burn. - As with all container candles, try to leave about 1/4" of wax at the bottom of your candle to avoid the glass from overheating. On rare occasions, this overheating can cause the glass to shatter. - Never leave a candle burning unattended. - Keep your candle away from children, pets and flammable objects.