How to burn scented candles with a cotton wick?

During the first burn, you should allow the candle to remain lit until the wax has melted all the way to the edges of the container to create a full melt pool. This process typically takes between one and three hours to complete properly. If you extinguish the candle too early, the wax will develop a "memory" for that tunnel, which means it will only melt down the center in future burns and leave wasted wax on the sides. You should also trim the cotton wick to a length of about 5 mm before every light. A wick that is too long will cause the candle to produce soot, black smoke, and a carbon buildup known as a "mushroom" at the tip. To trim it, you can use a dedicated wick trimmer or a pair of scissors once the candle has completely cooled down.