Okay, okay, there is alot of candle lovers like me out there, I know.  I do however; have some tips and information (for those who wish to have it) about getting the best burn quality from the candles you purchase.  I know that some of these things I'm going to talk about are common sense things that you probably already know.   I do want to share some things that most of the customers I talk to are quite surprised to learn.  These aren't things people tell you when you go to your local store to purchase a stocked candle. 

Use the info if you can, if you already know these things: kudos to you, burn safely & enjoy!  I in no way want to offend anyone about what they do or do not know, I'm just here to offer information.

1. If you purchase a custom order candle (NOT-premade or stocked on the shelf ready to go), allow 10 days after the making of the candle before lighting it.  It takes approx. 10 days for the candle scent to cure (lock in) into the wax.
2. Know how to trim the wick(s) for the type of wax you are burning.  Different waxes (paraffin - gel) require different trimming lengths.  If you do not know how short to keep the wick or when to trim the wick ask the person you are buying your candle from or read their safety/caution label on the container.
3. Candles have a memory!  Yes, they do, let me explain.  Have you ever purchased a candle, brought it home, lit it and then watched it burn a hole right down the middle of the jar?  Yes, I thought so.  We all have.  Anyway, one of the key tricks to avoiding that dreaded hole down the middle is in the way that you burn it for the very first time.  Don't assume it's a bad candle.  When you light a candle for the FIRST  TIME, you need to let it burn until the melted wax is all the way across the top of the jar.  For most candles that means approx. 1 hour for every inch of the diameter of the jar.  In other words:  your jar candle is about 4" wide (I'm using a 16oz Apothecary Jar for an example), it should take 3 1/2 to 4 hours (give or take) for it to burn all the way across the top.     If you do not allow it to burn all the way across the top on the first lighting then you will most likely experience the dreaded hole down the middle of your jar with excess wasted wax around the inside of the jar.   To get your money's worth, you want it to burn all the way across the jar and all the way down with little or no waste, until it's time to extinguish the candle.
4. Just because you need to let it burn all the way across does not mean that you cannot trim the wick as needed.  You MUST keep the wick trimmed as necessary for the candle you are burning.  You can do this carefully, while keeping it lit, or blow it out, trim it & quickly re-light.
5. It's time to exinguish the candle (jars) when you have between 1/4" to 1/2" of wax at the bottom of the jar.  1/2" is the recommended for prevention of glass shattering when the jar gets too hot.   
6. Make sure that if you are burning a candle with decorations that the flammable decorations are removed before lighting:  (homespun, shapes; ribbons, ties; figurines, etc.
7. Make sure to keep candles that do not have a jar, such as; pillars, grubbies; desserts, electric candles, etc on a non-flammable tray, holder of some sort at all times, otherwise you could damage your furniture surfaces, worse yet burn the place down.    
8. Pillars, votives & grubbies also have their own little set of wick trimming (burning) instructions.  I'll try to get to that in another guide.    
9. Follow standard safety tips when burning your candles in regards to:  don't leave a lit candle around Children or pets, EVER.  Don't leave a lit candle near drafty areas: Doors,window.  Never, Ever, Ever leave lit candles unattended for any length of time.                     That's all for now.  I hope someone can use the info about the dreaded hole down the middle.  Thanks for reading.  Margaret