Store candles somewhere cool, dark, and dry, with the lid on, and they will hold their scent and colour for a year or more. Heat, sunlight, and humidity are what fade a candle before you have even lit it, softening the wax and dulling the fragrance.
Here is how to keep your candles at their best between burns and out of season.
How should you store candles?
The rules are simple, and they all come down to keeping candles away from heat, light, and moisture. To store candles well:
- Keep them somewhere cool, ideally between about five and twenty-five degrees, so soy wax does not soften.
- Store them out of direct sunlight, which fades both the colour and the fragrance.
- Put the lid or a cover on to hold the scent in and keep dust out.
- Stand them upright so the wax sets level and the wick stays centred.
- Keep them away from humidity, since damp can affect the wick and the label.
Do candles expire or go off?
Candles do not spoil the way food does, but the fragrance does fade over time. A well-stored soy candle holds its scent beautifully for around one to two years, and it is still safe to burn after that, it just will not smell as strong. For the best scent throw, use your candles within about a year and store the ones you are saving with the lid on.
Why does sunlight ruin candles?
Sunlight is a candle’s worst enemy in storage. Ultraviolet light fades the colour of the wax and breaks down the delicate fragrance oils, so a candle left on a sunny windowsill loses its scent far faster than one kept in a cupboard. Direct sun can also warm and soften soy wax, which has a low melting point. Keep candles off windowsills and out of conservatories.
How to store candles in the heat
Soy wax softens easily, so warm weather needs a little care. Keep candles out of hot cars, off sunny sills, and away from radiators, ovens, and heaters. A cool cupboard or drawer is perfect. If a candle does soften in the heat, let it cool and set on a level surface before you move or light it, so the top stays even.
Storing seasonal candles between seasons
If you rotate scents through the year, pack the out-of-season ones away with their lids on, somewhere cool and dark, ideally in their original box. They will be ready to go when their season comes back around. Good storage is really just an extension of good candle care that makes your candles last longer.
Treat your candles kindly between burns and they will reward you with their full scent every time you light them. The rest of the routine is in our candle care and safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
How should you store candles?
Store candles somewhere cool, dark, and dry, standing upright with the lid or a cover on. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat and humidity, all of which fade the scent and soften the wax. A cupboard or drawer is ideal.
Do candles expire?
Candles do not spoil, but their fragrance fades over time. A well-stored soy candle keeps its scent for around one to two years and stays safe to burn beyond that, just with a weaker throw. For the strongest scent, use candles within about a year.
Should you store candles with the lid on?
Yes. A lid or cover holds the fragrance in, keeps dust and debris off the wax, and protects the surface. It is one of the simplest ways to make a candle keep its scent in storage. Stand the candle upright with the lid on in a cool, dark spot.
Can candles melt in storage?
Soy wax has a low melting point, so candles can soften or warp if stored somewhere hot, such as a sunny windowsill or a warm car. Keep them cool and out of direct sun. If a candle does soften, let it cool and re-set on a level surface before moving or lighting it.
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