Why You Should Always Burn Your Display Candles

Getty Images/Kseniya Ovchinnikova

There’s nothing quite like decorating your home with candles. They add a homey feel to your space and instantly make your decor feel more inviting—especially during the fall and winter months.

Most candle aficionados know there are candles for burning and candles for decorative purposes. Decorative candles are usually unscented ones in unique shapes that are too pretty to burn or just ones that you want to keep pristine and unmelted to accent your decor. However, TikTok user Brigette Muller (aka @hummusbirrd) makes a case for why you should always burn the wick of your display candles when styling them, and she has a compelling point.

In her now-viral video, Muller explains that this advice comes courtesy of her friend Bonnie. “If she sees that you have a candle that hasn’t been lit, she will take the liberty of lighting that candle and blowing it out,” she says in the video. Why exactly? According to Muller, unlit candles look chic, but there’s just something off about them, something a little “too new.”

This expert hack is as easy as it gets. Simply light the display candles and let them burn for a couple of seconds, just until the wick turns black and they have a slightly melted top. Then, blow out the candle. “I don’t care if you never light it again, as long as it has a black tip and a little bit of a melted top, that’s all you need,” says Muller.

As to be expected, users flocked to the comment section to debate this novel home decor tip. While some commenters disagreed and said they like the look of unlit candles, most conceded that this simple hack makes display candles look more natural and cozy in the space. One commenter aptly pointed out that unlit candles in a home give “IKEA