At the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of my workforce were granted the privilege of remote work. So, in an effort to transform a room in my basement into a constructive work environment, I deployed various furnishings to create an inviting aesthetic. I thoughtfully procured wooden, rustic picture frames to complement the wood paneling of the room. I have a few ladder style bookshelves to house said wooden picture frames along with various books, artificial plants, and scented candles. During the last few years, I have come to love the smell of a fragrant candle. If experiencing an episode of tiresome stress, a great scented candle momentarily tethers me to a state of peace.

So much so, when Bed Bath & Beyond closed physical stores in 2023, and its Warm Flannel candle was discontinued, I was heartbroken. That sounds a little over the top – right? Nevertheless, that light and slightly sweet aroma had an incredibly calming effect that carried me through a few rough years. Sometimes when I was feeling slightly despondent, I would take a few moments, close my eyes, and just focus on the beauty of the scent. If but for a sliver in time, the aroma assuaged any ailments – either mentally or emotionally. Currently, Bed Bath & Beyond only has an online presence, but if the powers that be are reading this, bring back my Warm Flannel scented candle!

Now, given my affinity to scented candles, it would bother me when a candle would burn unevenly. I tried everything recommended to ensure the candle wax would burn evenly. I would trim the wick before the candle was lit and I would allow it to burn for 1-3 hours. However, tunneling and unsightly, lopsided candle wax would accumulate around the sides leading to wasted wax. Desperate, I scoured the Internet in search of a resolution. My probe led me to the curious practice of wrapping the candle with aluminum foil. The reasoning: The aluminum foil insulates the candle and reflects heat back toward the body of wax. The edges don’t cool as fast, and so in theory, there is a relatively equal burn across the candle’s surface.

Eager to see if this hack was real, I retrieved a torn sheet of Reynolds Wrap and intently fashioned an aluminum protective guard around the candle. And I’d be damned if the foil trick did not work? Of course, I took photographic evidence else no one would believe me. It looks rightly weird, an otherwise handsome candle jar adorned in Reynolds Wrap. With confusion, my wife questioned why my candle was wrapped in aluminum foil. Nevertheless, it extends the life of the candle with no wasted wax. It doesn’t take long to implement, and better still, you can reuse the foil for another candle! I hope this information is beneficial to a fellow candle lover – happy burning!