If the candle is in a holder, make sure the holder bottom is thick enough to stop heat damaging the surface it's standing on. Small holders will be hot if you pick them up.

The first few times you use a large pillar candle, burn it for about an hour for every 25mm of its diameter. The pool of wax will reset, and you'll avoid getting a hollow candle. Candles need a bit of space, so a large candle in a small room might flicker and smoke.

Don't blow the flame out: you might blow small drops of hot wax onto something or someone: use a candle snuffer or a teaspoon. If you like to move your candles, make sure the holders will catch any drips of hot wax.

Cheap candles have additives added to the wax, so usually smell disagreeable, irritate your eyes, burn unevenly, smoke more, and stain any fabric the wax drips on. Good quality candles shouldn't smoke, although scented candles might smoke a little. A long wick can make the candle smoke, so keep the wick trimmed to about 6mm.

If you drop hot wax on your clothes, put the item in the freezer for ten minutes, pick off as much wax as you can, lay a few sheets of plain kitchen tissue over the remainder, and iron it carefully at a temperature appropriate for the fabric: not with the steam setting on.

If you drop hot wax on upholstery or a carpet, put a small plastic bag of ice on the wax for ten minutes, then repeat most of the advice above.

Candles are enjoyable, calming, and fragrant, but don't forget that you're dealing with fire. Always take precautions to prevent your enjoyable experience from turning into a disaster.

Candles with leaves, or other decorations, embedded in the wax, may unexpectedly flare up. Candles in the garden need a protected flame. Finally, if there's a power cut, use a torch to find your way around the house: not a candle.