Open candle and place on flat surface, preferably inside of metal lid, away from walls, and any flammable items. Burn for 3 hours continuously on first use or until you achieve a full, uniform melt pool to achieve optimal effects. Burn for 2 hours or until you achieve a full melt pool every other day afterwards for maintenance. A full melt pool ensures that the citrus botanicals embedded in the wax are aerosolized and released into the air to do their work. When finished burning, we recommend using a candle snuffer to put the flame out. Trim tip of wick before each use for best results. Trimming the wick reduces soot and smoke. Each candle has a burn life of approximately 16 hours. A general guideline is to use one candle per 600 square feet of indoor space. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not leave burning candle unattended.