Three small rituals, trimming, the first burn, and the moment of extinguishing, that turn a candle into a practice.
Trim the wick before lighting. Not to be precious — to be present. The small motion of trimming is the first half of the ritual; the flame is only the second.
On the first burn, let the pool of wax reach the very edge of the vessel. Scent, like memory, needs a full foundation. A candle that learns to burn evenly on its first lighting will keep doing so for the rest of its life.
And extinguish without haste. Let the smoke curl upward and settle. The end of a burn is its own small quiet — worth staying for.