Lighting a candle is a simple way to bring a moment of calm to your daily routine. But there's one step you shouldn't skip before reaching for the matches, home fragrance experts warn.
Trimming the wick is more than just a way to ensure a cleaner burn − it's also a crucial way to prevent large, unstable flames from flaring, prevent soot marks, and reduce fire risks.
Here's why it's so important to keep your best candles burning (and smelling) their best.
Why It's Important to Trim Candle Wicks Before Each Burn
Candle Expert Amy Keller has been hand-pouring beeswax candles at Apidae Candles since 2013. The most important advice she constantly gives? 'Don't forget to trim your wicks.' A candle wick trimmer from Amazon makes this easy, and allows for a cleaner, simpler cut than wrestling with scissors.
'Always keep the wick trimmed to half a centimeter,' she advises, to avoid any candle-burning mistakes. 'If the flame gets too high (over two and a half centimeters), the wick needs to be trimmed. Too high a flame is caused by a wick that is too long.
'If the wick becomes mushroom-shaped, the wick needs to be trimmed. This means the candle is using up wax faster than the flame can burn it. And, if the wick begins to smoke, it needs to be trimmed. Too long a wick causes unwanted smoke.'
How to Trim Your Candle Wicks
For trimming wicks, as detailed in our candle care guide, it's best to use a dedicated wick trimmer, also available in this set with snuffer and pick available at Amazon.
As Amy explains, while it's best to do so once your candle has cooled, you can trim your wick during a burn if any of these problems occur. This has the added benefit of making your candles last longer.
'Simply extinguish the flame, trim the wick, and relight the candle. The secret of a perfectly burning candle is proper care of the wick.'
However, as with everything, there is an exception to every rule. 'Don't trim the wick on taper candles,' warns Amy. 'If you trim the wick too short, the fragile side wall containing the wax pool will melt, causing the wax to drip down the side. If a mushroom top forms, you may trim that off, but keep the wick long.'
What to Shop
Whether you're looking to add to your best home fragrance collection or browse candle-care essentials, you can shop my handpicked selection below.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
If you're going to reach for your candle snuffer every day, why not invest in one as beautiful as this one from Diptyque? Doubling as a piece of decor, and inspired by Diptyque's signature oval labels, it extinguishes candles delicately and smokelessly.
With notes of stone fruit, gardenia, and amber, this candle features a soy wax blend and two candle wicks, which is a clever way to ensure a more even burn, but does require double the wick trimming. The soft scent is inspired by Sunday mornings spent at the local farmer's market.
This wick trimmer from Malin+Goetz ensures a clean, smoke-free, soot-free, and even burn every time you light your candle. It pairs perfectly with the Malin+Goetz tomato candle, which is one of my all-time favorites for making my home smell nice with unexpected herbal scent notes.
If you'd rather not deal with the process of trimming your candle wicks, incense offers a fragrant, low-maintenance alternative. This selection from Satya is a firm favorite in my home, and each pack contains seven boxes of bestselling scents to suit different moods and preferences.
This candle care set includes a trimmer, snuffer, and wick dipper, which is also used to extinguish candles by pushing the lit wick into the melted wax before re-straightening it and leaving the wax to re-harden. It's also available in champagne gold, rose gold, and silver.
Using one of the best essential oil diffusers is also an easy way to make your home smell nice without burning candles. This large capacity one from Amazon is affordable, effective, and performed well on test. It features a convenient remote control, timers, and a light.
Meet the Expert
You may be clued up on wick trimming now, but do you know how long you should burn a candle for? According to our experts, it's best to stick to no longer than three to four hours at a time. Remember to always let the wax melt all the way out to the edge of the vessel before blowing out on the first burn to avoid candle tunneling.
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