Wick Trimming Tips

Trimming the wick of your candles is the most crucial step in maintaining your candle. Keeping your wick properly trimmed will save you money by making your candle last longer and will prevent your candle from smoking….. you know, that nasty soot that turns your jar black…. Black soot from a candle really has nothing to do with whether it is paraffin, soy or bees wax but rather the length of your wick. Who knew?

Why does keeping the wick trimmed make the candle last longer?

The fragrance that comes off a scented candle into your room actually evaporates out of the liquid wax pool on top of your candle. The fragrance and wax burned up by the candle flame turns into odorless carbon dioxide and water vapor. So the candle flame’s only job is to create that liquid wax pool. A little flame does that job very well. A big flame just burns up your candle faster than need be and burns up fragrance instead of letting you smell it.

Why does keeping my wick trimmed prevent smoking?

If the wick is too long, the combustion process in the candle flame is altered and it produces carbon black instead of carbon dioxide. This soot will stick to anything it comes into contact with, including your candle jar, your walls, your ceiling…… you get the idea. 

How short should my wick be?
Scented candle wicks should always be trimmed to 1/4” above the surface of the candle. 

What should I use to trim my wicks?

Anything that will create a clean, sharp, neat cut. If the end of the wick is frayed out, like an unraveling braid, it will smoke! Fingernail clippers and wire nippers both work. The best thing to use is a wick trimmer as the provide a perfect height for your wick.  Wick trimmers available on our site.  Click here: https://www.thecandlebarncompany.com/collections/accessories/products/wick-trimmers