Wick Trimming Guide
Candles love a quick snip ✂️. Keeping your wick at ¼ inch (6–7mm) yields a cleaner flame, less soot, and longer hours of Blue Fawn glow.
Why Trimming Matters
- Cleaner flame: reduces smoking/soot on jar walls.
- Longer burn time: prevents overheating and wasting wax.
- Safer burn: shorter wick = steadier flame, fewer flare-ups.
How Short Is Just Right?
Before every light, trim to ¼″. If you see a mushroom cap at the wick tip, trim it off.
How Often to Trim
- Before the first burn: Ensure the wick is approximately ¼ inch from the start.
- Before every relight: Snip to ¼″ once wax is cool and solid.
- During long sessions: Extinguish, let cool, trim, and relight.
Tools You Can Use
- Wick trimmer: angled, easy reach in deep jars.
- Small scissors or nail clippers: works in a pinch.
- Paper towel: wipe away trimmed bits—don’t let debris fall in wax.
Pro Tips
- Keep the wick centered as the wax softens.
- If the flame is tall/flickery, it’s asking for a trim.
- Pair trimming with a full melt pool on first burn to prevent tunneling.
Troubleshooting
Big flame / black smoke? Extinguish safely, trim to ¼″, relight.
Low weak flame? Wick may be too short; let it burn a few minutes to strengthen, or carefully expose a bit more wick.
Fix Candle Tunneling → | Candle Safety Guidelines →
For quick candle care tips, see our Candle Care Hub.
