Wick Trimmers, Candle Snuffers, Wick Dippers: What Are These Tools and Why Do We Use Them?

Candles can add a touch of elegance and warmth to any space, but to get the most out of your candle experience and ensure safety, it's essential to use the right tools. Wick trimmers, candle snuffers, and wick dippers are specialized accessories designed to enhance the performance and longevity of your candles. Here’s a closer look at these tools and why they are important for candle care.

Wick Trimmers

What They Are: Wick trimmers are specially designed scissors or cutters used to trim the wick of a candle. They typically have a long handle and a curved blade that allows for precise trimming.

Why We Use Them:

1. Promote Even Burning: Keeping the wick trimmed to about 1/4 inch helps ensure that the candle burns evenly. A properly trimmed wick prevents flickering and reduces the risk of soot or excessive smoke.
2. Extend Candle Life: Trimming the wick helps control the size of the flame, which can prevent excessive wax consumption and extend the life of the candle.
3. Enhance Safety: A trimmed wick reduces the risk of high flames, which can be dangerous and cause the candle to burn too quickly.

Candle Snuffers

What They Are: Candle snuffers are tools used to extinguish candles safely. They typically consist of a small bell or cup attached to a handle.

Why We Use Them:

1. Prevent Smoke: Snuffers extinguish the flame by cutting off the oxygen supply, which prevents smoke and soot from forming, unlike blowing out a candle which can scatter wax.
2. Reduce Wax Splatter: Using a snuffer minimizes the risk of hot wax splattering, which can occur when a candle is blown out.
3. Protect the Wick: Snuffers are gentler on the wick, reducing the risk of it bending or becoming damaged during the extinguishing process.

Wick Dippers

What They Are: Wick dippers are tools used to push the burning wick into the melted wax to extinguish it. They often have a small, flat end designed for this purpose.

Why We Use Them:

1. Clean Extinguishing: Wick dippers allow for a clean extinguishing of the flame without smoke or soot. By dipping the wick into the wax, it snuffs out the flame efficiently.
2. Reposition Wick: After extinguishing, the wick can be straightened while still in the wax, which can help prevent mushrooming (the formation of a bulbous top on the wick).
3. Preserve Fragrance: By avoiding the smoke produced when blowing out a candle, wick dippers help preserve the candle's fragrance.

Using wick trimmers, candle snuffers, and wick dippers is great for maintaining both the safety and performance of your candles. These tools help ensure an even burn, prevent mess and smoke, and extend the life of your candles. Incorporating these accessories into your candle routine will enhance your overall experience and keep your space beautifully illuminated and inviting.

But do we really need them?

The short answer: no.

The long answer: you do not need them, but they do help. Regular scissors can be used in lieu of wick trimmers. However, you must cut your wick at a 90 degree angle and that can be difficult with a pair of scissors the more you use your candle and the further down in the vessel it goes. Some people just set the lid on top of their jar, rather than use a candle snuffer. Some may use any other tool to dip their wick. It doesn't really matter because the function is the same. As long as you are being safe and treating your candle nicely, the tool itself does not matter. Although having a special set of tools does feel more luxurious than using scissors or the lid.