"How do I trim a candle wick?"

It's one of the most common questions we get asked and we LOVE that you're asking how to trim a candle wick because it means you're a responsible candle burner. 

Why you need to trim a candle wick: 

The wick is arguably the most important feature of a candle. It holds a flame, uses wax as ignition to burn; it is what makes a candle a candle. You need to trim the wick... 

1- For safety. A long wick equals a long flame. A long flame is a dangerous flame. A good rule of thumb for wooden wick candles, which make a horizontal flame vs a vertical flame (one of the reasons wooden wick candles are more fragrant - more contact with the scented wax!) 

2- For the longevity of your candle. A long flame eats up wax faster than a smaller flame. If you don't trim the wick, you won't get a good burn time from your candle. If you're not getting ~50 hours of burn time from a 7.2oz jar, trim the wick!

How to trim a candle wick

For wooden wicks, the ideal wick length is 1/8". You can use a wick trimmer if you want to feel fancy. You do not need a wick trimmer. Our CEO and Founder, Birdie, uses nail clippers. They do a great job of getting a wick trimmed to an ideal length and everyone has a nail clipper laying around. Wick trimmers are great if you love rituals and trinkets, but they are not required. The most important thing about trimming a wick is that you do it before every single burn. And always dispose of the wick trimmings. If you leave it in your candle; it can catch fire or clog the wick and cause your wick to not stay lit, self-extinguish.

To trim cotton wicks, wick trimmers are great. Scissors will also do the trick! If you see a bulbous black mushroom-looking "thingy" on the top of your cotton wick, that's called a bloom. Remove that and then trim the wick to 1/4" 

Trimming a candle wick is an easy way to ensure you get good burn time and keep your home safe from dangerous flames. 

Happy burning!