5 reasons to trim your wick!

In order to prolong the life of your candles there are several steps that you should take, including trimming your wick on a regular basis. Read on to find out why your should be trimming your wicks...

• Wick trimming is an essential part of burning a candle. Firstly, carbon build upon the end of the wick is a natural byproduct of burning a candle. This may build up to resemble a large, black, mushroom like shape on the end of the wick. If left, this will lead to ‘smoking’ when lit and result in a smoke trail when blown out. Trimming this build up is crucial to enhancing your burning experience. Before you light your candle hold it upside down over a sink or bin (to avoid getting debris in the candle) and trim the end using  ideally using a wick trimmer (which are designed for the job) or sharp scissors. Wick trimmers are specifically angled to allow you to access deep into the container as the candle burns - unlike scissors! Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before you light it.
• The wax in candles evaporates faster than the wick burns away, which means that after a couple of burns, you’re left with a lot more wick than wax. Long wicks can create huge flames, which can be dangerous, especially in locations near flammable materials. Therefore trimming your wicks is an important step in ensuring your candle burns safely.
• Shorter wicks can also prevent mushrooming and remove the build-up of carbon from the candle surface.
• When you trim your wick, you will get a better scent throw from the candle when it's burning. The scent diffusion is a lot more evenly dispersed when the wick isn’t abnormally long.
• Trimming your wicks will ultimately lead to a prolonging the life of your candle as it burns more evenly and cleanly. However it is important to follow the guidelines. Always burn your candle until a complete melt pool has formed or you will end up with wax at the edge of the vessel which will lead to something called ‘tunnelling’ which is when the candle burns down through the middle of the vessel, leaving wasted wax around the edge. However, don’t burn your candle for longer than four to six hours. Any longer than that and your candle might overheat and completely liquify. 

So, hopefully this has convinced you to at least think about taking ‘care’ of your candle in order to enhance your burning experience and to prolong the longevity of your candle. Why not add a wick trimmer to your order or purchase as a gift alongside a candle as a gift for a friend?