Trim a candle wick to about 1/4 inch before every lighting, once the candle has cooled and the wax has hardened. A wick trimmer reaches easily into a jar, but nail clippers or small, sharp scissors work too. Remove the trimmed piece from the wax. A trimmed wick gives a steadier, calmer flame with less soot on the glass.

What you need

A candle with a cooled, hardened wax surface
A paper towel
Wick trimmer, nail clippers or small scissors
Candle snuffer or wick dipper (optional)

Step by step

Let the candle cool. Trim only when the candle is out and the wax has hardened completely. Never trim a lit or hot candle.
Check the length. Look at the wick. If it is longer than about 1/4 inch, or the tip has a dark, rounded bulb (a mushroomed wick), it is time to trim.
Trim to 1/4 inch. Cut the wick straight across to about 1/4 inch above the wax. A wick trimmer's angled blades and flat base make this easy in a deep jar.
Remove the trimmings. Lift the trimmed piece and any loose debris out of the jar with a paper towel. Bits of wick left in the wax can catch light.
Center the wick. If the wick leans, gently straighten it so it stands upright in the center. A centered wick melts the wax more evenly.
Put it out with less smoke. When you finish, use a snuffer to cover the flame, or a wick dipper to dip the lit wick into the melted wax and straighten it again. Both tend to make less smoke than blowing it out and avoid splashing wax.

No wick trimmer? What to use

Nail clippers are a common stand-in and work well on short wicks. Small, sharp scissors work too, though they can be awkward in a deep jar. Once a candle has burned down, a wick trimmer is the easiest option because it reaches the wick without touching the glass.

What does a mushroomed wick mean?

A mushroom is a small, dark build-up on the tip of the wick. It is a sign the wick is too long. Extinguish the candle, let it cool and trim it before relighting, or the flame can get tall and smoky.

What if the wick is too short?

If the wick is so short that the flame drowns in the melted wax, extinguish it and let the wax harden. Then carefully scrape away a thin layer of wax around the wick with a spoon to expose a little more wick before relighting.

Moon phase dates

Planning a ritual around the lunar cycle? Exact new and full moon times in Central Time are listed by month. Moon phases by month · Moon phase guide

Related candles

Calm candle (White Sage & Lavender): for slow evenings and stillness.
Gratitude candle (Vanilla Bean): for counting what is good.
Fresh Start candle (Clean Cotton): for new chapters and sunday resets.

Candle safety basics

Trim the wick to 1/4 inch before every lighting.
Never leave a burning candle unattended, and extinguish it before you go to bed or leave the room.
Burn for no more than 4 hours at a time, then let the candle cool fully before relighting.
Place the jar on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from children, pets, drafts and anything that can catch fire.

More detail: Candle care & safety · FAQ