It may seem a little long winded to trim wooden candle wicks. You might be asking yourself: do you trim wooden candle wicks? Is it necessary? We’re so used to buying products and instantly using them these days, but sometimes, slowing down a touch can help maintain your new candle for longer.
With growing numbers of millennials loving home decor products, including candles, it's more important than ever to get wooden wick candle trimming right. Figures show that by 2025, 70% of the workforce will be millennials, meaning they will have more disposable income to spend on little touches of luxury like wooden wick candles.
What’s the one standout thing everyone remembers about candles? The fragrance of course. The way a candle makes your home smell can stay in your memory for ages. And, it’s true to say that wooden wick candles are better at dispersing fragrance around spaces, as studies reveal a 35% increase in fragrance diffusion compared to other types of candles.
Contents
- Why are candle wicks important?
- Do you trim wooden candle wicks?
- The ultimate guide to trimming wooden candle wicks
- Browse beautiful wooden wick candles at TEV
Why are candle wicks important?
Not to jump too far down a science rabbit hole, but candle wicks are pretty much essential to a candle lighting up your room. The whole purpose behind a candle wick is to deliver fuel to the flame.
Put simply, the wick is like a mini fuel pump, drawing the molten wax to the flame. This helps the candle to burn. There are so many different types of candle wick available, and for many it’s totally down to preference which one you pick for your favourite candle.
However, research confirms that wooden wicks perform more strongly than cotton wicks or braided wicks. This is because cotton wicks are typically coated in a treatment to make them stand up straight and this can lead to some smoky emissions.
What is a wooden wick candle? Well, wooden wicks have become much more popular of late because they generate a stunning visual aesthetic and create a warm, cosy crackling noise that makes people want to snuggle down on a cold night. Wooden wicks aren’t coated so they’re also more sustainable and less likely to create emissions.
Do you trim wooden candle wicks?
Perhaps not a question you’d imagined coming across today, but do you trim wooden candle wicks? The answer is yes! Once you have the perfect candle that creates just the right atmosphere you’ve been looking for, it’s a good move to maintain it so you can enjoy it for a long time to come.
Here are two reasons why trimming wooden candle wicks can help you:
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Reducing soot
Longer wicks create stronger flames that don’t necessarily use the wax efficiently. This can create soot which hangs around and impacts the candle’s performance and makes it look a bit dirty on top.
In fact, soot build up can also affect the air quality in your home, with some of the soot landing on walls and furniture. Trimming a wooden wick will stop this from happening.
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Candle performance
Would you keep a candle if it looks grotty and doesn’t burn in the same way as before? We love candles here, but even we’re a bit doubtful about this one! Trimming your wooden wick to its optimal length reduces tunnelling or holes appearing in your candle and helps it burn better, for longer.
The ultimate guide to trimming wooden candle wicks
To help you enjoy your gorgeous wooden wick candle for as long as possible, follow these easy steps:
Step 1
Let your candle cool completely. It’s no good trying if it’s still warm as the wax will just get everywhere! Once cold, you also won’t cause any damage to the candle or wick surface.
Step 2
Have you got a ruler or measuring tape handy? If so, measure the amount of wooden wick you need to leave, which is around 0.3cm.
Step 3
Select your trimming tool. Scissors or a wick-trimming tool are probably best. These can be easily bought online and give you the most precision when trimming.
Step 4
Use your trimming tool or scissors to carefully cut your wooden wick to around 0.3cm in length. Plus, if you see any burnt or charred pieces, try to smooth these away to help your wick look better.
Step 5
Clean away any old or hardened wax around the wick as your candle will burn more efficiently without this. Your candle is now ready to be lit again.
If you’re wondering how to burn wooden wick candles, make sure to light across the whole of the wooden wick, keep it in a nice open space and only keep it lit for a few hours at a time.
Browse beautiful wooden wick candles at TEV
Here at The Essence Vault, crafting gorgeous wooden wick candles is one of our favourite things to do. Many wonder, ‘do you trim wooden candle wicks?’ - and the answer is yes! We want you to love every moment you spend with one of our rapeseed and coconut wood wick candles.
If you’re looking for wooden wick candles that smell as good as they look in your home, visit our wooden wick candles collection page for more information and that essential touch of luxury.