Trimming a candle wick might seem like a small, unnecessary step, but it can make a big difference in how your candle burns. Yes, your candle will still burn with an untrimmed wick, but regularly trimming it can extend the candle’s life by up to 25% and keep it looking clean.
When a wick is too long, it creates a larger flame that melts more wax than necessary, giving the candle excess fuel. This often leads to incomplete combustion, which produces more soot and leaves the container blackened. Long wicks can also curl at the tip as they burn, causing the flame to flicker unevenly and create even more soot.
Keeping the wick trimmed helps control how much melted wax the flame can use, which reduces soot production and allows the candle to burn more evenly. This not only helps the candle last longer but also keeps the container cleaner—perfect if you plan to reuse the jar afterward.
As a rule of thumb, after every four hours of burning, extinguish the candle and let it cool completely (usually about two hours for larger candles). Once it reaches room temperature, trim the wick to about one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch before relighting. Regular scissors work at first, but as the candle burns down, nail clippers or a wick trimmer can make the job easier.