How to Trim a Wooden Wick (and Why It Matters)
Wooden wicks are a little different from cotton ones. They burn longer and cleaner, make that soft crackle, and their wide base creates a wide melt pool for a clean, even burn. They also need a little more care. The single most important habit: trim the wick before every burn.
How short should a wooden wick be?
Trim a wooden wick to 1/8 to 3/16 inch before you light it. At that height, the melted wax can travel up the wick to feed the flame properly.
Why trimming matters
- A wick that's too long can't pull up enough wax. The flame struggles, may go out on its own, or can give off black smoke.
- The shorter the wick, the better the flame. A trimmed wick is fed properly by the wax beneath it.
- It helps your candle last. Burn time depends partly on wick height; the longer the wick, the faster the candle burns.
How to trim a wooden wick, step by step
- Let the candle cool completely and the wax set before you trim.
- Snip off the charred tip so the wick sits at 1/8–3/16 inch. A wick trimmer makes this easy.
- Remove the trimmings from the wax so they don't catch.
- Relight and give the flame a moment to settle.
The first burn sets the tone
The first time you light a new candle, let it burn long enough for the melted wax to reach the edges of the vessel. If you blow it out early, the candle can start to tunnel, burning down the middle instead of melting evenly to the sides. Wooden wicks are good at creating a wide melt pool; give them the time to do it.
Common questions
My candle keeps going out. The wick is usually too long. Let it cool, trim it back to 1/8–3/16 inch and relight.
My candle is smoking. A long wick can give off black smoke, so trim it. Move the candle away from drafts too; drafty spots also make candles burn faster.
My wax has darkened after burning. That can happen because of the fragrance oils in the candle. It's normal discoloration.
The right tool
Our stainless steel wick trimmer comes in black or gold ($10). Gift Set, Host Set and Bulk orders include trimmers packed free. Want more wooden wick tips? Read about why we use coconut wax and wooden wicks.
