Trimming the wick, and why it matters

Five millimetres. If there is one habit that makes a candle burn better, it is trimming the wick to that length before every burn. It takes a few seconds, and it changes almost everything about the flame.

What a long wick does

A wick draws melted wax up to the flame. The longer it is, the more fuel it carries and the bigger the flame grows. Past a certain point the flame cannot burn all of it cleanly. It turns tall and restless, gives off soot, and forms a small black cap of carbon on the tip.

A short wick gives a smaller, steadier flame that uses the wax slowly and evenly. That is what you want from beeswax, which is dense and naturally slow to burn.

The smallest habit makes the biggest difference to the flame.

How to trim it

1. Wait until the candle has cooled and the wax has set.
2. If the wick has a dark cap from the last burn, pinch it off first.
3. Trim the cotton wick to about 5 mm with wick trimmers or sharp scissors.
4. Lift the trimmed end and any loose bits out of the wax.

Our vessels sit deep in their cups, so ordinary scissors can be awkward. Wick trimmers, with their angled blades, reach down easily. For pillars and tapers, scissors are fine.

During a long burn

If a candle has been lit for a few hours and the flame starts to grow or flicker, put it out, let the wick cool, trim it and light it again. Never trim a lit wick.

Our wicks are plain braided cotton, chosen for each size of candle. Trimmed well, they burn down with the wax and leave almost no soot on the glaze or the wall behind.

Why it is worth the habit

A trimmed wick does more than keep the flame tidy. It slows the burn, so the candle lasts longer. It keeps the glaze of a vessel, and the wall behind a pillar, free of soot. And it stops the wick leaning off centre, which is what makes a candle burn down one side. Of all the habits in candle care, this is the one we would keep if we could keep only one.