Description
This candle wick trimmer is a rose gold stainless steel cutter measuring approximately 18 x 6cm, shaped with a long angled neck so it reaches down into a deep jar candle without you putting your hand into the wax. It is $12.99 at Lets Party. It is a trimmer rather than a snuffer - it cuts the wick, it does not extinguish the flame.
An untrimmed wick is the reason most jar candles end up with a black ring up the inside of the glass and a flame that gutters and smokes. As a wick burns it mushrooms at the tip, and a mushroomed wick draws more wax than it can burn cleanly, which is what produces soot. Scissors will cut a wick on a new candle, but once the candle has burned down a few centimetres they will not reach, and cutting with your hand inside the jar drops the trimmings straight into the wax where they become a second wick. An angled trimmer solves the reach problem, which is the only real problem.
Specifications
| Material |
Stainless steel |
| Colour |
Rose gold |
| Size |
Approx 18 x 6cm (7.1 x 2.4 inch) |
| Type |
Wick trimmer - cuts the wick |
| Shape |
Long angled neck for reaching into jars |
| Quantity |
1 |
What's in the Box
| Included |
1 x rose gold candle wick trimmer |
| Not included |
Candle snuffer, wick dipper, candles, gift box |
Why Choose a Wick Trimmer Over Scissors
-
Reaches into deep jars - the angled neck gets to a wick sitting several centimetres down a container candle, which is exactly where scissors stop working.
-
Cuts at the right angle - the geometry holds the blade flat to the wax so you get a level cut rather than a diagonal one.
-
Keeps your hand out of the jar - no reaching in over hot glass or setting wax.
-
Stainless steel - wax wipes off it and it does not corrode from the soot and residue that build up on cheaper plated tools.
-
Looks like something you leave out - rose gold beside a candle is a decorative object rather than a kitchen drawer item, which is why these sell as gifts.
Why Do You Need to Trim a Candle Wick?
Three reasons, all practical. Soot: a long wick draws up more wax than the flame can fully combust, and the unburnt carbon goes up the wall of the jar and onto your ceiling. Flame size: an untrimmed wick produces a tall, flickering flame that melts wax faster than the candle is designed for, which shortens its life and can crack the glass. And tunnelling: an oversized flame melts a narrow deep well rather than the full width of the candle, so wax is left stuck to the sides and wasted. Trimming before each burn fixes all three, takes about four seconds, and is the single highest-return habit in candle care.
How Short Should You Cut a Candle Wick?
About 5mm, or a quarter of an inch, measured from the surface of the wax. That is the length nearly every candle maker recommends and it is short enough to look wrong the first time you do it. Trim before lighting, not after blowing out, and always on a cold candle - cutting a warm wick leaves debris that sinks into soft wax. If the wick has mushroomed into a black bulb, cut the whole bulb off. And remove the trimmings before you light it; a fragment of wick lying in the wax pool will light on its own and burn where you do not want it.
Is a Wick Trimmer Different From a Candle Snuffer?
Yes, and they are frequently sold under each other's names, including in this product's original supplier description. A trimmer is a cutting tool - it shortens the wick before you light the candle. A snuffer is a small bell on a handle that you lower over a burning flame to starve it of oxygen and put it out without blowing, which prevents the plume of smoke and the spray of hot wax that blowing produces. They do completely different jobs and neither replaces the other. This product is a trimmer. If you want to extinguish candles cleanly as well, a snuffer is a separate tool and we would rather tell you that now than have you open the box expecting one.
Buyers are typically people who burn jar candles regularly and are tired of sooty glass, candle makers who want their own products to burn properly, and gift buyers - a rose gold trimmer alongside a good candle is a complete present that costs very little.
For more of this kind of thing, see our Home and Garden range and our Gift Ideas collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it reach the bottom of a tall jar candle?
The tool is around 18cm overall with an angled neck, which covers most standard and large jar candles. Very tall or narrow vessels may still be awkward.
Does it catch the trimmings?
Many trimmers have a small catch plate behind the blade. The supplier has not confirmed whether this one does, so we are not claiming it. Either way, check the wax and lift out any fragments before lighting.
Can I use it on taper and pillar candles?
Yes. Reach is not an issue on those, so any wick trimmer works - the angled design is really about container candles.
Is the rose gold a coating or the steel itself?
It is a finish applied over stainless steel. Wipe wax off rather than scraping so the finish stays intact.
How do I clean it?
Wipe the blades with a paper towel after each use while the wax is still soft. Warm soapy water shifts anything that has set.
Is it dishwasher safe?
No dishwasher rating has been supplied, and dishwasher detergent is hard on decorative finishes. Hand wipe it.
Does it come gift boxed?
No. You get the trimmer only.
Fast Australian Shipping
We dispatch from within Australia, so orders reach Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin quickly rather than waiting on an overseas shipment. Regional and remote addresses go through the standard Australia Post network.
Dimensions and finish are as supplied by the manufacturer; allow 1-2cm variation due to manual measurement. Colour may appear different on screen. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep candles away from children, pets and anything flammable.
