Candle Accessories: Candle Snuffer, Wick Dipper, and Wick Trimmers

Candle Accessories: Candle Snuffer Explained

What Is A Candle Snuffer

What is a candle snuffer? Candle snuffers are bell-shaped tools made out of fire-resistant metal. They’re usually attached to relatively long handles to avoid accidental contact with the candle flame and also to be used on candles that are positioned in difficult-to-reach places.

They’re also designed to prevent hot wax from dripping or splashing out, which usually happens when the candle is blown. With the invention of self-consuming candles by the 19th century, snuffers had gradually fallen into disuse, although they’re still employed in very specific contexts such as liturgical celebrations in Christian churches and other similar religious ceremonies.

Purpose Of A Candle Snuffer

What is the purpose of a candle snuffer? Candle snuffers are the precursors to wick dippers (described below). However, snuffers still exist and they’re currently used to extinguish flames from tapers, pillars, and other types of tall candles without creating smoke or spilling wax.

The candle snuffer operates on the principle that fire ignites with the aid of oxygen, so the snuffer is intended to enclose the flame and isolate it from the oxygen present in the environment, effectively suffocating it.

Nowadays, we use the word snuffer to refer to a “douter” or “extinguisher”. However, the term “candle snuffer” was used to describe a tool patented by Christopher Pinchbeck the Younger in 18th century England, which had a use case more akin to a wick trimmer, but with the explicit purpose of clipping wicks while ignited.

Using A Candle Snuffer

How do you use a candle snuffer? To use a candle snuffer, simply grab it by the handle and cover the flame gently with the bell-shaped cone until you see a bit of smoke emerging from it, meaning that the fire has been extinguished.

Candle Accessories: Wick Dipper Explained

What Is A Wick Dipper

What is a wick dipper? A wick dipper serves a similar function to the snuffer. It consists of a metal stick that is bent on one of its ends and is usually around 8 inches long. The bent end is meant to be designed as a hook that can be used to contact candle wicks.

Purpose Of A Wick Dipper

What is the purpose of a wick dipper? A wick dipper is designed to put out flames from smaller candles. and has the advantage of producing virtually no smoke, since it pushes the wick into the wax pool, allowing the wax itself to deal with the fire and stop smoke from rising.

Using A Wick Dipper

How do you use a wick dipper? Grab the dipper by the straightened end and push the candle wick into the surrounding molten wax with the curved end of the stick. The wick will be coated with the wax and the flame will go out.

Candle Accessories: Wick Trimmer Explained

What Is A Wick Trimmer

What is a wick trimmer? A wick trimmer is a type of scissor, particularly designed to cut candle wicks. Nowadays, many trimmers are designed with a twisted shape, allowing them to be used in candles contained in long jars and other complex containers without much difficulty.

Before the advent of electricity, candles were the main source of light, so it was very important to keep candles in good shape to extend their lifespan and prevent hazards associated with fire. Wicks tend to accumulate soot, producing a “dirty” burn and dark smoke (which nowadays would trigger smoke alarms).

Purpose Of A Wick Trimmer

What is the purpose of a wick trimmer? With a trimmer, you can remove the sooted edge of a wick so that it renders a cleaner fire. It was also established that wicks should be maintained at a quarter-of-an-inch to avoid big, dangerous flames and wasting wax unnecessarily, so a trimmer is used for that goal.

Its usage is pretty straightforward, as you would use a common scissor.

Using A Wick Trimmer

How do you use a wick trimmer? Grab the trimmer by the handles, placing the index finger and thumb inside the holes, and carefully accommodate the blades in a horizontal position relative to the wick, parallel to the wax and in the desired height (as mentioned above, a quarter-of-an-inch or 4/5 mm is the ideal size) and cut.

Candle Accessories: Candle Topper Explained

What Is A Candle Topper

What is a candle topper? A candle topper is a lid that is generally designed to be placed on top of pillar-type and mason jar candles. They’re mostly made of alloy and habitually in very elegant presentations.

Purpose Of A Candle Topper

What is the purpose of a candle topper? A candle topper serves to maintain heat and reduce flame flickering. The more wax around the wick utilized, the longer the candle lasts. When the heat of the candle is not irradiated uniformly, it will form what is called a “memory ring”, that is, the area used by the first flame.

This area, subsequently, melts faster than the outer wax, producing a phenomenon called “tunneling” and resulting in a great amount of unused wax, effectively dwarfing the candle’s lifespan.

With the candle topper, the heat is radiated more uniformly over the wax, thus creating a larger wax pool and enhancing the durability of the candle.

Using A Candle Topper

How do you use a candle topper? It’s very simple to use a candle topper, you only need to place it on top of the pillar or the container, in a way that allows it to remain firm or fixed. The candle topper will do the rest of the work for you!

Candle Accessories: Electric Lighters

Do Electric Lighters Work On Candles

Do electric lighters work on candles? Electric lighters do work on candles. The electric lighter creates an electrical arc that can be more than a thousand degrees. When in contact with a candlewick this will easily be ca[able of lighting the candle without the need for a traditional flame.

Electric candle lighters are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than ordinary gas-fueled lighters or matches.

Reasons To Choose An Electric Lighter

The first reason for choosing electric lighters is that they run on electricity, therefore, they’re easier and less expensive to recharge than gas-fueled lighters. Matches are naturally spent upon first usage so they can’t even compare in this regard. Moreover, butane lighters can light up to approximately 100 candles before needing a refill, whereas a mid-range electric lighter can light more than 300-400 candles on a single charge.

Secondly, they aid in producing less waste, meaning that you’ll only use one device that can last several years, instead of disposing of multiple plastic single-use lighters and/or gas refill cans. Likewise, electricity is cleaner than gas, which means that you’ll contribute more to the environment, especially if you get your electrical energy from “clean” renewable sources such as wind or the sun.

Finally, they’re far safer to use, since most modern electric lighters come equipped with security switches to prevent accidental sparks or bursts. Regular gas lighters are far more dangerous, especially owing to their propensity to leak and cause sudden explosions and fires.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use an arc lighter for candles?

You can use an arc lighter for lighting candles. They make a great way to light candles in containers and jars without worrying about a flame, getting soot on the side of the jar, or potentially burning your hand.

What’s the difference between a candle snuffer and a wick dipper?

A candle snuffer goes over the flame and completely covers the flame and the wick. However, a wick dipper is simply used to press the wick below the surface of the wax, which extinguishes the flame.

Do candle toppers get hot?

Candle toppers can become extremely hot when used on a burning candle. Avoid touching or handling the candle topper until it has had time to cool.

Are candle toppers necessary?

Candle toppers are necessary for some times of candles. If your candle came with a candle topper then you need to use it to avoid wax tunneling. Without its candle topper, candles may burn down, through the center of the candle, without melting to the sides of the container.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are an avid candle user then you can benefit from owning some of the above-mentioned candle accessories. They each have their own unique purpose and they will enhance and simplify the candle using experience.

While not all of these accessories are considered “must-have”, a few of them can be. If you want to get the most out of your scented candles, you NEED to trim the wick regularly.

So unless you like covering a pair of scissors in soot and wax then a pair of wick trimmers can be considered a must-have.

The good news is these accessories are pretty inexpensive. You can get an entire set for usually around $10 or less. Just keep an eye open and you will find a great deal somewhere!

Carl Adamson

Hi, I'm Carl Adamson, one of the founders here at Candleers. A few years ago I got really into the art and craft of candle making, initially with soy wax container candles. My friends started asking me to make candles for them and pretty soon it turned into a nice side-business. I started this website as a way to document what I've learned over the past few years and hopefully help others in the process. I still love candle making but I'm learning that what I enjoy even more is the business side of things - and for this reason I've started consulting others on how to start and grow their own candle-making businesses and side-hustles.

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