How To Put Out a Candle

Introduction:

When people light candles to get the feeling of that blissful ambiance, they do not want to let that go away by creating harmful smoke. The smoke can be unpleasant and may irritate the entourage. That is why it is necessary to know how to put a candle out without ruining the pleasant ambiance.

As time passed, candles remained no longer the source of light only. They’ve become a symbol of luxury and ushered in the calmness of mind by spreading the pleasant scent. With the changes in needs, there came many up-gradation not only in the categories of candles but also in extinguishing them.

Lighting a candle is easy but putting it out needs attention. There are several methods available for having this job done. Also, a few instruments help to put out a candle ideally. Though, many will think of it as a kid’s play. But putting out a candle is not just about blowing it out. There are candle snuffers, wick dippers, and fingers if one wants to extinguish the flame. People who want to avoid the smoky smell must know some tricks to get it right.

Why Is It Important to Learn to Put Out a Candle?

For any candle lover, it is essential to know how to put out a candle. Nowadays, people want scented candles for their therapeutic quality and the ability to create a warm sensation. Now, most candles come with fragrance. So, the people who love candles for the scent will not like to replace the original fragrance with smoke after burning a candle.

Lighting a scented candle can create a happy mind. Blowing candles can immediately take that away by making a smoky smell. Also, blowing them out may not work in the first place. This may take a few moments of the flickering flame. The smoke created afterward can remove the pleasant fragrance and leave soot.

Blowing candles is, of course, an unhealthy practice. It can quickly spread microbes in the air that are not got at all. The smoke, later on, gets inside the respiratory tract and irritates. Also, it is not safe to blow candles from so close. This may lead to accidental face burn.

Knowing the right way of extinguishing a candle is a part of candle care. This helps to keep the candle wax clean and free from soot. This also marks the wicks in their better form. So, knowing this method eventually gives added benefit.

How To Put A Candle Out:

Candle enthusiasts have some of the best methods to extinguish the candle’s flame without creating smoke or with minimal smoke. Here are some standard techniques that have been proved excellent for extinguishing a candle:

Using Wick Dippers:

If you want to get an experience of extinguishing candles without smoke, a wick dipper is a great instrument to go on with. It is a thin metal stick with a curved side that helps dip the candle wick in the hot melted wax pool without burning the fingers.

This method helps to put out the flame without repelling the scent with the foul smell of smoke. The hot liquid wax extinguishes the flame from the wick.

After dipping the wick with a wick dipper, a wick trimmer is needed to cut off the burnt lid of the candle. This refrains from the burn of wick quickly and leaves no soot. This method helps to keep the fragrance in the air longer.

Putting the Lid Back:

It is easy to put out a candle to put back the candle’s lid. This is possible with the candle, which comes in a jar with a non-flammable top.

Here the flow of oxygen is hampered after closing the lid, and that is how the fire is extinguished.

This system to put out a candle flame produces lesser smoke. This doesn’t need any blowing to extinguish the flame. This way, the candle’s fragrance stays inside and may get mixed with the smoke and changed. Most importantly, one has to be very careful about the lid and be sure if it is non-flammable.

Using a Candle Snuffer:

A candle snuffer is a bell-shaped metal instrument with a handle to put out a candle. This is a widely used method to put out a candle. Candle snuffers make the candle snuff, ensuring fingers’ safety with its non-flammable lid. There are handles with bell-shaped matching covers that restrict the oxygen flow and put out the candle flame.

This is not as great as a wick dipper. It doesn’t quite complement the purpose of scented candles. It doesn’t extinguish the candle without leaving the dirty smoke in the air. The smoke removes the fragrance of the candle.

But using wisely, a candle snuffer is handy and safer to use.

Blowing Out the Candle:

It is the most unappreciated way of extinguishing a candle’s wick. Blowing candles may not put out the flame at once. It not only causes health hazards but also increases the risk of burn. It also makes the candle wax contaminated.

When people blow out birthday candles, germs spread all over the birthday cake. Also, they inhale the smoke, which is not a positive thing. One should not take their body close too much to the flame to blow the lit wick.

This can make the hot melted wax splash that can hurt anyone. It can easily create a mess of wax.

Using Wet Fingers:

If brave enough, they can lick or soak their fingers in water, hold the candle wick, and put out the flame quickly. This process can be a neat party trick.

One must stay cautious while touching a burning wick. They need to wet two fingers fairly. Hot melted wax, as well as the burning wick, can burn fingertips.

Though inexperienced people shouldn’t practice this, one who is used to this trick and wants to put a candle in an instant may try this.

Wiser way to Put Out Scented Candles:

Among all the ways of putting the flame out of the wick, using a wick dipper turns out to be the best. It has the least risk of burning fingers or any part of the body. The wax is not ruined, and the wick remains suitable for the next session with flame. This is the way to prevent the essence of a scented candle.

Then there come the bell-shaped snuffers to extinguish the flame. But they are not as good as the previous ones for the wax. But it’s better than blowing the flame off.

Conclusion:

People who are passionate about candles find this part of candle care essential. It is necessary to put out the flame without damaging the wick or creating smoke that repels the sweet smell of the candles. That is why you can consider those ways mentioned above.

There are a few options available for putting out a candle. They have some positive sides. Also, some come with a few demerits. One needs to learn about these and choose the suitable way according to their needs.

FAQs

How do you put out candles without blowing on them?

There are several ways to put out candles without blowing on them. Candle snuffers, wick dippers, jar lids, and eventually wet fingers. These help the wax to remain germ-free and people to stay safe.

People who love candles would not like to mess with their candles. That is why they prefer not to choose this path to extinguish a candle.

Do you need a candle snuffer?

When it is a matter of snuffing a considerable amount of candles, candle snuffers can become handy. For example, these are used to put out cathedral candles. These create low smoke and entirely ensure the safety of hands.

For domestic purposes, snuffers can be of great help. They not just help to put out candles but also add elegance to the collection of a candle enthusiast.

Can you put water on a candle fire?

It is a big no in this case. Water can splash the wax and make it messy. This can ruin the candle in a jar. Also, it can damage the wick and the candle to some extent. A wet wick won’t burn later on. So, one must avoid this process of watering.

Can you extinguish a candle with the lid?

Yes, this is a better process than blowing out the candles. This may originate a sizzling sound while the wick is on fire. One should ensure that the lid is not flammable. Otherwise, it will melt or catch fire and ruin the whole experience of burning a candle. It needs to be mentioned that this process cannot be done with a candle without a jar or a container.

How do you get wax out of a candle snuffer?

This gives a cleaner and safer experience than a burning candle, but cleaning it can be lengthy. To get rid of the wax, one needs to follow a few steps like scraping off the extra polish, leaving it in hot water for some time, and then wiping out the rest with a soft towel.

Is it wrong to blow out a candle?

Indeed, it is terrible to blow out a candle. Blowing it makes stinky smoke which is harmful to respiratory tracts. It also spreads germs all around this. Especially while blowing birthday candles, one can spread microbes through the air all over the cake. Not only this, but also blowing them makes the wax splattered and polluted. So, this is not a pretty good option to go with.

What is the best option to put out a candle?

Without a doubt, the best way to put out a candle is to dip the wick. It is the hassle-free one that makes no bad fume. It is suitable for the candle itself.

For dipping a wick, a wick dipper is an absolute tool. It helps to keep a distance between hands and the flame and provides safety. It stops irritating fume from effusing and thus maintains the aura of the scented candles. There is no risk of health hazards with it. So, it is the most pleasing way to put out a candle.

How does a candle turn off?

Candles need the flow of oxygen to remain lit after setting the fire on their wicks. If one tries to put out the flame, they have to stop this oxygen flow and not let the new air get near it. They can use wick dippers, snuffers, jar lids, etc. These suffocate the candles and put the flame out, leaving soot and unpleasant fumes. Choosing the right option of turning off the flame prevents this.

When should you put a candle out?

There is no reserved time to put a candle out. One can keep the flame on as long as one wants. As most candles can be burnt around for four hours, one can wait until the end to melt entirely. But if anyone tends to light it again, they need to wait at least two hours to light it up and get the desired flame.