The purpose and magic of wick scissors
A simple tool with a long history, born out of necessity—and today a small gesture of care—with a big impact.
A brief guide to pausingfor reflection:
For a long candle life
Tools with history
A simple action becomes a ritual
For a long candle life
Wick scissors are part of proper candle care. They allow you to easily trim the wick to the correct length—about 5 millimeters. The flame remains steady. The candle burns evenly and longer.
They are easy to distinguish from ordinary household scissors: they are narrower in shape, the cutting blades are angled, and they are often slightly recessed. This allows you to reach the wick easily, even when the candle has already burned down considerably.
When cutting, the small piece of wick—the snip—remains on the blades instead of falling into the liquid wax. This prevents residue and uneven flames.
A tool with history
Candle snuffers and extinguishing bowls have been around for centuries and are even mentioned in the Old Testament. In the early 19th century, candles were made from animal fat. They produced soot, dripped, and burned unevenly, especially when the wick became too long.
At royal courts, servants were busy tending to hundreds of candles. In theaters and churches, "light cleaners" took on this task, regularly trimming the wicks. At that time, this was called "trimming."
With the advent of paraffin, candles became more durable and wicks easier to maintain. But even today, a shortened wick burns more evenly. The flame remains steady. The candle lasts longer.
A simple action becomes a ritual
The wick scissors are more than just a tool. They represent mindfulness in small things—a slower pace and a conscious gesture that signals a pause. A small ritual. Without any effort. Like a cup of tea.
Your reminder that pleasant moments sometimes arise when you pause for a moment .
Discover even more tips
for making your candle last longer.