How to Put Out a Candle Without Smoke?

This is a guide covering how to put out a candle without smoke.

Isn’t it pleasing to watch a candle burn? The pleasant aroma coupled with the aesthetically appealing flame!

It is mildly therapeutic and meditative, isn’t it? Such a stress reliever! Like how all good things come to an end, we must put out our favourite scented candle after a certain time.

Now the question is how to put out a candle without smoke.

Some of you may ask why we can’t just blow it out like a birthday candle and why to make putting out a candle so complicated. Let us explain!

Candles have an exposed flame. So, if we do not take proper care in extinguishing the candle flame, there is a possibility of a potential fire hazard.

Blowing out a candle leaves smoke and soot in the air. This is very prominent in the scented candles especially.

The pleasant aroma of the candle will be substituted by the smouldering scent of smoke and soot.

Some low-quality candles may also release indoor air pollutants, posing a risk of allergies to the users (but not soy).

Five Ways to Put Out a Candle Without Smoke

Now that you know why it is important to put out a candle without risking the possibility of candle smoke, let’s find out the ways to put out a candle without smoke.

1. Use a Wick Dipper

Wick dipper is an age-old candle accessory that is quite effective to extinguish candle flames.

It has been used for centuries. It has a long stem with a tapered end to dip the wick into the wax. It is easily available in any candle store or online stores.

If you can not find one, you can also fashion a homemade wick dipper by using a simple pair of tweezers or a pencil. Use one of these to carefully press the wick into the melted wax and dip it in.

The added advantage of using a wick dipper to put out a candle is that it’s easier to reignite the flame because the wick is already dipped in wax.

Using a wick dipper also prevents the problem of candle tunnelling. Candle tunnelling occurs only when the centre of the wax around the wick melts.

This problem reduces the burn time of the candle and makes it hard to re-ignite the candle.

While dipping the candle in the wax, you must exercise caution and care to prevent the burnt wick residue in the wax.

2. Suffocate the Candle

Remember the science lessons you were taught in school!?

A flame gets extinguished when there is no oxygen available anymore. The same principle used in this technique.

Put a lid on the candle so that the flame dies when the oxygen isn’t available to get the flame running anymore.

Nowadays, lidded candles are so popular in the market. These lids solve the problem of putting out the candle without smoke.

For the other candles, it goes without saying, do not use lids made of flammable materials such as wood or plastic.

Use lids made of non-flammable materials that can withstand high temperatures such as concrete, stone, metal, glass or other ceramics.

Stone lids are very popular to put out the candles as they can withstand high temperatures.

The only shortcoming with this method is that the lid gets blackened due to the residual smoke once we suffocate the candle.

But once the candle is put off, there wouldn’t be any candle smoke in the air and the scented candles still retain the scent.

3. Snuff the Candle

A candle snuffer or extinguisher is yet another tool that can be used to put out the candle.

Usually, it looks like a cylinder or bell attached to a long stick. It works on the same principle as the lid technique.

Once you place the candle snuffer on the candle, the candle stops burning due to the lack of oxygen.

Candle snuffers are inexpensive. They can be found at local retailers or online stores. You can also make a DIY candle snuffer using foil.

Make a bell shape using the foil and attach it to a long stick or rod.

Candle snuffers are very effective for putting out thin or tapered candles. They can also be used as decoration items as they have an antique look.

4. Use Those Scissors

Using scissors to cut the wick of the candle is a common party trick to put out the candles.

There is a special kind of scissors called candle-wick scissors, specifically made for this purpose.

The scissors have a circular end to grab the centre of the wick to cut it.

But this will cause a little bit of smoke. So, use this method when you are in a hurry.

Another disadvantage of this method is the burnt wick might get buried in the wax as you cut it short.

This will affect the burning time of the candle.

5. Use Your Fingers

Moisten the tip of your fingers with water or your mouth. Pinch the wick and release it as quickly as possible. The moisture will put the flame out.

We have listed this technique at the bottom of the list because it has the risk of burning yourself.

You must be very careful and not hold the wick for too long. This technique is not suitable for the candles with thicker wicks as they take a longer time to get extinguished.

How Do You Extinguish a Candle on Fire?

Although candles seem harmless and non-hazardous, you must be careful as they are flammable.

Always have a fire extinguisher at your place just in case. If a candle flame turns into fire, use the fire extinguisher.

If a fire extinguisher is not available, use baking soda or sand to put out the fire.

Can a Candle in a Glass Jar Start a Fire?

Yes, candles in a glass jar can start a fire if they aren’t handled properly. It is risky to let the candle in a glass jar burn for a long time or to the bottom.

If it is over-heated, the glass may crack or worse explode. This may also start a fire.

To avoid this, do not burn a candle for more than four hours and be careful with the candles in glass jars.

Do You Pour Out Candle Wax?

This is a very question that most of us have. No, we need not pour out the candle wax once it melts.

The molten wax is as important as the wick to keep the flame going. If you pour out the candle wax, it will create a candle tunnelling problem or the wick might get buried inside.

Once you put out the candle, the wax will harden on its own. So, there is no need to pour out the candle wax.

We hope that you realized why putting out candles without smoke is important for candle care.

Try these techniques to extinguish your candles at home and tell us what worked the best for you.

All these techniques listed above give little to no smoke, thereby keeping your sensory experience of lighting a candle still intact.

Final Remarks

In conclusion, we hope you enjoyed this guide and learned something new.

Remember, always practice caution once the candle is lit.