We have all done it since we were children. You take a deep breath, lean in, and whoosh, the birthday candles are out.
It’s instinctive. But when it comes to looking after your expensive, luxurious home fragrance candles, is the debate over blowing vs. snuffing really a contest?
It turns out that the habit we learned as kids might actually be ruining our adult candle experience.
While blowing out a tiny candle on a cake is fine, doing the same to a large jar candle can lead to mess, smoke, and wasted wax.
If you want to get the most out of your favourite scents, it is time to rethink how you turn them off.
Let’s explore why the way you extinguish your candle matters just as much as how you burn it.
The problem with blowing out candles
It seems so simple, doesn't it? Just blow it out.
However, this vigorous method causes several issues that can shorten the life of your candle and ruin the lovely atmosphere you’ve just created.
Here is why you should resist the urge to huff and puff.
1. The dreaded smoke creates a bad smell
You have just spent two hours burning a beautiful Sandalwood and Jasmine candle.
Your room smells divine.
You blow the candle out, and suddenly, the room fills with acrid grey smoke that smells like burnt wax.
By blowing onto the flame, you are continuing to provide it with oxygen while simultaneously pushing the vaporised wax away from the heat source.
The result is incomplete combustion, which creates soot and a strong burning smell that instantly overpowers the lovely fragrance you wanted to linger.
2. Risk of hot wax splatter
When a candle has been burning for a while, it has a liquid "wax pool" on top. Blowing forcefully at the flame can easily disturb this pool.
This can cause hot, liquid wax to splash out of the container onto your wooden table, tablecloth, or even your face. It is messy to clean up and can be a safety hazard.
3. Buried or displaced wicks
Blowing air violently at the molten wax can push the wick over. If the wick falls into the liquid wax pool and the wax solidifies over it, you have a "drowned wick." Digging a wick out of hardened wax is a frustrating task that often damages the candle permanently.
Snuffing: The gentle alternative
If blowing is out, what is the alternative? Enter the candle snuffer.
This is the traditional, elegant way to extinguish a flame, and it is far superior for candle care.
A candle snuffer usually looks like a small metal bell on the end of a long handle.
You simply lower the bell over the flame and rest it there.
How a snuffer works
Snuffing works by oxygen starvation. By covering the flame with the small bell cup, you cut off the air supply.
The flame uses up the remaining oxygen inside the bell and gently goes out.
The benefits of using a snuffer
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Significantly less smoke: Because you are trapping the flame, much of the smoke is contained within the bell as it cools.
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No mess: You aren't blowing air around, so the hot wax pool remains completely undisturbed.
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Safer: The long handle keeps your hand away from the heat of the flame.
Summary of methods
To make it easy to remember, here is a quick breakdown of the different ways to put out your candle.
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Blowing: Quick, but smoky, messy, and risks drowning the wick. Best avoided for nice candles.
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Bell Snuffer: Elegant and traditional. Greatly reduces smoke and is very safe. A solid choice.
When looking at the evidence in the blowing vs. snuffing debate, it is clear that blowing should be reserved solely for birthday cakes.
To protect your surfaces from hot wax, keep the air free of smoky smells, and ensure your luxury candles last as long as possible, invest in a simple classic bell snuffer.
By treating your candle gently at the end of the burn will ensure it performs perfectly next time.
What is your preferred method for putting out candles? Do you use a snuffer, or are you tempted to just blow them out? Let us know in the comments below!
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