The short answer: lower the snuffer's bell straight down over the flame until it covers it, hold it there for two or three seconds, then lift it straight up. The flame runs out of air and goes out quietly, with almost no smoke, no hot wax sprayed across the table and a wick that is ready to light cleanly next time. Don't press the bell into the wax; just hover it over the wick.
Blowing out a candle works, but it sends up a ribbon of smoke, can splash melted wax and often leaves the wick smouldering. A snuffer is a small tool that fixes all three, and a good one looks handsome enough to leave out beside your candles.
How to use a candle snuffer, step by step
- Hold it by the end of the handle. The long stem keeps your fingers well away from the flame and lets you reach into a jar or across a centerpiece.
- Lower the bell slowly over the flame. Bring it straight down from above, not in from the side, so you don't push the flame toward the glass or the wax.
- Stop just above the wax. The bell should cover the flame and the wick, but it doesn't need to touch the wax pool. Dipping it in leaves wax on the bell and a messy wick.
- Hold for two or three seconds. Once the oxygen inside the bell is used up the flame goes out. Wait a second longer if you see a glow on the wick.
- Lift straight up. A thin wisp of smoke may stay inside the bell; let it drift off before you set the snuffer down.
- Straighten the wick if needed. While the wax is still soft, nudge a leaning wick back to the centre so the next burn is even.
Our Anka Candle Snuffer has a brass-finish stem and a solid white marble base, so it has a place to rest between uses instead of rolling around on the table.
Why a snuffer beats blowing out a candle
- Less smoke and smell. Blowing leaves the wick smouldering, which is where the burnt smell comes from. Snuffing starves the ember too, so most of the smoke never starts.
- No wax splatter. A strong breath can spray hot wax onto linen, wood or marble. A snuffer never moves the wax.
- Better for jar candles. Blowing into a deep jar blows smoke and soot onto the glass. The bell reaches in and keeps the jar clean.
- Calmer at the table. Putting out a row of tapers with a snuffer is quiet and deliberate, which suits the end of a dinner far better than leaning over the food to blow.
Snuffer, wick dipper or pinching: which to use
A bell snuffer is the easiest and works on every candle: tapers, pillars and jars. A wick dipper is a hooked tool that pushes the lit wick into the melted wax and lifts it out again; it makes no smoke at all and coats the wick for the next light, but it only works when there is a full melt pool. Pinching the wick with wet fingers works in a pinch but isn't something to do over a table set for guests. For everyday use, a bell snuffer is the one tool worth owning.
Using a snuffer on tapers, pillars and jars
Taper candles: come down from directly above, because tapers are tall and their flames lean. On a multi-arm holder such as our reversible Wavy Soapstone Candelabra, work from one end to the other so you never reach over a lit flame.
Pillar candles: let the bell sit just inside the rim of the melt pool. If the pillar has tunnelled, put it out a little earlier next time and let the melt pool reach the edges on the first burns.
Jar candles: tilt the handle so the bell drops straight onto the wick. In very narrow jars, a snuffer with a long stem is the only clean way to reach.
Tips for a clean, safe finish
- Never leave a candle burning in an empty room, and snuff before you leave the table.
- Trim wicks to about 1/4 inch before relighting; a short wick smokes less and is easier to snuff.
- Wipe the inside of the bell now and then with a dry cloth to remove soot.
- Keep the snuffer next to your candles, for example beside a Helen wave candle holder or a stackable stone candelabra, so it's always within reach at the end of the evening.
Snuffing a candle is a small ritual in its own right. Our guide to setting a slow evening ritual has more ideas for the objects that make a quiet night at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is a candle snuffer supposed to touch the wax?
No. Hover the bell over the flame without dipping it into the melted wax. Touching the wax coats the bell and can bend or drown the wick.
How long do you hold a candle snuffer over the flame?
Two or three seconds is usually enough. If the wick is still glowing when you lift the bell, lower it again for another second or two.
Why use a candle snuffer instead of blowing out a candle?
A snuffer puts the flame out with far less smoke, no wax splatter and no soot blown onto the glass, and it keeps the wick in shape for the next burn.
Can you use a candle snuffer on jar candles?
Yes. A snuffer with a long stem reaches into the jar and keeps smoke and soot off the glass, which blowing can't do.
How do I clean a brass candle snuffer?
Wipe it with a soft dry cloth after use and keep it away from moisture. Remove any wax by letting it harden and lifting it off gently; avoid abrasive cleaners on the brass finish.
Light it, then put it out beautifully
Every piece in our candle and incense holder collection is handmade by independent artisans, so the snuffer, the stone holders and the brass pieces sit well together. Pair the snuffer with our brass and marble incense holder for a matching set, or browse more handmade decor.
Shop the pieces in this guide
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