Don’t hover directly over the candle, or the heat rising from the flame may burn you.
If the flame sputters but doesn’t go out, you may not be blowing directly on it. Be careful not to blow too forcefully—doing so can send droplets of wax spraying, resulting in a big mess or even minor burns.
Whenever possible, make it a point to extinguish your candles in a well-ventilated area where smoke won’t collect. Over the long term, blowing out your candles can lead to unsightly black buildup on the wax or around the the inside of the container. [4] X Research source
Snuffers have been used for centuries to extinguish fire lights with minimal smoke. [6] X Research source Candle snuffers of various sizes can usually be found wherever candles are sold.
Some candle snuffers may resemble a cylinder, pyramid or disc instead of a rounded bell. Keep your hand a safe distance away from the flame to prevent accidents.
If you don’t hold the snuffer long enough, the flame may reignite, forcing you to try a second time. Be careful handling metal snuffers while they’re still hot.
If you don’t have a wick dipper on hand, you could also use another long, slender implement, such as a chopstick or paperclip, to force the wick down. In some cases, the pressure from the wick dipper or tweezers may be enough to put the flame out on its own. [10] X Research source
Be sure to pull the wick out right away to keep from losing it inside the wax pool. You’ll have the most success using wick dippers, tweezers and other tools on free-standing candles with minimal tunneling (the sinking that occurs when the wax around the wick burns down faster than the rest of the candle). [12] X Research source
Extinguishing the candle in its own wax has the added benefit of conditioning the wick, allowing it to light easier and stay lit longer during future uses. [13] X Research source
A pair of manicure scissors or nail clippers makes an acceptable substitute for a traditional wick trimmer. Get in the habit of trimming the wicks of your candles every time you use them. A pristine wick burns more evenly, which can greatly lengthen a candle’s lifespan.
Wetting your fingers will also help protect your skin from the heat of the flame. If there’s a source of water nearby (like a sink or drinking glass), you can prepare your fingers that way, as well.
You may feel a warm sensation momentarily. Once the flame is out, however, the heat will dissipate almost instantly. The sizzling sound you hear is nothing to worry about—it’s just the moisture on your fingertips evaporating.
Practice a few times on an unlit candle (with dry fingers) before you try for real. The inherent danger of using your fingers to put out a candle makes this more of a neat party trick than a practical everyday solution.
