Candle Snuffer vs. Wick Dipper vs. Candle Lid: Which Should You Use?

Blowing out a candle works, but it can splash hot wax and send a trail of smoke into the room. If you want a cleaner way to put a candle out, these are your options.

Candle snuffer

A small bell on a long handle that you lower over the flame to cut off its air.

• Good for: pillar and taper candles, and wide jars you can reach into easily.
• Watch out for: deep jar candles, where it can be awkward to reach the wick. You also need to keep it nearby.

Wick dipper

A hooked tool that pushes the lit wick into the melted wax and lifts it back out.

• Good for: very little smoke, and it coats the wick in wax for the next light.
• Watch out for: it takes a steady hand, and it does not work well when the melt pool is shallow.

The candle's own lid

Many jar candles come with a lid you can set on top to smother the flame.

• Good for: it is free and it is already there.
• Watch out for: the lid and the jar rim can get hot, and not every lid sits safely on a burning candle. Follow the maker's instructions.

Automatic candle extinguisher

A holder with a built-in timer and a lid that closes on its own. ALEC works this way: you place your jar candle inside the glass holder, light it, and set a burn time. At 0:00 the lid closes over the jar and the flame goes out. You can also press Open/Close any time.

• Good for: putting the candle out on a schedule, with no reaching over the flame and no hot lid to handle.
• Watch out for: it needs to fit your jar. ALEC Small holds jars up to 5" wide and 5" tall, and Large is made for taller jars. See the fit guide.

Which one is right for you?

Safety

Whichever method you use, never leave a burning candle unattended. A timer is a convenience, not a replacement for supervision. More in our candle safety tips.