Should I actually cut the wick?

Before lighting the candle, you should cut the wick to 1/4″. If your flame ever becomes too big and you see smoke or soot, just put it out, trim it, and light it again.

Problems may arise if your wick is not kept properly trimmed. All candles’ wicks have the potential to “mushroom” at the top, which can cause excessive flickering, smoke, and/or soot. Maintaining a properly trimmed wick extends the life and safety of your candle. Additionally, it can stop your wick from curling back into the wax, which is a common issue with wicks that don’t have cores.